Dagger (24 folders), 2001-2004

This series documents the education and outreach activities of The Theater Offensive.

One program, the True Colors OUT Youth Theater troupe (formerly Teen Theater Works), generates original productions written and performed by its young actors. It is documented by scripts, meeting notes, correspondence, news clippings, and publicity materials. The series also documents The Theater Offensive's other youth outreach programs, including the Safe Schools project. The Safe Schools project was a collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Education to promote acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students, and raise HIV / AIDS awareness among high school students.

The series also documents the activities of two guerrilla theater troupes, A Street Theater Named Desire and Dagger. A Street Theater Named Desire focuses on HIV / AIDS education, promotes safer sex practices, and distributes pamphlets and condoms in “cruising” areas, such as public parks popular with gay men in search of anonymous sexual encounters. The Street Theater Named Desire files document the troupe's performances, primarily in Boston's Fens. Of particular interest are surveys filled out by men who had viewed a Street Theater Named Desire performance in the Fens. The surveys include questions pertaining to the viewers' impressions of the performances, their “cruising” habits, and the frequency with which they employ safer sex practices. Some “A Street Theater Named Desire” folders contain CDs.

Dagger is a guerilla street theater troupe of lesbian women and teens. The Dagger files document the group's performances and demonstrations at Boston lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender pride events; the 2004 Democratic National Convention; and MBTA subway stations.

The series also contains the documentation of the development and implementation of “COME AS YOU ARE: Celebrate Queer Sex!.” This is a project created by the Theater Offensive that attempts to start a national dialogue about “diverse queer sex.”

Additional press clippings may be found in Series 9: General Press.