Healing Arts and Wellness Programming

MPT has a strong commitment to increasing access to effective healing arts and wellness programming. We create touring shows and workshops for children, youth, families and seniors with a focus on health education. We train artists to work with special needs populations.

DRUM CIRCLES AND RHYTHM WORKSHOPS: Truly hands-on workshops involve people of all ages and abilities in the listening, leadership, team-building and empowering experience of making music together. All ages.

HEALTHY CHOICES: A specific group of interactive programs encouraging children to make healthy lifestyle choices. Includes F.A.Q.S., Fun&Fit4Ever, Interactive Theatre and Rainbow Cirqus Arts

Keynotes and Workshops: Dr. Barbara Leigh
Humor and Healing/The Art of Healing from a Patient’s Point of View

Featuring excerpts from SURVIVAL REVIVAL REVUE, Barbara Leigh’s one-woman musical comedy about the healing process. Available for people suffering from serious injury or illness, health care professionals, teachers and the general public. Also HUMOR AND HEALING, monologues/performances on the value of humor and the arts during healing. Suitable for high school - adult audiences.

Barbara Leigh is the co-founder of the Milwaukee Public Theater. She has co-created and produced over 90 original plays and revues with the company and has performed and given talks on acting, ensemble creation, diversity, healing and disability issues throughout the US and Canada. In this presentation, Dr. Leigh talks about her experience of the healing process following an accident in which she was partially paralyzed. She includes activities for relieving stress for caregivers and their clients utilizing the arts. Barbara's biography

Tap the Potential, Disabilities Awareness Month--Artists with disabilities take aim at stereotypes throughout October as part of Tap the Potential—a celebration of the talent and vision of individuals with special needs. The project is coordinated by Milwaukee Public Theatre, VSA Wisconsin, Goodwill Industries and Milwaukee County Office for Persons with Disabilities. Read more.

PIECES: IN MY OWN VOICE: A play by Brenda Wesley of NAMI Greater Milwaukee that educates audiences about mental illness and provides ongoing informational resources. High school - Adult. Read more.

SUPERSTARS: Arts and drama camp for students on the autism spectrum, their siblings and friends. Workshops foster the development of social skills and acceptance through music, drama, and art in the creation of a play. A performance for family and friends follows the camp. Read more.

UNCLOTHED…the naked truth: Survivors’ Stories of Sexual Abuse and Healing: Based on real interviews with women who have been sexually assaulted, the play is about their experiences and how they have been able to find healing. Classroom support provided for student audiences. Suitable for high school - adult audiences.

Contact Milwaukee Public Theatre at 414-347-1685 or by email to book any of these programs. Many are available free or at very low cost. We may be able to help you secure funding to support shows, workshops, residencies and community events.

I SEE YOU!--This project increased awareness of depression and suicide among teens, increased the willingness to talk about it, and encouraged teens to seek support for themselves or provide support and referrals to help their peers suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts.

There were three phases: 1) teen-led peer talking circles; 2) a half-day summit at each school; and 3) a public performance using Playback Theatre techniques at each high school, in which personal stories from audience members are re-presented as theatrical improvisations.

The project was conducted at Alliance School and Pulaski High School in 2012.

James Murrell led the project. Join Playback Milwaukee Theatre on Facebook.

Milwaukee Public Theatre administered the project and oversee the grant funds from the Charlesl E. Kubly Foundation. Peer Solutions Program implemented the teen circles and workshops. Playback Milwaukee Theatre Company (PBMKE) conducted the circles, the workshops, and produced the theatre performance.

From the Start, Consider the Finish, 2011--Milwaukee Public Theatre, with support from the Wisconsin Humanities Council, produced and toured an original musical play that helps families begin the often challenging conversation about end-of-life planning. From the Start, Consider the Finish, presented in partnership with Voices Theater, told real-life stories in a statewide tour of ten venues in 2011. Three different RESOURCE GUIDES are still available for download. Click here for a complete review of the project.

MINO AYAA or Being Well, 2010-2011 —An innovative intergenerational project encouraged healthy lifestyles among Native American families in the Milwaukee area, supported by a grant from Forest County Potawatomi Community Foundation. The project was initiated by the Ignace Health Center and incorporated storytelling, visual art, and performing art workshops. Read an illustrated summary of the 2010-11 program and its resultant cookbook.

Read a past Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article on MPT's healing arts focus.

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One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade.
- Chinese proverb -

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