Trained theatre artists and patients work together to build self-esteem.
Feel free to express yourself in a safe enviroment.
Participants write their own story lines and perform on stage.
Build your communication skills and help others to communicate their thoughts in a postive way.
Imagination Workshop, located at the Jane & Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, is a world-renowned dramatic arts program in which veterans, psychiatric patients, at-risk youth and other disenfranchised individuals engage in a series of workshops culminating in writing, directing and acting in plays under the guidance of specially trained theatre artists with the result of experiencing positive, lasting behavioral changes.
Learn moreIW’s unique and effective use of theater and poetry to reach those long considered beyond the hope of traditional treatment has produced striking and encouraging results. Research conducted by the Semel Institute indicated that those patients who participated in IW (as opposed to traditional role-playing exercises) showed a “significantly greater” change. between pre- and post-test Global Assessments, with a higher improvement score.
See MoreIn a recent study, Dr. Lynn Fairbanks demonstrated that patients who participated in the Imagination Workshop treatment had an average improvement of 38% in their social, occupational and psychological functioning, while patients in the traditional role play groups had a 22% improvement. (see figure to the left)
See MoreDr. Fairbanks concluded that Imagination Workshop is "a valuable program with demonstrated therapeutic benefits for patients with serious psychiatric disorders."
See MoreGumbo Magic
Lyle is an award winning platwrite known for his play Orphans as well as many others.
Margaret Ladd is an American actress, best known for her role as Emma Channing in the CBS primetime soap opera, Falcon Crest.
Foundations who have supported IW in recent years include:Metabollic Studio |Annenberg Foundation |Parsons Foundation |Wells Fargo Foundation |Drown Foundation |Buntzman Foundation |National Endowment for the Arts |Los Angeles County Performing Arts Commission |City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department |California Arts Council Parish | Shea & Boyle, LLP |Lewitt, Hackman, Shapiro, Marshall & Harlan ,Daniel Balaban, Balaban & Spielberger, LLP
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