The Theater Offensive
The Theater Offensive is a Boston-based theatrical organization dedicated to the production of queer works. The Theater Offensive was founded in 1989 by Abraham Rybeck "to present the diversity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender lives in art so bold it breaks through personal isolation, challenges the status quo, and builds thriving communities." The Theater Offensive mounts and produces festivals and individual productions by national and local queer performers, and also serves as a development environment for new theatrical work. In addition, The Theater Offensive works to build community through education, outreach, and political activism.
The Theater Offensive has expanded throughout its history. The True Colors OUT Youth Theater troupe concentrates on producing dramatical works produced by young, queer artists. Up until the summer of 2008, its "A Street Theater Named Desire", a guerrilla AIDS activist theater troupe, enters gay cruising grounds and presents performances that promote safe sex and AIDS education.
The Theater Offensive produces an annual Out on the Edge Festival of Queer Theater, which showcases new performing arts works by queer artists from around the world. It has been held each fall since its inception in 1992.
Awards and honors
- Bisexual and Transgender Youth (BAGLY), 2010
- Outstanding Youth Group, Hyde Square Task Force, 2010
- Valued Ally Award: Somos Latinas LGBT Coalition of Mass., 2010
- 2008 Social Innovator Through the Arts from Social Innovation Forum
- 2007 Jonathan Larson Musical Theatre Award for Surviving the Nian
- IN Newsweekly "Artist of the Year" 2006
- Improper Bostonian "Best Fringe Theater"
- Massachusetts Cultural Council Gold Star
- Gay Fathers of Greater Boston Youth Service Award, 2001
- MIT Theater Arts Playwright in Residence and Visiting Lecturer 2001-2002
- Fett Community Service Award, 2000
- Nick Norton Boston Theater Award - Special Citation, 1999
- Boston Women's Fund Take a Stand Award, 1999
- AIDS Action Committee Unsung Heroes Award, 1999
- Greater Boston Business Council Award for Individual Excellence, 1999
- City of Cambridge Peace & Justice Award, 1997
- City of Cambridge Lavender Alliance Award, 1997
- Boston Center for the Arts, Artist in Residence 1993–present
- Bessie Smith Creative Leadership Award, Boston Lesbian & Gay Political Alliance, 1989
See also
- The Year We Thought About Love, a 2015 documentary film about True Colors: Out Youth Theater
External links
- The Theatre Offensive homepage
- The Theater Offensive Repeat Offenders
- The The Theater Offensive records, 1987–2006 are located in the Northeastern University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections Department, Boston, MA.