Conceived as the educational program of the American Place Theatre more than three decades ago, Literature to Life (LTL) is a performance-based literacy program that presents professionally staged verbatim adaptations of American literary classics.

The American Place Theatre (APT) was founded in 1962 by veteran director, acting teacher, and producer Wynn Handman, with Sidney Lanier and Michael Tolan at St. Clement's Church in New York City. It developed a reputation for fostering new works, including adaptations of outstanding writers such as Robert Lowell, Joyce Carol Oates, Ed Bullins, and Sylvia Plath. APT nurtured and produced works by cutting-edge American playwrights including Sam Shepard, Maria Irene Fornes, Emily Mann, Richard Nelson, and Ronald Ribman. In addition to a focus on bringing writers from other literary genres (poets, novelists) to the stage, Wynn cultivated the works of unconventional actors/writers, fostering the multi-character genre now associated with solo performance. Solo performances that premiered at APT include Eric Bogosian’s Drinking in America, Bill Irwin’s The Regards of Flight, John Leguizamo’s Mambo Mouth, and Aasif Mandvi’s Sakina’s Restaurant. 

Wynn Handman also served as teacher and mentor for such luminaries as: Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken, Michael Douglas, Richard Gere, Alec Baldwin, Mira Sorvino, and Mia Farrow. In the early 90s, one of Wynn’s acting students brought in excerpts from Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye to work on in class. As Wynn and his student developed these excerpts, they realized that there was the potential to create a full production that could be of special interest for youth audiences. Elise Thoron had been developing an interactive educational program at APT teaching social studies with an ensemble of actors.  As a child, she had attended performances at APT and watched Wynn lead post-play discussions with adult audiences. Literature to Life’s format of performance alongside engaged discussion grew organically from Wynn and APT’s practices. 

Wynn and Elise started adapting novels from the New York City Public High School reading list into exceptional solo performances, accompanied by facilitated discussions designed to inspire students' imagination and critical consciousness. By prioritizing programming in neighborhoods where poverty is high and the availability of cultural services is scarce, Literature to Life has reached thousands of BIPOC students and immigrant youths for whom English is a second language. 

As Literature to Life grew into its second decade, we started touring nationally to performing arts and cultural centers, colleges, prisons, and homeless shelters across the country, reaching remote communities that do not have access to quality performing arts. We partner with regional libraries and arts centers across the country and have created community events with the National Endowment for the Art’s (NEA) Big Read, as well as with a dedicated cohort of national partners who book shows annually.  

Our performances connect with audiences on a personal level, regardless of their circumstances. We have witnessed audiences engage in passionate discussion, whether they saw our performance at a community center in West Harlem, a public school in Cypress Hills, or an upscale retirement community on Long Island. Our workshops are tailored to allow the public to connect with their own human experience, and the specific aspects of their socioeconomic, racial, religious, or ethnic background. Our commitment to advocate for voices unheard and stories untold has been the driving force of our mission.

“There is so much noise in the entertainment world today, but where is the mind? We are not going for noise, we are going for the core. We do things that stay with youth, that gets to them in a deep way.”

- Wynn Handman

When American Place Theatre closed its doors, Literature to Life merged with Young Audiences New York (YANY) and functioned under their auspices for six years, continuing to maintain the high quality of performance and educational work for which we became known. Now, Literature to Life is an independent organization and proud to be carrying forward the spirit of Wynn Handman and American Place Theatre into the future. After all these years, Literature to Life continues igniting students’ imagination with our signature performances, and ensuring their voices are heard. As an organization, we embrace our core values of mentorship and empowerment for our company members as well as the students we serve.

The Wynn Handman Fund was established to honor Wynn’s legacy and support educational programming where it’s needed most by partnering with schools and communities via The Wynn Handman Partnership Program. Click below for more information: