Skip to main content

# Theatre Learning and Making Experiences

# BRIDGE connections

# INCREASE learning

# GROW ideas, pathways & solutions

# Using storytelling, theater, puppetry, music, and dance to bridge connections, increase learning, and grow ideas, pathways, and solutions. 

From its humble beginnings in April 2020, YARD DRAMAS was born out of my passion for nurturing creativity and exploration. In a time when the world was forced to shelter in place, I walked my childhood classic red Radio Flyer wagon into neighbors’ yards for collaborative storytelling, well-being practices, and the creative process in the embrace of nature.

Today, I create customized experiences in creativity and theatre arts that bridge connections, increase learning, and grow ideas, pathways, and solutions for schools, community centers, parks, farmers markets, and more, reaching all ages, from infants to wise elders. I draw inspiration from my childhood, when my brothers and I ran outdoors, barefoot, driven by curiosity and friendship. Together, we embarked on adventures of the unknown, creating exciting worlds yet to be imagined.

I believe in the magic of play and invite everyone to work like a theatre artist in a rehearsal hall, collaboratively creating the world of the story.  Our creative team writes our future together. Visit Yard Dramas!

# Portfolio

# Vision

Art learning and making bring people together and nurture the power of communities to connect, shape, imagine, and transform the world.

# Mission

Yard Dramas develops creative experiences designed in collaboration with participants to bridge connections, increase learning and grow ideas, pathways, and solutions.

# Core Values

  • ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE Every human - from babies to revered elders - is an artist. Every household and business benefits from experiencing high-quality art learning and making programming.
  • LIFE-LONG LEARNING Yard Dramas is committed to arts education and creative life-long learning for all. We believe collaborative art learning and making positively impacts participants' economic, health, environmental, educational, and social lives. Art learning and making occur wherever the community meets - inside, outside, and online, in schools, homes, parks, markets, cafes, streets, and elsewhere.
  • OPPORTUNITY Every artist deserves the opportunity to work with a Professional Teaching Artist. Yard Dramas is accessible to everyone regardless of financial resources and circumstances and recognizes wealth, income, and privilege differences within our community.
  • NATURE AS A MODEL Nature is an artist, and there are countless benefits and opportunities to telling stories and creating art in nature with the community. Built on community garden principles, Yard Dramas catalyzes collaborative art projects, inspires a renewed interest in preserving and revitalizing Prince George's County's green spaces, and nurtures stewards of the natural environment of the Anacostia Watershed.
  • PROFESSIONALISM Historically, artists, especially Teaching Artists, have been undervalued despite their contributions to the community. Check out the Teaching Artist Guild's Pay Calculator. Your awareness of the professional challenges Teaching Artists face will move the field of teaching artistry forward and help our society recognize pay equity as a social justice issue.

# History

In the early days of the pandemic, I was forced into unemployment as the world was forced to shelter in place. With 30 years as a professional Theatre Teaching Artist, I recognized how my artistry and skills to engage all ages with art learning and making experiences could serve the community. In April 2020, I began presenting drama sessions in my neighbors' yards to help young children overcome loneliness and enter into imaginary play.  This developed into programs at parks and farmers markets.  

# Today

In 2025, Yard Dramas received certification as a minority-owned business enterprise program. We continue to build on our inspiration and mission, working in a wide range of environments with all ages, and aim to:

  • Create youth and teen opportunities, optimizing their potential as leaders and change-makers in their community,
  • Increase social-emotional wellness and core academic learning through arts integration,
  • Enrich the lives of elders, supporting them to share their stories artfully through performance,
  • Imagine solutions to issues seen in education and the environment using the power of arts-learning and arts-making.

# Collaborating with Yard Dramas means working with a dedicated advocate for creativity and community transformation.

Please review our capabilities statement and brochure. You can learn more and reach us at YardDramas.org.