We believe a book can transform a life!

Literature to Life (LTL) is a performance-based literacy program that presents professionally staged verbatim adaptations of American literary classics. Founded as the educational program of the American Place Theatre more than three decades ago, LTL carries forward the legacy of founder Wynn Handman, who championed American writers of diverse backgrounds as “voices worth hearing” - a pioneering notion in the 1960s. Now under the leadership of Literature to Life co-founding Artistic Director, Elise Thoron, this mighty collective of artists and educators brings the voices of diverse authors to thousands of students and audiences nationwide, giving them the tools to become the empowered “voices worth hearing” of our future.

Our Mission

We perform great books that inspire young people to read and become authors of their own lives. With a dedicated company of extraordinary actors and teaching artists, who reflect the diversity and inclusion in our roster of books, we connect with communities and schools through the performances and discussions around classic stories, and conduct workshops that expand students’ capacity to understand and express differing points of view.

Our Vision

We believe a book can transform a life. Sharing the power of great literature can inspire us as individuals, and gives us common ground to build a just, inclusive society based on human truth.

We perform wherever a book is needed most: classrooms, libraries, assembly halls, black box theaters, prisons, shelters, national theaters, and presenting venues all across the country.

We model our company on mentorship and the growth we seek to create in the world. The tools we give students we practice ourselves: critical thinking, self-reflection, social consciousness, and activism.