comments from faculty:

Doug Patterson, Department of Theatre, The University of Nebraska at Omaha

"As rigid definitions of theatre fall away and people pick up theatre as a tool for self-knowledge, social activism, and community building, Playback Theatre continues to emerge as one of the most imaginative and energetic forms of participatory performance."

Cynthia Cohen, Executive Director of the Slifka Program in Intercommunal Coexistence, Brandeis University

“At the core of Playback's approach are skills and capacities central to our work: the ability to listen, to elicit stories, to bring disparate stories into generative relationship, and to embrace paradox. Both training sessions and performances embody a reconciliatory ethic that make Playback Theatre an  unusually rich resource for work in divided communities. Jonathan Fox is a gentle but rigorous instructor, whose teaching is infused with the same seriousness and humor, sensitivity and generosity that characterize the entire Playback approach.”

Linda M. Park-Fuller, the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Arizona State University

“Jonathan and Jo are great facilitators as well as artists!  At Missouri State University, Jo Salas’ carefully designed residency helped our student company take their work from a level of good practice to a richer level of excellence.  More recently, at Arizona State University, Jonathan Fox’ thoughtful engagement of the students in his workshop allowed them to grapple with complex ethical questions in community engaged performance pedagogy.  In both instances, my students came away with a better understanding the depth and breadth of playback theatre—as incorporating but transcending improv, performing the Other, personal narrative, psychodrama, and socio/political theatre.”  

Michael Posnick, Dept of Theatre and Dance, Manhattanville College

“Playback Theater, under the sure leadership of Hannah Fox, has enriched the Manhattanville campus with performances, courses and seminars, residencies, ‘town meetings’ and community outreach.  The work is touching, relevant, inspiring.”