Waterbury Public School, Waterbury, CT

“I am a 5th grade teacher who has had the privilege of work with Anthony and innerACT Theater for 3 years now. InnerACT comes to my classroom and and implements workshops combining curriculum and standards with theatre, acting, and expression. innerACT allows students to apply what they learn in reading, writing, science, and math in a theatrical manner. The program creatively incorporates using students’ bodies, imagination, and oral language skills to both demonstrate understanding of concepts, but also develops self-confidence in areas such as performance and public speaking. InnerAct provides students with a unique opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge while developing communication, collaborative, higher-order thinking, and self-confidence skills. InnerAct uses techniques that promote team building and ensemble work. This theatre education cultivates personal interaction and helps children present themselves in a well-rounded, confident manner, while meeting educational expectations.

I have observed significant change in my students throughout the implementation of the innerACT workshops. Just last week the students had to publish a biography report and share out in front of the entire class. I noticed an incredible increase of confidence - students were not as nervous to speak publicly and used some of innerACT strategies to make their presentations more engaging. Some students even acted out some of the moments in their biography subject’s life! I also have noticed a change in the way my students handle conflict. Instead of confrontation, many of my students are able to express their thoughts and feelings much more clearly than ever before. I can attribute this to the activities practiced during the workshops that reinforce verbal and nonverbal communication skills.

I would highly recommend this program to any and all teachers who are looking for a fun and engaging way to support curricular expectations. Anthony is a pleasure to work with and makes the workshops as simple as possible. He will send you his plans and ideas well in advance and does not require any extra work from the teacher other than participation in the workshops. This is an excellent program and should be a staple in all schools!”

— Mallory, Waterbury, CT