ISEEU THEATER
"Your Story Is Our Script"
Tonia Pinheiro, Founder & Director
Iseeu Theater was founded in 2010 to teach and perform improvisational theater with Spirit, Meaning and Delight!
We use improvisation and Playback Theatre as a human way to share stories,
listen deeply, be seen and heard, know truth, know Self, heal hearts, laugh, cry and feel loved,
create meaningful connections, and express Divine Inspiration.
MISSION
The mission of Iseeu Theater is to awaken and liberate spiritual presence in human expression.
Through the artistic practice of improvisational theater, we dissolve fear and build trust on stage,
within self, and in relationship with others. This is a creative path to our collective liberation.
When spoken, Iseeu sounds like “I See You” or “I.C.U.” - Intensive Care Unit.
Our name communicates our core purpose:
to create experiences of feeling truly seen and deeply cared about
through the art, practice and performance of improvisational theater and Playback Theatre.
You're invited to express yourself! Have fun! Listen better! Gain confidence! Surprise yourself!
Learn to tell your stories and the stories of others using improvisational theater.
Challenge fear with presence! Turn beliefs into food for thought!
Improv . . . It’s Not What You Think!
We use improvisation and Playback Theatre as a human way to share stories,
listen deeply, be seen and heard, know truth, know Self, heal hearts, laugh, cry and feel loved,
create meaningful connections, and express Divine Inspiration.
MISSION
The mission of Iseeu Theater is to awaken and liberate spiritual presence in human expression.
Through the artistic practice of improvisational theater, we dissolve fear and build trust on stage,
within self, and in relationship with others. This is a creative path to our collective liberation.
When spoken, Iseeu sounds like “I See You” or “I.C.U.” - Intensive Care Unit.
Our name communicates our core purpose:
to create experiences of feeling truly seen and deeply cared about
through the art, practice and performance of improvisational theater and Playback Theatre.
You're invited to express yourself! Have fun! Listen better! Gain confidence! Surprise yourself!
Learn to tell your stories and the stories of others using improvisational theater.
Challenge fear with presence! Turn beliefs into food for thought!
Improv . . . It’s Not What You Think!
>>> Want to spread your wings? Click here for Iseeu Training <<<
and scroll down the training page to learn about the Iseeu People of Color Project
and scroll down the training page to learn about the Iseeu People of Color Project
IS IMPROVISATION AND PLAYBACK FOR YOU?
We’ve all felt the powerful effect of stories told on television, in the movies, and on stage – and some of us have heard deeply moving stories told around the kitchen table, at work or at a gathering of friends and family.
We all have stories to tell . . . stories of joy, stories of abuse, stories of shame, stories of liberation, stories of laughter, stories of loss, stories of love, stories of hitting bottom, stories of wisdom, stories of strange encounters, stories of unexpected outcomes, stories of war, stories of success, stories of betrayal, stories of courage, stories of incarceration, stories of addiction, stories of grace, stories of spirit . . . Our stories - of life and living.
Most of us wish someone would understand, really understand, who we are, what we’ve been through – or what we’re going through right now . . . because in that understanding there's a feeling of validation, a feeling that you’re not alone, a feeling that you matter, a feeling that someone really sees the hidden you.
Some of us wish the stories we have to tell could be heard by more people . . . because we know they could learn from our experiences and we could show them that someone else has walked in their shoes.
Some of us [secretly or openly] also wish we could be on stage to tell our own stories, or the stories of others... because we have a strong desire to express ourselves in that creative way and the stage gives us permission to do it without holding back.
To learn this art form you don’t have to be an actor, though you could be. Mostly you have to want to learn the unique skills of improvisation, which requires courage. Courage to enter the unknown. Courage to take risks. Courage to trust. Courage to let go. Courage to allow. Courage to stay in the moment. Courage to listen deeply. Courage to try something new, all the time. Courage to stretch or reinvent your self-image. Courage to be silly. Courage to get it wrong. Courage to allow the ‘impulse’ to have expression. Courage to explore what’s under the surface. Courage to show your heart. Courage to share your feelings. Courage to let others lead. Courage to let others follow. Courage. And then there’s Creativity.
In the process you’ll uncover your authentic Self - the real you under the defenses, beliefs and images created to protect yourself from pain, fear, betrayal, loss, mistrust, shame, and all the other feelings that cause us to close up so we don’t get hurt. You should also know that the improvisation used for Iseeu Theater is not specifically comedy improv though what we create might be funny and we’ll have fun in the practice of learning. This improv is designed for community service and social healing . . . a gift to the audience and the tellers of personal stories, and ourselves.
We’ve all felt the powerful effect of stories told on television, in the movies, and on stage – and some of us have heard deeply moving stories told around the kitchen table, at work or at a gathering of friends and family.
We all have stories to tell . . . stories of joy, stories of abuse, stories of shame, stories of liberation, stories of laughter, stories of loss, stories of love, stories of hitting bottom, stories of wisdom, stories of strange encounters, stories of unexpected outcomes, stories of war, stories of success, stories of betrayal, stories of courage, stories of incarceration, stories of addiction, stories of grace, stories of spirit . . . Our stories - of life and living.
Most of us wish someone would understand, really understand, who we are, what we’ve been through – or what we’re going through right now . . . because in that understanding there's a feeling of validation, a feeling that you’re not alone, a feeling that you matter, a feeling that someone really sees the hidden you.
Some of us wish the stories we have to tell could be heard by more people . . . because we know they could learn from our experiences and we could show them that someone else has walked in their shoes.
Some of us [secretly or openly] also wish we could be on stage to tell our own stories, or the stories of others... because we have a strong desire to express ourselves in that creative way and the stage gives us permission to do it without holding back.
