Touchstone

TOUCHSTONE REACHED NEARLY 10,000 PEOPLE THROUGH ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS, ARTS-IN-EDUCATION RESIDENCES, AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES IN THE 2022-23 SEASON. IN PRODUCTION, THE THEATRE CELEBRATED ITS' 42ND SEASON WITH A FIVE-DAY, FREE-TO-ATTEND ARTS AND COMMUNITY FESTIVAL CALLED FESTIVAL UNBOUND; PLUS, FOUR MAIN STAGE PRODUCTIONS; THREE SECOND STAGE PERFORMANCES; AND AN IN-PERSON AND LIVESTREAMED 18TH ANNUAL YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS' FESTIVAL. EDUCATION COMPLETED 21 THEATRE ARTS RESIDENCIES FOR LOCAL ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND OFFERED CAMP TOUCHSTONE AND TEEN ENSEMBLE PROGRAMS SAFELY IN PERSON, REACHING HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND SUMMER MONTHS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY, THE THEATRE'S MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN PERFORMANCE CREATION PROGRAM SERVED SEVEN STUDENTS IN THE 2022-23 YEAR AND GRADUATED TWO STUDENTS.

PRODUCTION PROGRAM: TOUCHSTONE IS A PROFESSIONAL, ENSEMBLE-BASED THEATRE OFFERING A SEASON OF ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS CREATED BY ITS RESIDENT ENSEMBLE OF ARTISTS, AS WELL AS PRESENTING NEW WORK BY VISITING GUEST ARTISTS. IN THE 2022-23 SEASON, TOUCHSTONE PRODUCED FOUR ORIGINAL MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS, THREE ORIGINAL SECOND STAGE PRODUCTIONS, AS WELL AS A STORYTELLING EXPERIENCE SENT TO PATRONS VIA THE US MAIL. TOUCHSTONE OFFERS A "PAY-WHAT-YOU-WILL" TICKET OPTION, OPENING UP THE THEATER'S UNIQUE PROGRAMMING TO AUDIENCES OF ALL INCOME LEVELS. COMMUNITY-BUILDING PROGRAMS ARE REGULARLY PRODUCED AND FOCUS ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY'S STRESSES AND SUCCESSES TO ILLUMINATE THE HUMAN CONDITION. THE THEATRE ANNUALLY PRODUCES THE ARTS-BASED, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN FESTIVAL UNBOUND. THIS YEAR, THE FESTIVAL WAS COMPRISED OF NINE UNIQUE, FREE-TO-THE-PUBLIC EVENTS AND THREE TICKETED EVENTS. THE THEATRE ALSO TOURS SELECT PRODUCTIONS TO SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, THEATERS, AND FESTIVALS.

MFA PROGRAM: TOUCHSTONE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY, OFFERS A MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN PERFORMANCE CREATION. STEMMING FROM THE THEATRE'S 20+ YEAR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, THE MFA IS PARTS ARTS INCUBATOR, PART APPRENTICESHIP - STUDENTS CREATE ORIGINAL SOLO AND ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCES, IN BOTH PRODUCTION AND LAB SETTINGS, AND TEACH THEATRE IN THE COMMUNITY WHILE RECEIVING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES IN ARTS ADMINISTRATION AND PRODUCTION. STUDENTS ARE EMBEDDED WITH TOUCHSTONE FOR THE ENTIRE PROGRAM, ADDING PROFESSIONAL CREDITS TO THEIR RESUMES ALONGSIDE THEIR EDUCATION. SPECIALIZING IN SOCIALLY ENGAGED PERFORMANCE CREATION AND COMMUNITY -BASED WORK, TOUCHSTONE THEATRE IS A PROFESSIONAL RESIDENT ENSEMBLE COMMITTED TO USING ART TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT.

EDUCATION PROGRAM: TOUCHSTONE PROVIDES TWO CORE ARTS-IN-EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO AREA SCHOOLS - YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS' LAB, GUIDING ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF WRITING THEIR OWN ORIGINAL PLAYS USING THEATRE GAMES AND EXERCISES; AND BUILDING BRIDGES, WHICH EMPLOYS THEATRE-MAKING AS A MEANS TO BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE AND POSITIVE SELF-EXPRESSION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DEALING WITH EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, AND BEHAVIORAL DIFFICULTIES. IN ADDITION, THE THEATRE OFFERS CAMP TOUCHSTONE AND TEEN ENSEMBLE, TWO IN-HOUSE SUMMER PROGRAMS THAT TEACH BASIC THEATRE SKILLS AND HOW TO CREATE ORIGINAL THEATRE COLLABORATIVELY. THE THEATRE ALSO OFFERS CUSTOM RESIDENCIES FOR SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, AND MORE BY REQUEST.