About True Colors
True Colors: Out Youth Theater is the Theater Offensive’s longest running seasonal program. It uses a proven community-based theater approach to train and activate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and allied youth leaders ages 13-25. True Colors youth leaders work with The Theater Offensive to develop comprehensive youth programming that engages participants deeply in our mission.
Award-Winning Queer Youth Theater
True Colors is the only queer and trans youth theater program in the region and the longest-running of only a few such programs throughout the country. Participants in True Colors create original work based on their own personal stories as queer and trans youth of diverse racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds, from all across different communities in Boston. Participants then share these stories with schools, community groups, and youth-serving government agencies. These stories reflect the realities of queer and trans youth today, create honest dialogues, and have powerful impacts on audience members. True Colors programming is informed by The Theater Offensive’s mission, which focuses specifically on Queer and Trans People of Color, and its Queer and QTPOC Liberatory Aesthetics work.
At the core of our True Colors programming is the desire to provide youth with the tools to succeed artistically, personally, academically, and professionally. Youth in True Colors Troupe are provided with a stipend that exceeds minimum wage, funds for hot meals, and technical support upon request.
From True Colors: OUT Youth Theatre: Evelyn Francis and Trae Weekes (Photo courtesy of NAHYP Awards)
True Colors Troupe
True Colors Troupe is an out-of-school devising theater program for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning youth and their straight allies, ages 14-18. Youth work with teaching artists to create and develop skills in performance, social justice, and community activism.
Meet Your Facilitators
Now Accepting Applications for 2024 Spring Devising Ensemble
In a Devising Ensemble, Troupe members work closely with teaching artists in collaboration with other artists to develop their own short vignette choreo poems with the use of games, writing techniques, and theater exercises. As a result, youth artists work with a videographer to capture their pieces via transmedia and storytelling resulting in a final graduation showcase at the end of the program where friends and family are invited.
This ensemble meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00pm-8:30pm starting February 27, 2024 - April 26, 2024.
Application deadline is Thursday, January 25, 2024.
Watch Our 2023 Summer Troupe In Action!
2023 Summer Troupe Superlatives
True Colors Over the Years
