The Community Strategy Podcast

Playback Theatre: Weaving Stories to Strengthen Communities

Deb Schell Season 3 Episode 13

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Chris Fitz is the Founder and Artistic Director of River Crossing Playback Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. With experience in improvisational arts since 2003, Chris and his ensemble use Playback Theatre to build community by dramatically portraying real-life stories. 

He is also a trained mediator and former Executive Director of the Center for Community Peacemaking, specializing in Restorative Justice—community-based practices that address harm and promote healing in schools, communities, and the legal system.

Chris sees Playback Theatre as a tool for personal and social healing, emphasizing the power of storytelling to foster connection, belonging, and understanding. Through performances like "Healing York," his troupe has addressed issues like racial harm, showing how storytelling can help heal communities.

Chris believes in the importance of repeated dialogue and rituals to foster belonging, whether in-person or online, and offers advice to community builders on engaging participants without relying too heavily on presentations. 

His focus remains on creating safe spaces for people to connect, share their stories, and address community challenges through both art and conversation.

Contact Chris Fitz and the River Crossing Playback Troupe by visiting the website  https://rivercrossingplayback.org/ and connect with Advoz at https://advoz.org/


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The Community Strategy Podcast offers interviews with online community leaders who share their community-building journey. Our podcast covers community concepts, community building, community strategy, community structure, community membership, and community management. Visit our Website Find Calm Here to learn more about working with Deb

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