The 1999 Columbine High School shooting and its aftermath motivated Bill Ward—Artistic Director of Flint Youth Theatre (FYT) in Flint, MI—to think about developing a play that would explore the issue of school violence. Over several months, the theater began to discuss just how it would translate this topic to the stage. Then, the unspeakable occurred—a fatal school shooting at a Flint Elementary School. This tragedy lent gravity to Ward’s original idea and presented further challenges to the company's efforts to treat the subject responsibly. The play, ...My Soul to Take, was produced a full year later—a multilayered, nonlinear work of art that served as the centerpiece for a larger span of activities. The project refocused attention on the causes and effects of school violence and what actions this community could take to prevent it from happening again. Multiple approaches to dialogue over eight months included Process Drama workshops that informed the play’s script; small group Study Circles to share ideas about school violence and possible solutions; and post performance dialogue and other events.

This case study, written by project director Sue Wood, recounts the evolution of this project from the inside and in the context of Flint Youth Theatre’s social issue-based work. This story shows how a cultural organization may effectively contribute to broader public discourse on a pressing issue and how it might address a community trauma so as not to exploit the incident or victims. It analyzes the particular aesthetic style of FYT’s production, and how that style evolved from and supported dialogue. Finally, Flint Youth Theatre candidly reflects on being highly effective in arts-based civic dialogue, while also questioning the degree to which it can engage in civic issues.

The 1999 Columbine High School shooting and its aftermath motivated Bill Ward—Artistic Director of Flint Youth Theatre (FYT) in Flint, MI—to think about developing a play that would explore the issue of school violence. Over several months, the theater began to discuss just how it would translate this topic to the stage. Then, the unspeakable occurred—a fatal school shooting at a Flint Elementary School. This tragedy lent gravity to Ward’s original idea and presented further challenges to the company's efforts to treat the subject responsibly. The play, ...My Soul to Take, was produced a full year later—a multilayered, nonlinear work of art that served as the centerpiece for a larger span of activities. The project refocused attention on the causes and effects of school violence and what actions this community could take to prevent it from happening again. Multiple approaches to dialogue over eight months included Process Drama workshops that informed the play’s script; small group Study Circles to share ideas about school violence and possible solutions; and post performance dialogue and other events.

This case study, written by project director Sue Wood, recounts the evolution of this project from the inside and in the context of Flint Youth Theatre’s social issue-based work. This story shows how a cultural organization may effectively contribute to broader public discourse on a pressing issue and how it might address a community trauma so as not to exploit the incident or victims. It analyzes the particular aesthetic style of FYT’s production, and how that style evolved from and supported dialogue. Finally, Flint Youth Theatre candidly reflects on being highly effective in arts-based civic dialogue, while also questioning the degree to which it can engage in civic issues.