Proud Theater Productions, in conjunction with Stage Q, Outreach, Inc., and The New Harvest Foundation presented ‘Proud Theater: Loud and Clear’, a fun and exciting evening of theater, music, poetry and dance written by and starring the talented youth of Proud Theater, Madison’s very own LGBTQ youth theater troupe during last weekend of May, 2008.

Announcing~~

What: Hannah Johnson Wins PFLAG scholarship Read full announcement.

Isabel Medina wins GSAFE 2008 Community Activist Award.
Read full announcement.

More info: Call Brian Wild - 1-608-469-6685 or write to proudtheater@gmail.com

Proud Theater was founded in 1999 by Sol Kelley-Jones and Callen Harty and is currently aligned with Outreach, Inc – Madison ’s LGBTQ resource center. Proud theater is open to any youth who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning (GLBTQ), or who are the sons or daughters of GLBTQ parents, or allies of the LGBTQ community at large.

The youth gather weekly throughout the school year to improvise, create, and perform theatrical pieces, poetry, dance, and music that reflect the realities of their lives. They then share their work at performances throughout the year in the larger community – and end the year with a culminating production in May of 2008 (TBD).

The teens of Proud Theater collaboratively create all the plays and theatrical pieces themselves, with guidance from Proud Theater Artistic Director Brian Wild and prominent adult members of the Madison community including Callen Harty – local playwright and Artistic Director of Broom Street Theater, local playwright/actor Heather Renken, and with additional support from Outreach Inc, New Harvest Foundation and other members of the Madison-area theater and business community. The emphasis on original theater, music, dance, prose and poetry makes Proud Theater stand out among other like groups from across the country.

Homophobia presents many challenges in the lives of young people. As a result, these self-described “queer” youth may be more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to experience depression, family estrangement, school problems, and substance abuse. In response, Proud Theater offers encouragement, inspiration, and support on many different levels. It builds upon the youths’ innate resilience—providing them with community, security, peer support, and mentorship. This, in turn, contributes to their positive engagement with school, overall health, self-esteem and stability.

Proud Theater's tradition of celebrating rainbow symbols has a dual meaning for those members of the group who have multiracial identities. In addition to producing pieces that work to counter homophobia, anti-racist and multicultural themes are integrated into their works.

For those youth interested in becoming part of Proud Theater, please contact Brian Wild either by phone at 608-222-9086 or by e-mail – proudtheater@gmail.com . Donations can be made to Proud Theater through Outreach, Inc.

Contact Proud Theater at proudtheater@gmail.com.

Proud Theater is an award-winning, exciting and innovative youth program designed to foster self-expression and self-empowerment for Madison-area youth who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (GLBTQQ), the sons or daughters of GLBTQ parents, and other allied youth.