The piece lasts approximately one hour and works best followed by a question and answer session where the storytellers interact with the audience and, then share their concerns and vision for the present and future. The audience gets a glimpse into other people's experiences and hopes which, in turn, helps them reflect on their own lives and see that they, too, can make a difference.

Our goal is that audiences will leave the performance with greater awareness of both personal and institutional prejudice and a realistic, yet upbeat, conviction that they can do something to un-create racism.

To date, the live performance of Tribes & Bridges (which recently received an Illinois Arts tour Grant) has been performed at over two dozen schools and community groups plus one major storytelling festival. Tribes & Bridges has been used as a stand-alone performance or as part of diversity and anti-racism workshops and events. Through humorous and touching personal and family remembrances, three tellers of Irish, Cuban and African-American heritage tell American stories which have rarely been heard. Their stories describe how racial divisions came about by the decision to create a country with insider and outsider groups. Each teller (Susan O'Halloran, Antonio Sacre and La'Ron Williams) reveals how they were taught prejudice and when they were on the receiving end of other people's ignorance and hate. In addition, the piece leaves the audience with a greater awareness of institutional racism and a realistic yet upbeat conviction that if racism is created then they can do something to "un-create" it.

In the fall of 1999 a videotape of Tribes & Bridges at Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago will be available as part of the Kaleidoscope Voices high school curriculum and as a separate video with a discussion guide for use with teen and adult community groups. Last January, Tribes & Bridges met with two other tellers, Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo of Philippine and Japanese heritage and Dovie Thomason of the Lakota Kiowa Apache-nation. We are beginning developmental talks about creating an expanded version of Tribes & Bridges with Irish, Cuban, African, Asian and Native American stories.

Right now, Tribes & Bridges is doing very limited live touring - at full conference rates with 25% discount for non-profit Illinois agencies. Tony is spending a lot of time in California and La'Ron in Michigan. That's why we're making the video.

Email us at tribes@racebridges.net for more information.

written and performed by Antionio Sacre, La'Ron Williams and Susan O'Halloran

In this hour and a half performance for high school and adult audiences, professional storytellers, Antonio Sacre (Cuban American), La'Ron Williams (African-American) and Susan O'Halloran (Irish American) share moments from their lives traveling from the porches of their protective, ethnic neighborhoods to the wider world of politics and race. The 90 minute video is followed by a twenty minute post-performance discussion and (for organizations) comes with a 32-page Discussion Guide and Resource List for teachers and workshop facilitators.

Rave reviews from teens and adults.

"Profoundly provocative! So much better than a lecture. I feel like I have something realistic yet inspirational to offer my students." "Motivating! I felt inspired to join a club or do something about racism. Today I felt like I wasn't alone."

"I now have information to answer my parents' and family's negative statements about other ethnic groups. Thank you for that." "I learned the struggles of not just blacks and browns but whites as well. I learned about Cuban immigration, Chicago's restrictive covenants and the Civil Rights Movement. I learned everyone else's story plus more of my own."

"Gave our community group the inspiration to share our own stories." "Powerful! Spellbinding! Answers the question, "How do we talk constructively about race?"

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Ordering Information:

For individual private use license ($29.95), click here.

For Organizational/Institutional, Public, Non-Profit license (with 32 paged booklet, $99.95), click here.