Worcester Youth Speak Honestly

Program Details

The Worcester Youth Speak Honestly (WYSH) Project is a year-long program that includes creating an original piece of theatre based on their life experiences, a tour of the show to Worcester Public High Schools, a scholarship to take classes in the conservatory and regular meet-ups throughout the year to see Broadway and other shows at The Hanover Theatre. This program is designed to give participants a public platform where they get a chance to speak their truths. WYSH is designed to offer young people a transformative experience that fosters leadership, creative agency, an experience of community and belonging through the arts, and an understanding that there is a place for their stories and their unique voices.

WYSH helped me understand that social change can be as simple as having a conversation filled with people who are active listeners. WYSH helped me create social change by providing me the platform to have difficult, yet necessary conversations with a mass audience. This program truly changed my life forever for the better.

Program Participant

The Worcester Youth Speak Honestly (WYSH) Project is now in its 4th year at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory. The group will meet for over the course of 13 weeks (April – July) to create, rehearse and perform an original work of theatre based on their life experiences. There is no cost to participants and free food will be provided at each meeting. The program is facilitated by Master Teaching Artists but is a collaborative experience that culminates in 3 public performances at the BrickBox Theater in July.

Interested in participating but have questions or concerns? Contact Sharon Hart at [email protected].

Participants in the WYSH Project 2025 must:

• Be 14-19 years old (freshman in high school through 1 year post high school).
• Live in Worcester and be a Worcester public school student.
• Be able to attend most meetings, rehearsals and performances.
• Have a desire to share their story and a willingness to perform in front of an audience as part of an ensemble.

This program is funded in part by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, the Greater Worcester Community Foundation and the Worcester Arts Council, a local agency.