NEA And Alan Alda Present Grants To Irondale To Help Build Bridges Between Cops And Civilians

Irondale, Brooklyn's leading theatrical think-tank, with the support of the New York Police Department, has embarked on cycle five of To Protect, Serve, and Understandwith a new crop of diverse participants. The 10-week, 40-hour workshop will run weekly through June 5,culminating in free public performances June 8-9. Through employing tailored theater exercises developed for Irondale's long standing educational initiatives, the program creates a needed dialogue between police and the community they serve to bridge the widening gaps between them.

Created in reaction to the Eric Garner tragedy in 2015 with the support of the Collaborative Policing Division of the NYPD, the To Protect, Serve and Understandworkshop format facilitates real, raw, unfiltered, and often uncomfortable dialogue. At times participants take on the "role" of the other, to tell stories from a completely different perspective than their own. The workshops-which start with a dinner and discussion, followed by group theater games and actor-training techniques-teach a unique approach to problem-solving with non-judgmental evaluation criteria. Participants present an original performance at the end of the workshop series, telling their own stories as well as the stories of others, through improvisations and monologues.

"In these last two years, these workshops have created wonderful opportunities for police officers and community residents to explore new forms of communication. Improv requires listening and quick thinking-two skills that are required of police officers every day, both in and out of uniform," states Susan Herman, Deputy Commissioner, Collaborative Policing. "This unique partnershipleads to a change in the way both sides not only enter a situation, but also the way they interact and react, posing a positive impact on our communities overall."

"Acting is defined by the ability to relate to and understand the people around us," explains Terry Greiss, Executive Director of Irondale. "By exploring empathy, expression, and developing a desire for larger understanding, there is a higher chance of creating permanent change in the way we respond during high-stress situations. When collectively and exponentially applied, it is a dynamic vehicle for community growth and harmony."

To Protect, Serve, and Understandfollows a model that Irondale, who is celebrating their 35thseason, has used since its inception in development of Inrondale Ensemble's main-stage theatrical works and in youth programming. To date, 28 police officers and 28 civilians have participated in To Protect, Serve, and Understandover four rounds. Performances have seen audiences at capacity, with more than 1,200 community members attending the performances.

WORKSHOP AND PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

To Protect, Serve and Understand private workshops run weekly, on Tuesday nights, from April 10-June 5, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Public performances will take place June 8-9 at 7:00 p.m. All performances are FREE to the public.

VENUE DETAILS

Irondale is located at 85 South Oxford Street in Brooklyn, New York. The theater is accessible by Subway: C to Lafayette; B, D, M, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 4, or 5 to Atlantic Avenue/Pacific Street; and G to Fulton Street.

ABOUT IRONDALE

Irondale is a theater located in the heart of the Downtown Brooklyn Cultural District. It is a theatre ensemble, a performance think-tank and a laboratory for collaborative theatre- making. Irondale's unique and transformational theatre space has gained much attention as a place for both established and emerging artists to premiere major projects and showcase developing work. The Irondale Ensemble Project was founded in 1983 by Jim Niesen, Terry Greiss, and Barbara Mackenzie-Wood and is one of the longest established permanent ensemble theaters in the country. The ensemble has created over 60 Off-Broadway productions ranging from intimate chamber productions of Shakespeare to original, epic, company-devised works. Irondale's learning programs for students and community provide high quality, cutting-edge workshops and residencies designed to encourage and develop the artist in each individual and to make the skills derived from participating in making theatre a valuable contribution to successful, daily living.

ABOUT NYPD

The New York City Police Department, the largest police agency in the country, is dedicated to enhancing the City's quality of life by working in partnership with the community to enforce the law, preserve peace, reduce fear, and maintain order. The Department is committed to accomplishing its mission to protect all New Yorkers by treating every person with courtesy, professionalism, and respect, and enforcing the law impartially.