About Face Youth Theatre

In mid-August, a video and theater production entitled, "History in Voices: Capturing Stories About Growing Up in the Era of HIV and AIDS" was presented at the Hoover-Leppen Theatre in the Center on Halsted. The event featured spoken word, music, and dance by members of Chicago's About Face Youth Theatre.

Joining with Beyondmedia Education and Broadway Youth Center, the theatre group is creating a main stage play, a sex education video, and a full-length documentary about what it's like growing up in the era of HIV and AIDS. It is directed by Paula Gilovich and will have a world premiere in summer 2008.

The About Face Youth Theatre is an award-winning and arts-based program for Chicago's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning youth and their allies (LGBTQA), ages 14-21 years old. Its mission is to provide "innovative and rigorous arts-based series of programs that increases the safety, empowerment and leadership capacity of in order to catalyze youth-led civic dialogue and action within schools and communities."

Their mission statement adds that it is dedicated to "giving voice to queer youth, creating performance opportunities for young artists, and connecting young activists to LGBTQ leaders in the community". The AFYT premieres as part of the About Face Theatre main stage season. They believe that involving youth in the process of performing an ensemble-based play with accomplished adult artists encourages youth to become "agents for change" in their communities.

About Face Youth Theatre has been inducted into the city's Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame and is the recipient of the Human First Award by Horizon's Community Services. It has also received the Illinois with the Community Empowerment Award from the State's Attorney's Office of Cook County. In addition, the program has been recognized by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) with the Chicago Pathfinder Award.

Funding for About Face Youth Theatre includes the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, the Illinois Arts Council Youth Employment Fund, and the Illinois Humanities Council. Tickets for the production of "History in Voices" will be on sale in February 2008. For further information, please visit aboutfacetheatre.com