Performing the Peace Events Highlight Power of Theater

The Lewis Center for the Arts hosted a two-day event, Performing the Peace, organized by Lecturer in Theater Chesney Snow in partnership with the Program in Community-Engaged Scholarship. The event took place on March 23 and 24 in the Drapkin Studio and featured a screening of the film Performing the Peace and a performance by Playback Memphis.

A person holding a microphone addresses an unseen crowd as other sit in chairs in front of a projection screen that says "Performing the Peace"

Members of The Fortune Society’s Creative Arts program participate in the March 23 Performing the Peace event. Photo by Brandon Le

Actors with their arms crossed over their chests perform a dramatic scene

Playback Memphis performs on March 23. Photo by Brandon Le

Playback Memphis performs on March 23. Photo by Brandon Le

Robert Gardner, an NAACP Community Award-winning community advocate, addresses the audience on March 23. Photo by Brandon Le

Three members of an onstage panel have a discussion

Virginia Murphy, Joy Knowlton and Chris Street participate in a post film screening Q&A on March 22. Photo by Hope VanCleaf

Two men sit on stage and have a discussion

Lecturer in Theater & Music Theater Chesney Snow (right) participates in a Q&A on March 22. Photo by Hope VanCleaf

A panel sits on a stage an has a discussion

Members of Playback Memphis, the Memphis Police Department, and Lifeline to Success participate in a Q&A after the screening of Performing the Peace with Chesney Snow (right). Photo by Hope VanCleaf

A group of people post for a photo in front of a projection screen in a theater space

Participants from day two of the Performing the Peace event pose for a photo. Photo by Brandon Le

On March 22, acclaimed Emmy-nominated filmmaker Melissa Anderson Sweazy screened Performing the Peace, her film about the collaboration among Memphis-based theater company Playback Memphis, the Memphis Police Department, and Lifeline to Success. A Q&A followed the screening with the filmmaker and representatives of the police department and theater company.

On March 23, Playback Memphis presented an example of their live performance work, which trains and employs professional artists and facilitators in a listening and story sharing practice with people in a variety of settings to co-create and catalyze community well-being, social healing, and flourishing culture. Also performing were participants of The Fortune Society’s Creative Arts program and musician A.J. Khaw.

The events, cosponsored by the Prison Teaching Initiative (PTI), highlighted the power of theater to bring together police officers and members of communities that have historically been impacted negatively by policing practices in the U.S.