About Still Point

Still Point Theatre Collective is a Chicago-based community of artists dedicated to creating performances, workshops, retreats, and community events that celebrate our common spirituality, and raise consciousness on issues of peace and justice.

Founded in 1993 by actress Lisa Wagner-Carollo, Still Point is animated by the philosophy that art has value for everyone, and the performing arts provide uniquely powerful tools to educate, inspire, and challenge people to action. Still Point activists use the tools of theater-making to amplify hard-to-hear voices at society's margins, including prison inmates and former inmates, and adults with developmental disabilities.

For 18 years, Still Point artists have conducted creative dramatics workshops with developmentally disabled adults, and are currently conducting seven workshops at five Chicago-based agencies: Esperanza Community Services, El Valor, New Horizon Center, Keshet, and Anixter Center.

The program at Esperanza Community Services has developed into a performing troupe, The Imagination Workshop, whose members take their original comedy, music, and dance to venues across the City, exposing community audiences to the humor and artistry of these remarkable men and women.

Since 1998, Still Point has conducted theater outreach programs for incarcerated women. The Persephone Project currently operates ongoing workshops in three Illinois correctional facilities.

In 2007, Sisters Rising began, a performance troupe comprised of formerly incarcerated Chicago women, who tour the city and suburbs, and perform at churches, women's shelters, conferences, and seminars.

Finally, Still Point's critically-acclaimed professional touring shows include Haunted by God: The Life of Dorothy Day, Strong Women (based on the writing of incarcerated women at Cook County Jail), and Deep Listening, a performance piece that explores subjects related to death, dying, and end-of-life care. All these shows are available for in-town or out-of-town bookings.

Still Point Theatre Collective is a federally registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Funding is received from various sources including individual tax-deductible donations, foundations, religious groups, and earned income through performance and workshop fees, and ticket sales.



Cultural Organizing - Interview