The playground was fun. The rest of it? Let's talk about that too.

Remember recess? Four square tournaments, hopscotch on the blacktop, jump rope challenges...

Remember the reliability of square pizza day in the cafeteria? And how it felt to get excited for an ice cream social?

Recess Rewind is a one-of-a-kind fundraising event that invites guests to reconnect with the joy, freedom, and community of childhood while also reflecting on the real challenges young people face beyond the playground.

With recess-themed games and activities, nostalgic food and drinks, live theatre performances, and a silent auction featuring incredible donations from dozens of local businesses and arts organizations, this event is both a celebration and a call to action.

Every day, the social and emotional challenges facing the next generation become more complex, and the bullying we might remember from our school days hasn't disappeared with time - it has evolved with the world around us. In the last five years, studies have shown that nearly half of U.S. teens have been bullied or harassed online, and ~80% of youth have reported encountering hate speech via social media.

ACT Out Social-Issue Theatre, originally formed in 1995, is an interactive program designed to address the critical issues affecting young people today. We use live theatre to create honest conversations and open dialogues with students about mental health, substance abuse, conflict resolution, and other issues while giving them tools to navigate real-life challenges in healthy ways. Our programming is evidence-informed, having been shown to reduce cyberbullying incidents among participants by ~20%.

100% of proceeds from Recess Rewind will go directly to a fund that provides free ACT Out performances to area schools, ensuring that financial barriers never prevent students from accessing these life-changing experiences. Your support will help create safer schools, stronger communities, and brighter futures for young people.

Come play. Come remember. Come make a difference.

Recess Rewind

A Benefit for ACT Out Social-Issue Theatre