“Will New Victory be coming back next year?” asked Dennis, a sixth grader at Dr. Sun Yat Sen Middle School 131 in Lower Manhattan. “Maybe they could come back and teach us again in seventh grade and eighth grade.”
Summer vacation was just days away, and Dennis and his classmates had recently presented projects they developed as part of New Victory Theater’s Speak Up, Act Out program. With support from a Trust grant, the program places teaching artists in classrooms across the city and guides students as they explore social issues through the arts.
For MS 131’s residency, three sixth-grade classes worked with teaching artists Neil Dawson and Pallas Gutierrez to prepare performances, brochures, and posters to raise awareness about topics the students selected.
“We got to learn this technique called tableaux,” said Dennis, referring to performers arranging themselves into a still image to depict a scene.
Dennis’ class chose littering. “Our tableaux represented plants and trees and picking up litter,” he said. “And one of our posters said, ‘We can do better.’”
Another class focused on inflation, using quotes from economist Milton Friedman and creating visual scenes to explore the everyday impact of rising prices.
“Our group picked inflation because we thought it was important to let people know what inflation is and what you can do to overcome it,” Max said.
Max’s classmate Sherry said there had initially been a tie for their project topic between smoking and inflation. “But more people chose inflation,” she said.
Students also created live public service announcements (PSAs), which they performed before an audience of schoolmates, teachers, and parents.
“Our PSA was about gun violence and why it should be stopped, and also the statistics of how many people die from guns in terms of homicides,” said Jayden, also a sixth grader at MS 131.
“Most of my class voted for that topic because we experience it in our neighborhoods,” Jayden’s classmate Thai said. Students read articles, responded to freewriting prompts, and pulled quotes from their journals to use in their performances.
Dawson and Gutierrez set the stage for thoughtful group discussions.
“We always led with care,” said Dawson. “We created guidelines on how to talk about trauma and how to support each other in a respectful manner. We wanted the students to know that their emotions were valid and that art could be a powerful way to share them.”
The program offers a variety of ways for students to participate, which Gutierrez said helps teaching artists meet students where they are and engage with them based on their individual interests and comfort level.
“Some students who were shy about public speaking found their place in graphic design or poster making. It allowed everyone to feel ownership over the process,” Gutierrez said. “Even the quietest students showed growth.”
Holly Obernauer, a sixth-grade teacher at MS 131, witnessed the benefits of the program for her class and the school community.
“Pallas and Neil were fantastic. The students really looked forward to their sessions each Friday—they brought a whole new energy to the classroom,” said Obernauer. “It was also great how the program helped parents get involved by attending the final presentations.”
In addition to participating in Speak Up, Act Out, MS 131 is part of New Victory’s education partnership program, which builds relationships with city schools and gives students the chance to attend performances at its Midtown theater.
“New Victory’s programs are so important, not only for their academic benefits, but because they help students build confidence, creative skills, and empathic relationships,” said Leigh Ross, The Trust’s program director for arts education.
During the 2024-25 school year, Speak Up, Act Out reached more than 250 students at five schools, including specialized classrooms for young people with justice involvement and students with disabilities.
Next year, Speak Up, Act Out will expand to five new schools across the city, and continue to offer students the chance to see themselves as artists, activists, and collaborators in shaping their communities.
“There are certain values a true artist has to embody,” said Dawson. “And humanity is one of them. Nina Simone said, ‘How can you be an artist and not reflect the times?’ That’s something I live by. I see our students living by that too.”
