Training Sessions

Our racial healing work springs from theatre practices that traverse the psychology of human behavior. Our trauma-informed trainers are constantly learning so that we can stay at the forefront of equity efforts. We use our expertise in theatre to create spaces where nuance and complexity can emerge, while still holding our collective focus on healing. Our embodied process sparks empathy through the power of personal testimony and story facilitated by seasoned artists. Our unique cultural grounding as a Black institution means that we center race as our primary lens, bringing deep historical and contemporary analysis to our racial healing work. Our signature curriculum helps clients explore the social, psychological, and physical consequences of various forms of racism, while custom wellness modalities help learners feel resilient at their growth-edge.

For more information on our training sessions, contact us at info@penumbratheatre.org.

“You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.”
—Angela Davis, Activist, professor, and author

“We tend to think of healing as something binary. But healing and growth take place on a continuum, with innumerable points between utter brokenness and total health.”
—Dr. Resmaa Menakem, Therapist, author, and trauma specialist

“I believe that one of the most beautiful things about theater is that no one artist can do it alone.”
—Harrison David Rivers, Playwright and Penumbra company member

“You cannot use someone else’s fire. You can only use your own. And in order to do that, you must first be willing to believe that you have it.”
—Audre Lorde, Black feminist, lesbian, poet, mother, warrior

“You cannot give energy if you’re not on fire on the inside.”
—Rev. Jesse Jackson, American civil rights leader, Baptist minister, and political activist

“Within Penumbra's walls, a genuine spirit of care breathes and thrives, weaving a rich and tender atmosphere where creative courage is not just invited, but deeply embraced.”
—Lester Purry, Actor and Penumbra company member