Hartnell College Hosts Theater Workshop for Democracy Resistance

In The Western Stage we firmly believe that everyone is capable of telling powerful stories, Hope Tinney said. The community engagement coordinator at The Western Stage at Hartnell College is inviting residents to a theater-making workshop scheduled for 3 p.m. on Oct. 4 at the Studio Theater inside the Hartnell performing arts center. Participants will learn how to produce short, one-act plays focused on democratic defense through the Democracy Theater Project by Writers for Democratic Action.

Hartnell College Workshop Offers Democracy Theater Training

Attendees at the Sunday afternoon session will examine three suggested scripts, each lasting approximately half an hour. The available titles include It Can’t Happen Here—Again!, Paul Revere Resists, and Ban the Bans. Tinney noted that no acting experience, costume, or memorization is required to participate in these productions. The initiative draws inspiration from 1935, when at least 21 theater groups staged adaptations of Sinclair Lewis’s satirical novel It Can’t Happen Here just before the presidential election.

Production Guidelines Avoid Satirical Donald Trump Costumes

Organizers have established specific guidelines regarding the theatrical approach to political figures. Impersonations can make the subject look fun and harmless, Tinney pointed out, adding that Donald Trump is neither funny nor harmless. While participants do not need to attend the Sunday workshop to stage a play, Tinney recommends reading through a script two to three times before beginning production in alternative spaces like backyards or living rooms.

Music and Theater Combine in Salinas Resistance Efforts

Beyond the theater project, Tinney has participated in local protests in Monterey and Salinas alongside her brother and niece. The musical group, which started with alto saxophones and has since added additional musicians, goes by names such as The Rabbles and The Butterfly Brigade. Tinney stated that the point is making music together and feeling a sense of contribution. Translating that creative energy to the stage offers participants a tangible way to create something beyond holding signs on a street corner, according to the community coordinator.

October Fourth Workshop Date at Hartnell College Studio Theater

The community engagement event takes place on Oct. 4 at the Studio Theater at Hartnell College in Salinas. Organizers position the projects as a way for community members to use local performance spaces ahead of upcoming electoral milestones.