We Are All Rogue Actors: Reflecting on the “Stage the Change” Workshop
On March 1, 2025, we opened the doors for our very first Rogue Acts Theater workshop: "Stage the Change," an act-ivating creative gathering inspired by our upcoming production of Lauren Gunderson’s The Revolutionists for Women’s History Month.
“We are Rogue Acts Theater — and by we, I mean everyone in this room.”
We welcomed everyone with this reminder that when you take part in our work, you’re a “Rogue Actor.” Our mission is to bring theater beyond the stage towards a better world. With each Rogue Act, we invite our community to make theater with us, rather than simply watch it unfold from a distance. The magic lies in how that creativity carries on after the workshop or production ends, inspiring new perspectives and bold choices in the world beyond our walls.
Building Our Vocabulary of Changemaking
We kicked off the workshop by collaboratively building our alphabet of words that capture what it means to be a changemaker. Our brainstorming generated a lively mix of sometimes contradictory ideas, revealing that there’s no one-size-fits-all way to approach progress. Building our collective vocabulary affirmed that embracing nuance and diverse perspectives is precisely what makes real transformation possible. It was a spirited start to the day, setting the stage for the creative exploration that followed.
Listening to the Echoes of History
Once our creativity was in full flow, we turned our attention to the words of women throughout history, reading monologues from Olympe de Gouges, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Angela Davis, Gloria Steinem, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Hearing these voices back to back reminded us that changemaking is never confined to one moment; it’s part of an ongoing story. We used their words as a bridge into exploring how we, too, have our own chapters to write—ones that can build on, challenge, or reinvent the paths these trailblazers cleared.
Writing Our Own Stories
The turning point of the workshop came when we wrote and performed our own “declarations,” taking cues from Olympe de Gouges’ Declaration on the Rights of Women, which features prominently in The Revolutionists. Some penned letters to future generations; some read poems; others shared raw, urgent pleas about reproductive health, community care, and mutual aid.
Witnessing these declarations was an emotional experience. There were tears, laughter, and a collective sense that we were all part of something bigger—a legacy of changemakers who dream boldly and refuse to wait for permission to transform the world. We stood up one by one to claim our voices, and in doing so, discovered new strength in ourselves and in each other.
A Living Pamphlet for The Revolutionists
The best part? These heartfelt monologues and writings will soon appear in our production of The Revolutionists, running March 14–16, 2025 in Geneva, Illinois. The set itself will function as a living pamphlet, inspired by the pamphlets of the French Revolution. When you come to see the show, you’ll see how these brand new declarations from our community mingle with powerful historical texts, making the entire stage a tapestry of voices past and present.
Go rogue. Act out. Make a scene.
If you’re moved by the idea of turning performance into genuine community-building, here are a few ways to get involved:
Conclusion: Rehearsing the revolution(ists)
I walked away from “Stage the Change” feeling both humbled and energized — humbled by the courage and creativity of those who joined us, and energized to turn our words into action. In the words of Augusto Boal:
“The theater itself is not revolutionary; it is a rehearsal for the revolution.”
Here’s to continuing this powerful conversation and rehearsal—on the stage, in our communities, and wherever else we’re called to make change.
See you at the show—and welcome to Rogue Acts Theater.
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