Oh, Charlie Paperback | Transformative Plays


Book Description

The Transformative Play 'Oh, Charlie' by Carl Stillitano, helps to increase compassion for those who have been betrayed by their loved ones and of forgiveness after death. Set in Las Vegas, Oh, Charlie is a funny and poignant story about addiction, dysfunctional families, and paying the price for your vices.




Mental Health Monologues E-book | Transformative Plays


Book Description

"The Mental Health Monologues" is a poignant collection of transformative plays written by acclaimed playwright Carl Stillitano. Each play delves into the complexities of the human psyche, exploring themes of resilience, healing, and self-discovery. Through a series of captivating monologues, the characters share their personal journeys, offering insight into the profound impact of mental health on their lives. As readers immerse themselves in these compelling narratives and read the monologues aloud, they embark on a therapeutic journey of self-reflection and empathy. The act of vocalizing the words brings a sense of catharsis, allowing emotions to surface and be acknowledged. Through the shared experience of reading, individuals find comfort in knowing they are not alone in their struggles. Furthermore, the act of reading these monologues aloud fosters a deeper understanding of mental health issues and promotes open dialogue. By giving voice to the characters' experiences, readers break down barriers and stigma surrounding mental illness, fostering a sense of community and support. “Each time I read Mental Health Monologues I’m absorbed by the powerful messages that give me insights through the characters’ stories. Reading the monologues on the podcast was such a rush! …It was empowering to bring the words to life, it got me out of my head & I felt much lighter afterwards. I encourage everyone who wants to grow as a person to read Transformative Plays. I read 6 of them in a month & I am not a “reader!” Lately when I have tough times, I find myself thinking about the plays & then remember something that helps.” - Anita Sreckov "These monologues provide a platform for individuals to share their personal experiences with mental health challenges, reducing the feelings of isolation and offering valuable insights into these issues. They inspire hope and resilience as individuals share their recovery journeys, fostering empathy, connection, and empowerment. It's comforting to know that others share these feelings and experiences. This book should be a staple in every home and school for parents, teachers, and students alike." - Shayla “This is such a beautiful movement. It's a great tool & it will help a lot of kids all over the world! There are so many applications: you can read it, act it, experience with a group, you can be alone, or in a formalized setting, like stage readings for fundraisers. This is a dream come true for high-school therapists & counselors... I love these plays because if you're going through something, whatever it is, when you have Mental Health Monologues then you will transform. It makes it easier to express yourself & understand you are not alone.” ​​​​​​​ - Ellen Shane “Mental Health Monologues is a healing game-changer that transcends traditional modalities of therapy. It’s fun, it makes you smarter & when read out loud the monologues become a vehicle to help release pain, re-pattern trauma & empower independence. I am in awe witnessing the power of the monologues in action. No matter your age, race, sexual preference, these monologues relate to everyone... & help us relate to one another.”​​​​​​​ - Lenise Sorén




By Way of Love E-book | Transformative Plays


Book Description

The Transformative Play, titled "By Way of Love," by Carl Stillitano is a comedic and dramatic exploration of love, relationships, and self-discovery. In By Way of Love, the gods & goddesses descend from Mount Olympus to New York City to help humanity rediscover the power of love. The oldest goddess in training, Hubris, is on a mission to receive her wings and attempts to by posing as a therapist on Earth. Eve, her patient, is a career-driven young ad-executive who finds herself giving away her power to men. In this modern-day love story set with 15 original songs, this play is a colorful and heartfelt story about the journey of self-love. Reading plays that explore mental health challenges can offer numerous key benefits: Increased Awareness and Understanding: These plays provide insight into mental health issues, helping readers gain a deeper understanding of various conditions such as anxiety, depression, addiction, and more. Destigmatization: Plays that address mental health challenges contribute to breaking down the stigma surrounding mental illness. These plays show that mental health issues deserve understanding rather than judgment. Spark Conversations: Can spark conversations about mental health among readers, whether it's discussing the themes, sharing personal experiences, or raising awareness about available resources for support and treatment. Artistic Expression and Catharsis: Engaging with the emotional depth and complexity of these plays can provide a cathartic experience for readers, allowing them to explore their own feelings and experiences.




When Charley Met Emma


Book Description

Winner of the 2019 Foreword INDIES Award Bronze Medal, When Charley Met Emma teaches kids about disability, empathy, and the beauty of friendships with people who are different from you. When Charley goes to the playground and sees Emma, a girl with limb differences who gets around in a wheelchair, he doesn't know how to react at first. But after he and Emma start talking, he learns that different isn't bad, sad, or strange--different is just different, and different is great! This delightful book will help kids think about disability, kindness, and how to behave when they meet someone who is different from them.




