Hopkinton Center for the Arts (HCA) is proud to present “Project Empathy” on April 29-30th in the Delbridge Family Performance Space located at 98 Hayden Rowe Street in Hopkinton. This project was developed by Catherine Cote, a local resident. During a college semester abroad in Melbourne, Australia, she recognized that something was missing.
The premise was simple: select six people to share a true, life-changing moment, pair them up, and then have them swap stories. The challenge would be one of empathy: connecting with another person on such a level that you can step into their shoes and tell their story. Cote formalized a process by which universities, theaters and communities around the world can explore and present their own version of Project Empathy. Project Empathy has been performed twice in Australia at the University of Melbourne, and three times in Worcester, MA, USA at College of the Holy Cross. The goal is to empower communities to strip away differences, engage on a human level, and explore our capacity for empathy.
HCA Executive Director Kelly Grill and HCA Board member Allison Iantosca are serving as co-directors. Both were deeply inspired by Catherine’s project. Grill noted, “I continually ask myself, “what can we, as an art center, do to let people know that the HCA is a place where everyone is welcome, heard, and celebrated?
Project Empathy features the sharing of stories from cast members Luke Desautels, Angela Sanchez, Alyndra Canty, Veronica Jay, Teresa Watts, Chris Ocampo, Nichole Cordon & Peter Hunt.
This will be a theatrical experience like no other, with a talk-back after each of the two performances for audiences to engage in thoughtful conversation. Recommended for ages 14+. Tickets are on sale now at www.hopartscenter.org. For more details on Cote’s program, go to www.officialprojectempathy.com