The Marti Stevens Interactive Improvisational Theater is a Maine-based, non-profit troupe committed to using this engaging live theater form to address real world, life-challenging issues.
The company was founded by Marti Stevens, an adult education program director, in 1985. She was, according to her colleagues and contemporaries, a force to be reckoned with. Marti launched the Literacy Awareness Theater to work closely with Adult Education programs across Maine to make teachers, tutors and community members aware of the subtle and not-so-subtle struggles that non-readers face.
Marti first used Improvisational Interactive Theater with teens to address issues such as date rape, substance abuse and teen pregnancy. In 1984 Stevens brought her theater to adult educators at the Northern New England Conference. From there, the newly formed Northern New England Social Action (NNESA) group began a collaboration that addressed a variety of concerns in adult education and local communities.
The company was founded by Marti Stevens, an adult education program director, in 1985. She was, according to her colleagues and contemporaries, a force to be reckoned with. Marti launched the Literacy Awareness Theater to work closely with Adult Education programs across Maine to make teachers, tutors and community members aware of the subtle and not-so-subtle struggles that non-readers face.
Marti first used Improvisational Interactive Theater with teens to address issues such as date rape, substance abuse and teen pregnancy. In 1984 Stevens brought her theater to adult educators at the Northern New England Conference. From there, the newly formed Northern New England Social Action (NNESA) group began a collaboration that addressed a variety of concerns in adult education and local communities.
Learn about Marti Stevens and The Cornville Players in this excerpt used with permission of the author.
At the 1985 Commission on Adult Basic Education Conference in Montreal, these seasoned adult educators from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont illustrated that Literacy Theater was a dynamic and effective staff-training model. LSCA Library Literacy and National Literacy Institute grants enabled the Social Action Theater to perform and train in forty-six states. Eighteen theater groups formed around the country to perform and interact with audiences in their own communities.
In Maine, the Maine Literacy Theater (MLT) was performing and providing training to adult educators and community groups under Marti’s direction. Following Marti Stevens’ passing in 1993, the decision was made to continue her great work, and the Marti Stevens Interactive Improvisational Theater was born. Ever since, a group of dedicated actors from many walks of life provide training opportunities all over Maine, for educators, government, non-profits and business.
In Maine, the Maine Literacy Theater (MLT) was performing and providing training to adult educators and community groups under Marti’s direction. Following Marti Stevens’ passing in 1993, the decision was made to continue her great work, and the Marti Stevens Interactive Improvisational Theater was born. Ever since, a group of dedicated actors from many walks of life provide training opportunities all over Maine, for educators, government, non-profits and business.