PreEnactment Theater
Empowering neighbors to envision and embody the ideal future for their neighborhood, fostering equity, community bonds, and sustainable economic development.
What is PreEnactment Theater?
PreEnactment Theater lets neighborhoods experience their aspirations in real time. For a single day, actors, artists, and designers turn blighted or vacant spots into vibrant, community-desired businesses—accessible, inclusive, and tailored to local needs.
Beyond Mere Imagination
What started as a simple idea—to reflect on a neighborhood's past ("what was") and dream of its potential ("what could be")—has evolved into a powerful catalyst for change. PreEnactment Theater helps us build transformative habits that reshape ourselves, our work, and our shared spaces.
At its core, this approach celebrates the power of art to uplift residents and their stories. It preserves cultural heritage while welcoming newcomers to join an ongoing narrative, rather than treating the area as a blank canvas.
Real Impact
PreEnactment Theater began by gathering the hopes and dreams of Martindale-Brightwood residents. Through community institutions, individuals, and actors, we brought people together to “pre-enact” an equitable future. One powerful outcome was the revitalization of the historic Polk Stables, transforming it into a coworking space and micro-museum designed to serve and uplift the Martindale-Brightwood community. PreEnactment Theater continues to lay the foundation for spaces like Polk Stables to become vital community assets.