Catalyzed by the Movement for Black Lives, Re-Writing the Declaration is a devised, participatory play inviting audiences to center Black women, and femmes, nonbinary, and trans folx of color, in order to free us all.

A collage of time and space, a blend of character and self, the characters in Re-Writing the Declaration exist today and yesterday in order to change tomorrow. Believing that the founding fathers and documents never intended to include us, they consider the impacts of that founding on our lives today & realize it’s time to re-write the Declaration of Independence. On this journey, we visit some troubling moments in our collective past, while celebrating Blackness on the path towards freedom. 

This devised theatre piece invites you to help shape the story. Your voice will directly influence the narrative through audience participation, making each performance unique and reflective of the people in the room. Together, we'll craft a Declaration that includes the voices of all people — right when your voice matters most.

About Performance Resident + Director

Quenne Lené Barrett

Chicago native Quenna Lené Barrett is a dynamic theater artist, director, performer, and educator. Rooted in Black radical wisdom, her work amplifies marginalized voices, fostering collective dreams for bold action. As an Associate Professor of Applied Theatre at Governors State University, Quenna shapes participatory, theater-based programs at prestigious institutions like the University of Chicago and Goodman Theatre. Adept in devised and social justice theater, she conceived and directed "Re-writing the Declaration," a groundbreaking play interrogating the nation’s founding by centering Black, queer femmes. A versatile collaborator, Quenna has contributed to projects with Paramount Theatre, NYU Steinhardt, and For Youth Inquiry, among others.