Stage the Change was founded in 2012. After years of touring the award winning "Anti-Bully Project" with the Hauppauge High School Theatre Arts Department, Founding Director Ruthie Pincus found that students were eager to write and share their own perspectives through their creation of thoughtful and conversation-provoking theatre. Pincus recognized the potential to expand beyond the high school setting and explore more and more challenging topics of great importance to students including racism, LGBT acceptance, and human rights issues, to name a few. The next step was clear: Create an open forum to empower students to use their “theatre voices” to inspire social change by inviting professional artists whose techniques, art forms and performances have been a catalyst for change. What evolved was a one-day annual conference filled with panel discussions, interactive workshops, keynote speakers and student performances which would encourage and enable students to produce theatre. In 2015, Stage the Change expanded its focus to include dance as a vehicle to inspire social change. As the organization continues to grow, the conference serves to launch new works created by students, which they can showcase in their own communities and, at the same time, inspire change. This conference is motivating students to become artistic global citizens who create the world that they would like to live in. Guest speakers and panelists have included Drama Desk Award Winner, writer, actress and activist, Anna Deavere Smith; Broadway actor and playwright John Cariani (Almost Maine, Something Rotten); and Sheryl Kaller and Tom Kirdahy, the director/producer team behind Broadway’s Mothers and Sons. This year’s honored guest speaker will be Jeanine Tesori, composer of Broadway’s Fun Home, Shrek and Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Violet.