“They were all looking for connection, looking for something outside of themselves, and in came this wonderful piece from Lit to Life…students actually ended up staying after class because our conversations after LTL sessions were just phenomenal."
~ Erin Moughon-Smith, Drama Teacher, Bronx Academy of Letters
Literature to Life’s mission is to inspire young people to read and become authors of their own lives. Our educational programs include:
Signature Performances: Professionally staged presentations of award-winning literary works performed by a single actor, accompanied by pre- and post-show discussions facilitated by an LTL Teaching Artist.
Workshops & Residencies: Surrounding a Literature to Life Signature Performance, educators and presenters are encouraged to include an LTL Workshop or an LTL Residency (series of workshops) to enhance and deepen student connection to the themes and characters in the book, working directly with an LTL Teaching Artist.
Professional Development: Opportunities for teachers and educators to learn new strategies and integrate the arts into their classrooms. Artists hone their craft, broaden their skill set, and develop leadership capacity through mentorship.
Wynn Handman Partnership Program: Schools partner with LTL to provide subsidized programming where it is needed most.
Our titles include books on middle and high-school reading lists and NEA Big Read selections, alongside classic or contemporary works that get at the heart of young people’s experiences. Stories built around central protagonists struggling with dilemmas that are relatable to today’s youth and can act as a catalyst for social and emotional exploration.
Our programs engage students in varying points of view of the human condition, inspiring them to creatively express their full potential as individuals and to become change makers within their communities.
Students learn to:
Comprehend and critique as they cite specific evidence from the story through discussions and writing.
Question assumptions and premises of author, character, and society.
Understand other perspectives and cultures.
Demonstrate independent thinking as they articulate their own ideas on racism, justice, identity and values.
Consider the implications for their own decisions in life
Our commitment to your audiences during this time:
Literature to Life (LTL) knows that incorporating the arts into our lives and into cross-curricular and social-emotional learning is more important than ever before. Throughout the days of social distancing, remote/hybrid learning, and safety precautions, we found new ways of connecting and building relationships with students and audiences. And as we move into our "new normal," educators around the country have continued to express the need for dynamic content that can be weaved seamlessly into their lesson plans, while theaters strive to keep their audiences engaged in ways that are safe and economically feasible. LTL answers the call, bringing the power of literature directly to you both live as well as through virtual or pre-recorded performances and remote workshops and residencies. Please check under each Active Title for virtual/remote availability!