To learn this art form you don’t have to be an actor, though you could be. Mostly you have to want to learn the unique skills of improvisation, which requires courage. Courage to enter the unknown. Courage to take risks. Courage to trust. Courage to let go. Courage to allow. Courage to stay in the moment. Courage to listen deeply. Courage to try something new, all the time. Courage to stretch or reinvent your self-image. Courage to be silly. Courage to get it wrong. Courage to allow the ‘impulse’ to have expression. Courage to explore what’s under the surface. Courage to show your heart. Courage to share your feelings. Courage to let others lead. Courage to let others follow. Courage. And then there’s Creativity.
In the process you’ll uncover your authentic Self - the real you under the defenses, beliefs and images created to protect yourself from pain, fear, betrayal, loss, mistrust, shame, and all the other feelings that cause us to close up so we don’t get hurt. You should also know that the improvisation used for Iseeu Theater is not specifically comedy improv though what we create might be funny and we’ll have fun in the practice of learning. This improv is designed for community service and social healing . . . a gift to the audience and the tellers of personal stories, and ourselves.
Your class was amazing! You made the process so fun and engaging.” ~ Lisa
"This type of theater is an antidote that can bring healing to a community eroded by the lack of fairness
and can ignite greater systemic change." ~ Carolyn
(Read more on Audience Comments Page)
"This type of theater is an antidote that can bring healing to a community eroded by the lack of fairness
and can ignite greater systemic change." ~ Carolyn
(Read more on Audience Comments Page)
>>> Is this calling to you? Click here for Iseeu Training <<<
and scroll down the training page to learn about the Iseeu People of Color Project
and scroll down the training page to learn about the Iseeu People of Color Project
A BIT MORE ABOUT PLAYBACK
Playback Theatre was founded in 1975 by Jonathan Fox and Jo Salas and is now practiced throughout the world. You can learn more about it here http://playbacktheatre.org and here http://www.playbackcentre.org/. You can read the history here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playback_Theatre
To view some short videos to learn more about the power of Playback Theater visit True Story Theater's website: https://truestorytheater.com/about-us/how-a-show-works/
If you go to Youtube.com and type "Playback Theatre" in the search field, you can see lots of videos illustrating Playback and the props used (boxes, colored cloths, musical instruments). Here are 2 videos from Synergy in Action that explain Playback Theatre http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_hyFLVkojw [2:36] and capture personal testimonies from high school students in Washington DC about it's impact on them http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpreqmeeO_w [4:25].
Playback Theatre was founded in 1975 by Jonathan Fox and Jo Salas and is now practiced throughout the world. You can learn more about it here http://playbacktheatre.org and here http://www.playbackcentre.org/. You can read the history here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playback_Theatre
To view some short videos to learn more about the power of Playback Theater visit True Story Theater's website: https://truestorytheater.com/about-us/how-a-show-works/
If you go to Youtube.com and type "Playback Theatre" in the search field, you can see lots of videos illustrating Playback and the props used (boxes, colored cloths, musical instruments). Here are 2 videos from Synergy in Action that explain Playback Theatre http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_hyFLVkojw [2:36] and capture personal testimonies from high school students in Washington DC about it's impact on them http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpreqmeeO_w [4:25].
Singing in Playback - some tips by Tonia Pinheiro - interviewed by Anne Ellinger, both of True Story Theater.
ABOUT YOUR TRAINER
Tonia Pinheiro has been a musical performer all of her life, singing with The Indigos, Goddess Gospel, Improvelocity and East Coast Chant among others. In 1997 she began the study of improv acting with Daena Giardella and has also studied vocal improv with Rhiannon and Joey Blake. In 2003 she joined True Story Theater, a Playback Theatre company based in Arlington MA.
Tonia has honed her improv acting skills through various Boston area theater projects (Boston Transformational Theater, Indescribable Improv, Open Hearth, Dramatic Insight, Drama of Medical Encounters, T.A.L.K. Project) and by teaching improv and Playback to adults, teens and children (Boston Medical Center Expressive Arts Program, City Life Vida Urbana, Project HIP-HOP, Bikes Not Bombs Girls in Action program, Close to Home - Youth Dating Violence, Lifers at Bay State Correctional Center, Women Ex-Offenders Recovery Project, Riverside Theater Girls Improv, Hyde Square Task Force Teen Awareness of Sexual Harassment, Project Rethink Teen Empowerment Program in New Orleans LA, Citi Performing Arts Center Teen Leadership summer program, and more).
Tonia Pinheiro has been a musical performer all of her life, singing with The Indigos, Goddess Gospel, Improvelocity and East Coast Chant among others. In 1997 she began the study of improv acting with Daena Giardella and has also studied vocal improv with Rhiannon and Joey Blake. In 2003 she joined True Story Theater, a Playback Theatre company based in Arlington MA.
Tonia has honed her improv acting skills through various Boston area theater projects (Boston Transformational Theater, Indescribable Improv, Open Hearth, Dramatic Insight, Drama of Medical Encounters, T.A.L.K. Project) and by teaching improv and Playback to adults, teens and children (Boston Medical Center Expressive Arts Program, City Life Vida Urbana, Project HIP-HOP, Bikes Not Bombs Girls in Action program, Close to Home - Youth Dating Violence, Lifers at Bay State Correctional Center, Women Ex-Offenders Recovery Project, Riverside Theater Girls Improv, Hyde Square Task Force Teen Awareness of Sexual Harassment, Project Rethink Teen Empowerment Program in New Orleans LA, Citi Performing Arts Center Teen Leadership summer program, and more).
Playback moments with True Story Theater - Let's Watch!
Tonia, Christopher, Ukumbwa
Anne, Kamau, Michelle, Tonia
Anne, Ani, Tonia, Kamau