Awesomely Emma


Book Description

I love being me, because me is an awesome thing to be! Emma has limb differences, but different isn't bad, sad, or strange. It's just different! But when some accessibility problems get in the way at the local art museum, it ruins the fun of a class trip...and then Emma's friend Charley makes things even worse! In the middle of a really bad day, Emma has to call upon her sense of inner awesome to stand up for herself and teach everyone a lesson about the transformative power of feeling awesome in your own skin. Amy Webb's follow-up to When Charley Met Emma, Awesomely Emma will have all kids cheering as they learn to see the inner awesome in themselves and those around them.




Transforming Space Over Time


Book Description

Transforming Space over Time tells the stories of six diverse productions: five on Broadway and one Off Broadway. Tony Award–winning set designer Beowulf Boritt begins with the moment he was offered each job and takes readers through the conceptual development of a set, the challenges of its physical creation, and the intense process of readying it for the stage. Theater is at heart a collaborative art form, and Boritt shares revealing details of his work with the many professionals—directors, designers, technicians, producers, stage managers, and actors—who contribute their talent and ideas to each show. Included here are extensive conversations with theater legends James Lapine, Kenny Leon, Hal Prince, Susan Stroman, Jerry Zaks, and Stephen Sondheim, explaining how their different approaches to theater help to shape the vision for a set and best practices for creative collaboration. Boritt also offers valuable insights into the sometimes frustrating but unavoidable realities of the “biz” part of showbiz—budgets, promotion, reviews, and awards. Full of indispensable advice for aspiring and seasoned professionals, and with plenty of entertaining and enlightening anecdotes to engage passionate theatergoers, Transforming Space over Time peels back the curtain and illuminates the artistry and craft of professional theatrical production—and particularly the all-important collaboration of designers and directors.




Educating for Radical Social Transformation in the Climate Crisis


Book Description

This book asks how education can be developed to facilitate the radical social, cultural and economic transformations needed to deal with the ongoing climate emergency. The author illuminates important links between the work currently being done in climate change and education and the broader and older theories of radical education: an area of education theory and practice that has long grappled with the question of how to use education to create a more just society. Highlighting both current work and long traditions that include popular, progressive, feminist, anti-racist and anti-colonial education, the author draws on interdisciplinary research to make the case for how radical education can help tackle the climate change crisis. It will have direct relevance for scholars of environmental education and radical education as well as activists and practitioners.




Mike Nichols and the Cinema of Transformation


Book Description

Mike Nichols burst onto the American cultural scene in the late 1950s as one half of the comic cabaret team of Nichols and May. He became a Broadway directing sensation, then moved on to Hollywood, where his first two films--Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) and The Graduate (1967)--earned a total of 20 Academy Award nominations. Nichols won the 1968 Oscar for Best Director and later joined the rarefied EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) club. He made many other American cinematic classics, including Catch-22 (1970), Carnal Knowledge (1971), Silkwood (1983), Working Girl (1988), Postcards from the Edge (1990), and his late masterpieces for HBO, Wit (2001) and Angels in America (2003). Filmmakers like Steven Spielberg and Steven Soderbergh regard him with reverence. This first full-career retrospective study of this protean force in the American arts begins with the roots of his filmmaking in satirical comedy and Broadway theatre and devotes separate chapters to each of his 20 feature films. Nichols' permanent achievements are his critique of the ways in which culture constructs conformity and his tempered optimism about individuals' liberation by transformative awakening.




Drama in Education


Book Description

As schools have become more aware of their role in addressing personal and social issues, the importance of ‘values and attitudes’ have begun shaping education and curricula worldwide. Drama in Education explores the six fundamental pillars of the national curriculum guide of Iceland in relation to these changing values and attitudes. Focusing on the importance of human relations, this book explores literacy, sustainability, health and welfare, democracy and human rights, equality and creativity. It demonstrates the capability of drama as a teaching strategy for effectively working towards these fundamental pillars and reflects on how drama in education can be used to empower children to become healthy, creative individuals and active members in a democratic society. Offering research-based examples of using drama successfully in different educational contexts and considering practical challenges within the classroom, Drama in Education: Exploring Key Research Concepts and Effective Strategies is an essential guide for any modern drama teacher.




Fear, Cultural Anxiety, and Transformation


Book Description

The contributors to this volume explore the themes of fear, cultural anxiety, and transformation as expressed in remade horror, science fiction, and fantasy films. While opening on a note that emphasizes the compulsion of filmmakers to revisit issues concerning fear and anxiety, this collection ends with a suggestion that repeated confrontation with these issues allows the opportunity for creative and positive transformation.