Literature to Life

Literature to Life (LTL) is a performance-based literacy program that presents professionally staged verbatim adaptations of American literary classics. Founded as the educational program of the American Place Theatre more than three decades ago, LTL carries forward the legacy of founder Wynn Handman, who championed American writers of diverse backgrounds as “voices worth hearing,” a pioneering notion in the 1960’s.  

Today, our mission is to perform great books that inspire young people to read and become authors of their own lives. Now under the leadership of co-founding Artistic Director, Elise Thoron, this mighty collective of artists and educators brings the voices of diverse authors to thousands of students and audiences nationwide, giving them the tools to become the empowered “voices worth hearing” of our future. 

Through our performances and surrounding educational activities — pre- and post-show discussions, single workshops, and multi-session residencies — students examine relevant social issues such as immigration, racism, poverty, and justice, and expand their capacity to understand and express differing points of view.