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 others show 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 group meets over the course of 13 weeks (April–July) to create, rehearse and perform an original work of art. There is no cost to participants and free food is provided at each meeting. The cast work with professional theatre artists each week and perform at the BrickBox Theater in July.

For more information on how to participate, contact Sharon Hart at [email protected].

The WYSH Project 2023 culminated in three FREE public performances at the BrickBox Theater July 14-15, 2023.

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.

Participants in the WYSH Project 2023 must:

• Live or attend school in Worcester.
• Be 14-19 years old.
• 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.