The Verbatim Salon: a Project of the American Playwriting Foundation

The Verbatim Salon, a new project of the American Playwriting Foundation, is a monthly public event where actors share stories from interviews recorded with people interacting with the US immigration system.

These stories are performed using an in-ear verbatim technique. Actors listen in real time to the recordings via headphones as they speak the words aloud in front of the audience. This technique protects the anonymity of the interview subject, allows stories to be recorded in more intimate one-on-one settings, and includes people who might not be able or willing to share their story in front of an audience.

Each month, rather than paying admission, audiences will be encouraged to donate to a rotating list of organizations supporting immigrants and refugees with a range of services. For our April salon, we encourage support for Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project.