Out of Hand’s "We Hold These Truths" Uses Performance, Shared Meals and Dialogue to Explore What It Means to Be American
Award-winning community engagement model brings audiences together for urgent conversations on identity, democracy and belonging
ATLANTA, GA (June 15, 2026) – Out of Hand, the award-winning social impact arts organization, today announced the premier of the “We Hold These Truths,” a series of short plays timed to engage communities and drive dialogue during the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. The award-winning model is available for communities across the country to commemorate the country’s semiquincentennial.
“At a time when conversations about identity, democracy and belonging feel increasingly polarized, there’s never been a more urgent need for us to create spaces for people of different backgrounds can come together, listen deeply and build stronger connections across our communities,” said Ariel Fristoe, founder and co-executive director of Out of Hand Theater.
The series includes four short plays that are written to spark conversations about American democracy, identity and the future of our country:
• American Dream, written by Jeilianne Vazquez, examines immigration through the perspective of a Latino teen
• Ancestral Reckoning, written by Marcie Rendon, examines progress through a Native American perspective
• Faded Dream, written by Melissa Simmons, examines the impact of unemployment and the disillusionment of the American economic dream
• Tell Them About the Dream, written by Dana Stringer, examines the power of dreams, imagination and community from the perspective of a Black, Southern pastor
Using Out of Hand’s award-winning “Equitable Dinners” model, the plays are followed by meals and guided discussions led by trained facilitators, a signature component of the organization’s nationally recognized model for civic engagement through the arts.
“By bringing performance, shared meals, and guided dialogue into one setting, we’re inviting honest and critical conversations about what it means to be American today and where we go from here,” said Adria Kitchens, co-executive director of Out of Hand Theater.
As communities nationwide prepare to commemorate the Semiquincentennial, the organization also has created the opportunity for theaters, arts organizations, and community groups to bring “We Hold These Truths” to their own communities. Interested organizations can submit an interest form through Out of Hand Theater’s licensing page. The program already has been licensed by theaters in Minneapolis and Pittsburgh.
“We Hold These Truths” partners include City of Atlanta, City of Brookhaven, Create Gwinnett, City of Decatur, DeKalb County, Emory University, Fulton County, Georgia Interfaith Policy Center, City of Jonesboro, Latin American Association, Morehouse College, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, The Carter Center, The King Center, and the City of Suwanee.
Official sponsors include the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Charles F. Kettering Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and The Rich's Foundation.
About Out of Hand
Out of Hand works at the intersec:on of art, social impact, and civic engagement, using performance to spark dialogue and drive change. Since 2001, the organization has collaborated with dozens of community partners to produce programs that combine art to open hearts, information to open minds, and conversation to inspire ac:on. Now in its 25th anniversary season, its programs include Shows in Homes, Community Collaborations, Creative Kids, and the Community Impact Lab. Its focus is based on addressing Rev. Dr. Mar:n Luther King, Jr.'s triple evils of war, poverty, and racism, and they take place in homes, schools, businesses, houses of worship, public spaces, and online.
More information can be found at https://www.outodandtheater.com/
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