THE LIFE BEHIND LITERATURE TO LIFE: A HISTORY AND NARRATIVE OF WYNN HANDMAN, THE AMERICAN PLACE THEATRE, AND LITERATURE TO LIFE A THESIS IN Theatre Presented to the Faculty of the University of Missouri-Kansas City in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF ARTS by TRACY TERSTRIEP-HERBER B.A., University of California, 1992 Kansas City, Missouri 2013 ©2013 TRACY TERSTRIEP-HERBER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED THE LIFE BEHIND LITERATURE TO LIFE: A HISTORY AND NARRATIVE OF WYNN HANDMAN, THE AMERICAN PLACE THEATRE, AND LITERATURE TO LIFE Tracy Terstriep-Herber, Candidate for the Master of Arts Degree University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2012 ABSTRACT Literature to Life is a performance-based literacy program developed under the auspices of The American Place Theatre in New York City (1994). The American Place Theatre was founded in 1964 and stewarded by the artistic mission of Wynn Handman. It has earned its own place in American theatrical history. Prior dissertations have chronicled specific elements of the American Place Theatre (APT), but no account has bridged the history of APT and Wynn Handman’s privately-run acting studio to the significant history of Literature to Life. The once New York City-based program that promoted English, cultural and theatrical literacy to students within the city’s public iii school system, now has a strong national following and continues to inspire students and adults across the country. This thesis will chart an historical and narrative account of Literature to Life as it emerged from the embers of the American Place Theatre and rekindled the original mission of Wynn Handman, in a different setting and for new audiences. iv APPROVAL PAGE The faculty listed below, appointed by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, have examined a thesis titled “The Legacy behind Literature to Life: A History and Narrative of Wynn Handman, The American Place Theatre and Literature to Life,” presented by Tracy L.Terstriep-Herber, candidate for the Master of Arts degree, and certify that in their opinion it is worthy of acceptance. Supervisory Committee Felicia Hardison Londré, Ph.D. Committee Chair, Department of Theatre Lindsay W. Davis Department of Theatre Victor En Yu Tan Department of Theatre v CONTENTS ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS........................................................................................ viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................. ix PREFACE....................................................................................................................... xi Chapter 1. LITERATURE TO LIFE’S ROOTS: WYNN HANDMAN AND THE AMERICAN PLACE THEATRE.............................................1 2. A TRIFECTA: THE CLASS, TANYA LITTLE, AND THE STATE OF THE AMERICAN PLACE THEATRE.................................29 3. FROM THERE TO HERE, 2012. ......................................................................52 4. AN INTERLUDE: ARTS IN EDUCATION AND THE AMERICAN PLACE THEATRE .............................................................79 5. A CASE STUDY: THE THINGS THEY CARRIED ..........................................87 EPILOGUE...................................................................................................................106 ENDNOTES .................................................................................................................111 Appendix A. THE AMERICAN PLACE THEATRE PRODUCTION HISTORY ..............118 B. LITERATURE TO LIFE PRODUCTION HISTORY.....................................124 C. LITERATURE TO LIFE AWARD RECIPIENTS ..........................................127 D. HANDMAN’S NOTES FROM HAROLD CLURMAN LECTURE ...............................................................................................128 E. SANFORD MEISNER LETTER .....................................................................129 F. THE BLUEST EYE TEACHER RESPONSES.................................................130 vi G. SUE MONK KIDD LETTER...........................................................................131 H. DAVID KENER ARTICLE: “BRINGING LITERATURE TO LIFE”.................................................................................................132 I. THE THINGS THEY CARRIED: STUDENT/TEACHER RESPONSES ..........................................................................................134 J. LITERATURE TO LIFE VENUES, 2007 .......................................................135 K. THE ACTORS OF LITERATURE TO LIFE .................................................137 BIBLIOGRAPHY.........................................................................................................139 VITA.............................................................................................................................144 vii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure Page 1. Handman with Sanford Meisner and Neighborhood Playhouse students .......................................................................................... 10 2. Wynn Handman Acting Studio at the Carriage House ............................................. 37 viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS It was exactly a year ago, January of 2012, when I embarked on the research and writing of this thesis…. when Professors Felicia Londré and Jennifer Martin took precious time to write recommendation letters for the pursuance of grant money for research travel…when The American Place Theatre staff opened up their offices and archives for my study…when Wynn Handman turned off the phones, closed the doors to his theatre and took me on a fascinating trip down memory lane…when my husband and children lovingly agreed to take on more responsibilities and receive a lot less of their wife/mother’s time. It has been an arduous and rewarding year and simply could not have been possible without the additional generous support of the following: Thank you to the University of Missouri-Kansas City Women’s Council Graduate Assistance Fund for believing in this endeavor. Through the Fund, I was connected with donor Harriette Yeckel and able to schedule flights to New York for necessary research and interviews. Thank you to Billy Lyons, Jennifer Barnette, Elise Thoron, Gwen Brownson and the rest of The American Place Theatre for their continued assistance to my questions and research. Under the duress of their own tumultuous year, the teamwork and resolve they exhibited made lasting impressions of what it means to survive and thrive as a not-for- profit, arts-in-education organization. I would like to acknowledge Jeremy Gerard and David Kener, whose writings on Wynn Handman and The American Place Theatre have lent additional layers of color and veracity to this endeavor. ix A most sincere acknowledgement goes to the tireless support of Dr. Felicia Londré. Her keen eye and availability as a sounding board has kept this documentation on track. Moreover, her exemplary spirit and feats of scholarship will inspire my own path towards excellence for years to come. Amongst the dedicated faculty of UMKC Theatre, I am especially grateful for the mentorship and support of Dr. Jennifer Martin, Carla Noack, Lindsay W. Davis and Victor En Yu Tan. x PREFACE In 1994 the artistic director, stage director, and acting teacher Wynn Handman was 71 years old. His not-for-profit American Place Theatre in New York City had been in operation for over 30 years, nurturing the talents of burgeoning playwrights, authors, actors and designers. His acting class for professional actors had been going strong since 1952, when Sanford Meisner entrusted him with his students at the Neighborhood Playhouse. One might have thought the waning years of the twentieth century would signal a reprieve for this devotee of theatre. But the confluence of a talented and ambitious young actress, a staff on the hunt for a new raison d’être, and Wynn Handman’s theatrical vision, established the breeding ground for a rewarding venture. In 1994, Tanya Little premiered in The Bluest Eye, and APT’s performance-based literacy program Literature to Life was launched. The educational program initially sought to fulfill a local need in the New York City public high schools. Today it has grown to respond to the needs of young adults and adults in over 25 states, with sights set for all 50 states in the coming years. The quality of acting and direction, a commitment to verbatim adaptations, and the utilization of specially trained teaching artists, conspire to make this educational program distinguishable and worthy of documentation. Moreover, it is worth framing Literature to Life as an extension of the historic American Place Theatre, and as one of the last theatrical legacies of Wynn Handman. But who can say “last”? At the time of writing, he is 90 years young—and still teaching four classes every week. While Literature to Life has received topical coverage in local newspapers, and a chapter is dedicated to Literature to Life in the upcoming publication of Jeremy Gerard’s xi book, Wynn Place Show, it has not been documented comprehensively. This thesis will give both a narrative and historical account of Literature to Life, offering a macro look at the program, its mission and its challenges. A micro look at Literature to Life’s educational methodologies, or the actors’ work and impact on the thousands of students, might provide additional avenues for discovery and