Mission & Values History
 

Mission:

Liberation.

To present liberating art by, for, and about queer and trans people of color that transcends artistic boundaries, celebrates cultural abundance, and dismantles oppression.

TTO Cyphers

This is a special offering to our community in celebration of 35 Years of TTO and our future home in The Fenway.

We all know that queer and trans folks make art wherever we are - even a raw, pre-construction theater! While we continue fundraising, we felt it necessary to continue activating our mission "to present liberating art by, for and about queer and trans people of color."

Enter the TTO Cyphers, featuring a few faces you may recognize. First to the stage, Reverend Irene Monroe with a word of inspiration to the tune of the Queer Liberatory Aesthetics we released in 2021.

Take it away, Reverend Irene!

 
 

Credits:

Creative Director: Hakeem Adewumi and Joseph V. Porter

Videographer: Emeline Lotherington

Sound Design: Katye Productions

The Latest

Queering The Screen Presents: Tangerine

In partnership with Coolidge Corner Theatre’s Signature Programming, Queering The Screen returns with a viewing of Tangerine on February 26. Meet us at the Coolidge at 7:00pm!

Get Tickets

TTO Presents:

THE BEST PART OF NIGHT IS BLACK, A Black Queer Horror Love Story

The Best Part of Night is Black follows a queer Black couple as they struggle to survive the aftermath of devastating news. When their one-bedroom apartment seemingly becomes haunted, their relationship is put to the test as they live out a tale of grief, loss, and the things no one prepares us for when falling in love.

Thank you so much for two incredible readings! We will see you all for the next one.

To learn more about upcoming performances, join our list!

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Updates

Letta Neely is Back!

Experience Pulling It All Into the Current, Letta Neely’s new one-woman show for a limited time November 15th, 16th & 17th at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum !

Thank you all for a beautiful weekend of sold out shows!

TTO x Coolidge Corner Theatre

Thank you all for supporting our partnership toward We’re Queering The Screen! This is as a part of Coolidge Corner Theatre’s signature program bringing queer stories to the big screen accompanied by introductions and panel discussions.

TTO Joins Long Wharf Theatre to Co-Produce

Black Trans Women at the Center: A New Play Festival

“TTO acknowledges that Black trans liberation is directly tied to radical collective care and the stewardship of Black trans artists whose work offers dynamic expansion of the performing arts canon." - Giselle Byrd

True Colors Troupe Revamped

True Colors is the longest running LGBTQ youth theater program in the U.S. This term, True Colors Performing Ensemble is back as new year-long program!

💃🏾 We Kicked Off TTO's 35th Pride Season with a bang!

Hosted by Norm Lewis and Neon Calypso, this dazzling evening kicked off TTO’s anniversary pride fundraiser.

Photos by Rodrigo Larios

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Giselle Byrd Joins The Theater Offensive as Executive Director

“I’m excited to lead The Theater Offensive on its journey of theater innovation and queer and trans liberation.”

Meet Giselle

🪩 Queer Prom Was A Blast!

Hosted by Candace Persuasian, Queer Prom was a joyful celebration of queer belonging. Thank you to our community for supporting this inaugural program. Stay tuned for next year!

Photos by Rodrigo Larios

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✊🏾 Photos from our Black Legacy Brunch

We invited a few of Boston’s cultural leaders to celebrate Charles D. Evans & Paul Glass!

Photos by Olivia Slaughter

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Queer [Re]public Residency Welcomes A New Cohort of Artists

Innovative 22-month program provides queer and trans artists of color with guidance and tools for success.

Read Press Release

Experience TTO’s Queer [Re]public: On QTPOC Liberatory Aesthetics

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TTO Named Beneficiary of $1M Cultural Investment Grant

This investment from the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture brings TTO closer to its goal of opening their first-ever permanent home. 

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TTO Is Building A Queer [Re]public

TTO is Building A Permanent Home in the Fenway. We are excited to launch the public phase of our $20 million campaign to build the Boylston Black Box. Anticipated to open in the Spring of 2024, it will be the largest theater in the world owned and operated by QTPOC for all LGBTQ people, their allies, families and friends.

Read More

A Transformative Gift for TTO

With a $3 million transformative gift from Mackenzie Scott and Dan Jewett…

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We are now accepting applications for our 2025-2027 True Colors Resident Artist program! The True Colors Residency Program, piloted in July 2021, is dedicated solely to queer & trans young artists of color, whose work demonstrates artist merit a
We are now accepting applications for our the 2025-2027 Emergent Artist Residencies! TTO’s Queer (Re)public Residency Program, piloted in July 2021, is dedicated solely to queer & trans artists of color, whose work demonstrates artistic v
Announcing “Queering the Screen,” Coolidge Corner’s brand new signature program in partnership with The Theater Offensive! Together, we’re bringing queer stories to the big screen accompanied by introductions and panel discuss
Join The Theater Offensive and Boston Public Library for an exclusive first look screening of the new play, Shape Shifter: A Play in Movements, by Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi. Shape Shifter is presented in partnership with Long Wharf Theatre and Break
We're back, and we've got some news! We are currently recruiting for our next True Colors cohort and this time, we're inviting participants to join us until the end of the school year! This is a paid opportunity to grow your artistic practice in an
Opportunity Alert! 📣 Theater of Union is seeking five artists to join the fall cohort at Double Edge Theatre in Ashfield, MA! Theater of Union is a pedagogy created by Annalise River Guidry (they/them) that utilizes Black and Indigenous Feminist th