Acting out to help communities see within

A troupe of actors from CU Boulder makes a habit of appearing in front of audiences across the state without a script in sight, without a clear idea of what they might be saying or doing. Yet the artists are well-prepared to achieve a performance that goes beyond ordinary entertainment. CU Boulder’s Impact Playback Ensemble practices what’s known as playback theater – an interactive, improvisational form of theater that begins with members of an audience telling stories from their lives. Actors then bring these stories to life on stage, aiding in the sharing of insight and community building that might not otherwise come about.