Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) was granted $1,500 from the Puffin Foundation West for The Y-Haven Theatre Project, a theatre arts education program for chemically dependent homeless men who are receiving treatment at Y-Haven, a YMCA transitional residence.
Over the course of four months, the men developed skills in theatre arts, while sharing and confronting their own life stories through role-playing and writing exercises. The material that resulted from these exercises was shaped by CPT staff into an original play, which the men rehearsed, produced and performed for audiences of other at-risk populations and students. The cathartic and instructive process supported their recovery and fostered self-reflection and responsibility. Participants improved self-discipline and built workforce and teamwork skills. Participants’ capacities increased in four main areas: Personal Skills, Interpersonal Skills, Arts/Education, and Workplace Skills.
The 2014 Y-Haven Theatre Project show What is Inside explored the effects of death and addiction on families. The reach of the program expanded beyond the participants, as troubled and incarcerated youth and homeless men in treatment attended performances followed by instructor-facilitated post-show discussions.
