Lessons from Re-Writing the Declaration, a virtual, participatory play

Abstract

ABSTRACT The article details some of the process of creating and performing the participatory, virtual play, Re-Writing the Declaration, which invited the audience to re-imagine our nation’s founding through a Black, queer, feminist lens. The article highlights the unique challenges and opportunities of creating theatre in a virtual space, particularly the use of Zoom’s chat function as a tool for audience participation and community building. The author reflects on the ensemble’s shared identity as educators and how this shaped the play’s creation and performance. The article concludes by suggesting potential applications for the play in the field of Theatre for Young Audiences and emphasizing the importance of centering marginalized voices in the creation of theatre.