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Chicago Fusion Theatre (CFT) is a home for both artists and audiences. Through the ideal of fusion, they combine their skills and passions to expose the human condition.
Chicago Fusion Theatre’s Arts Education and Outreach program is grounded in the philosophy of Brazilian director and teacher Augusto Boal and his Theatre of the Oppressed, and Pedagogy of the Oppressed with the mission to reach out to the Chicago community and offer a safe space to unite in human expression as a means to rise above the daily oppressors. While workshops and programs are open to everyone, their focus is to develop programs with community members who may not otherwise have access to the world of art.
Theatre of the Oppressed (TO) developed by Brazilian director and teacher Augusto Boal, emerged during the 1960’s and 1970’s as a tool to unite oppressed peoples in a peaceful resistance against the oppressive Brazilian dictatorships. Theatre of the Oppressed turns spectators into actors (spectators) as a means to break oppressive structures and create a new dialogue: one of understanding and equality.
Pedagogy of the Oppressed (PO) is a theory and practice developed in the 1960’s and 1970’s by Brazilian educator and activist, Paulo Freire. His educational philosophy fought against what he called the banking model, under which students are empty accounts waiting to be filled with knowledge from their teachers. Instead, Friere proposed a dialogue between student and teacher, in which the teacher’s knowledge and the students’ knowledge are respected and valued.
Chicago Fusion Theatre (CFT) is a collective of community members whose personal and professional interests span a vast range of disciplines. Through the celebration of physical based theatre, CFT is committed to productions that fuse different genres, mediums and styles to foster a greater appreciation of the arts in the community.
Since their inception in 2007, Chicago Fusion Theatre (CFT), has pushed the boundaries of traditional theater by incorporating dance, live music, improvisational theatre, and film into their productions. In doing so, CFT has exposed its audience to genres and styles of art to which patrons are not frequently accustomed. CFT has an anchor of familiarity in the pieces, whether it be the whimsical Americana or the classic Broadway drama in J.B. as the launch pad for experimentation in a spectacle.
THE TEAM
Nilsa Reyna, Artistic Director
David Mitchell, Director of Public Relations
Christopher Kriz, Resident Sound Designer
Courtney Reed-Schaefer, Director of Arts Education
Carla Alegre, Director of Outreach
Chicago Fusion Theatre
515 Barry Avenue, Suite 558
Chicago, IL 60657-5462
chicagofusiontheatre@gmail.com
http://www.chicagofusiontheatre.org/
Here are few videos reflect some of their work.