184: Ariel Fristoe: -Theater as a Civic Commons
About this episode
Ariel Fristoe discusses the role of theater in civic life and community engagement.
Ariel Fristoe: Theater as a Civic Commons What happens when theater stops asking audiences simply to watch and starts inviting communities to listen, speak, and act? In this conversation, Bill Cleveland talks with Ariel Fristoe, founder and Artistic Director of Out of Hand Theater in Atlanta, about a lifetime spent reclaiming theater’s oldest purpose—not entertainment alone, but civic life. Together they explore how storytelling, conversation, and community partnerships can become practical tools for reducing polarization, strengthening democratic participation, and helping neighbors encounter one another as fellow human beings rather than strangers. From foster parenting to community organizing, from performances in living rooms to citywide dinners on racial equity, Ariel describes a practice built on a deceptively simple recipe: Art to open hearts. Information to open minds. Conversation to inspire action. In this episode: Why theater originally existed as a civic commons—and why Ariel believes it should become one again. The story behind Decatur Dinners, where more than 1,200 strangers gathered in homes across one city for conversations about race. Ariel’s vision for a modern…
More episodes of ART IS CHANGE: Strategies & Skills for Activist Artists & Cultural Organizers
- 186: Effective Community Arts Practice - Should Activist Artists Prioritize Safety or Bravery
- 185: What Makes a Healthy Art and Social Change Ecosystem?
- 183: Paola Mendoza - What if the Most Powerful Antidote for Tyranny is an Artist with a Story?
- 182: Arts Freedom Weather Report - Who Speaks - Who Belongs?
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the ART IS CHANGE: Strategies & Skills for Activist Artists & Cultural Organizers podcast page.