>>The team rehearsed with the new NOLA playback theatre and included NOLA members in two of the performances

>>Documenters from the Neighborhood Story project, a local initiative, recorded performances and interviewed audience members

>>Counselors from the Tulane University Department of Social Work were on hand to assist tellers after performances

>>The team consisted of all persons of color, plus Jonathan Fox. Pamela Freeman conducted all shows.

The response  Tellers responded with great eagerness to the chance to tell their story and see it embodied on the stage, and there was a general feeling of gratitude afterwards.

A playback story  "My husband and I couldn't let all our belongings rot in our ruined house, so we decided to clean it out ourselves. The hardest thing was throwing away our kids' things, breaking up the crib. But we did it. Everything went out on the street. Except my grandmother's grand piano. Of all my brothers and sisters, it came to me in New Orleans. Now we've gutted the walls, the floor, the roof. But the members of my family cannot bring ourselves to touch the piano--not yet. Three keys still play. It is sitting there on a piece of plywood, in a house with no roof or walls. We still have to deal with it."

A performer's impression  "This has been the most challenging and exciting playback theatre I've ever done. I felt overwhelmed at first, but once I realized we could do it, I'm just so grateful to be here doing what we can."

Reactions from the audience  “When I was watching, it encapsulated the feelings that I tried to say…it helped move my story along.  I kind of thought, ‘What about my story? It needs to be heard, too.’ And this gave me that chance.”

“I liked it.  It was helpful. It’s quite eerie. They got stuff that I didn’t say to them…didn’t tell them about in the story…they did an excellent job.”

“Well, I just felt so comfortable with them that I opened up…this is the first time I told my story.  Thank you.”