Check out this fantastic interview with Chris Fitz, the Founder. He is also the Artistic Director of River Crossing Playback Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Chris has been involved in improvisational arts since 2003. His ensemble uses Playback Theatre to build community. They do this by dramatically portraying real-life stories.
He is a trained mediator. He was the Executive Director of the Center for Community Peacemaking. He specializes in Restorative Justice. These are community-based practices that deal with harm and promote healing in schools, communities, and the legal system.
Chris sees Playback Theatre as a tool for personal and social healing. He emphasizes the power of storytelling to foster connection, belonging, and understanding. Through performances like “Healing York,” his troupe has addressed issues like racial harm, showing how storytelling can help heal communities.
Chris believes in the importance of repeated dialogue and rituals to foster belonging, whether in-person or online. He offers advice to community builders on engaging participants. Chris recommends not relying too heavily on presentations.
His focus remains on creating safe spaces for people to connect. He aims to help them share their stories and deal with community challenges through both art and conversation.
