Woke Theater: The Evolution of Social Justice Theater

The arts have the power to inspire change in a way that an argument comprised of cold objective facts cannot. The arts have a special ability to inspire change in society not only because they can inform an audience about a particular issue, but because they can bring an emotional urgency to said issue. New York City in particular has always been a world leader in the arts and social liberty, being the diverse metropolis that it is. It has played a vital role in the history of social justice theater and continues to be an epicenter for the development of the art form. In the following case study of New York City’s social justice, non-profit theater scene, I explore theater’s place in society, not just as a form of entertainment or a business, but as a tool to inspire change in a community and in the world. For my research, I analyze the theory behind social justice theater, examine the history and development of the art form, and present social justice theater companies that are active in New York City today. Through this process, I probe the following questions: How do theater companies that focus on social justice come about? Is the field of social justice theater expanding? What challenges and opportunities face this field? And is this type of theater an effective tool for creating social change