2023 TNGV Theatre Project

On December 12, 2023, the fall Social Impact Studio in theatre presented a performance focused on busting commonly-held myths about gun violence in our communities and how it impacts everyone in different ways. The collaboratively devised performance begins with a dynamic land acknowledgment and historical context-setting for the city of Boston before taking the audience on a theatrical train journey toward an imagined future of collective healing, justice, and peace.

A Look Inside the Project

Social Impact Studios, facilitated by the Engagement Lab, give Emerson students and faculty the opportunity to work directly with local grassroots changemakers to co-create media projects that will make an impact in Boston and beyond.

This performance was co-created in Fall 2023’s Social Impact Studio in theatre, in partnership with the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence and the Massachusetts General Hospital’s Gun Violence Prevention Center.

"For me, growing up, it was really hard to see everything that was happening in my community and being like, well it keeps happening and nobody’s doing anything about it. But people ARE doing things about it. And I’m grateful for not only the people who are out in the community, but also students and professors, teachers who are doing their part. I really wanted to make sure we were honoring the partners who were in the room with us every week.”

— Sydney Rice, student