It all started when…

First time trying on masks

Michael Montenegro, Marvin tate and Bill MacKay present - first day of the program.

Theatre Y’s youth program is a partnership between North Lawndale artist and youth mentor Haman Cross (the Butterfly in the 2021 Camino Project), Chicago’s premiere puppet and mask maker Michael Montenegro, and North Lawndale poet, singer and visual artist Marvin Tate. This program will launch youth into their expressive selves through the ancient and timeless practice of puppetry and masks, spoken word, experimental music and found object visual art. Cross, Montenegro and Tate are a remarkable team of veteran masters of their craft. The youth will be handed extraordinary tools of miniature omnipotence, allowing them to create a world where they are large and in charge, creating each aspect of the vision, while maintaining a critical distance from the work which we hope will protect them from re-traumatization or any feelings of exploitation. The youth’s appetites and visions will steer every aspect of the program. For the first year Theatre Y will run two 12-week sessions of curriculum at the Firehouse Community Arts Center that are 6 hours per week, culminating in a spring showcase and a winter production.

This program has been funded by Innovation 80 and The Walder Foundation.