Program

Layer the Walls began as a live theater piece that explores stories of a tenement apartment in New York City that was once home to hundreds of new immigrants.

Now we’re excited to go Beyond the Walls to offer you a menu of NINE engaging virtual episodes that focus on socially relevant content such as immigration, discrimination, and worker’s rights.  These episodes provide presenters and educators with a turnkey experience, including thoughtfully crafted education guides.  

Please view trailer: https://vimeo.com/513957606

Each episode runs 25-30 minutes in length and two can be grouped together for a 60 minute program. Choose from:

1.) Performance Excerpt Episodes:

These episodes include an introduction to the tenements, a performance of one of the stories in Layer the Walls, and Q&A where the artists answer questions typically received on tour. Choose from:

(a) Jimmy Mckenna and The Brooklyn Bridge 

(b) Marco Branzini and The Great Blizzard of 1888 

(c) Goldine Zuckerman and The Garment Workers Strike of 1909

2.) Workshop Episodes  

We highlight the puppetry and mask work seen in the performance.  Young people are guided with step by step instructions to get up on their feet and be creative.  

Choose from: (1) Bunraku (2) Mask (3) Mime.

3.) Time Traveler Miniseries: 3 episodes total 

Inspired by one of the stories in Layer the Walls, this experiential program is tailor made for the virtual platform and helps young people connect the past to the present. Serving as narrators, we invite young people to join us in the drama and step into the world of the 1909 Garment Workers Strike.  Through guided activities participants create their own characters, interact with shadow puppetry and performances, observe images, listen to recordings, journal in character, and create dialogue.  Young people are asked to make difficult decisions for their character, thereby building decision making skills and gaining a nuanced understanding of history.