Episode
184: Ariel Fristoe: -Theater as a Civic Commons
- Published
- Jul 1, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3031
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Summary
Ariel Fristoe: Theater as a Civic Commons What happens when theater stops asking audiences simply to watch and starts inviting communities to listen, speak, and act? In this conversation, Bill Cleveland talks with Ariel Fristoe, founder and Artistic Director of Out of Hand Theater in Atlanta, about a lifetime spent reclaiming theater’s oldest purpose—not entertainment alone, but civic life. Together they explore how storytelling, conversation, and community partnerships can become practical tools for reducing polarization, strengthening democratic participation, and helping neighbors encounter one another as fellow human beings rather than strangers. From foster parenting to community organizing, from performances in living rooms to citywide dinners on racial equity, Ariel describes a practice built on a deceptively simple recipe: Art to open hearts. Information to open minds. Conversation to inspire action. In this episode: Why theater originally existed as a civic commons—and why Ariel believes it should become one again. The story behind Decatur Dinners, where more than 1,200 strangers gathered in homes across one city for conversations about race. Ariel’s vision for a modern “federal theatre project” that would put artists to work helping communities address their most pressing challenges. How community conversations created through theater can strengthen civic participation and democratic life. ART IS CHANGE Episode 184 Notable Mentions People Ariel Fristoe — Founder and Artistic Director of Out of Hand Theater, nationally recognized for developing theater-based civic engagement models that combine performance, dialogue, and community action. Bill Cleveland — Host of Art Is Change, artist, researcher, and founder of the Center for the Study of Art & Community.…