A few days after the 2016 elections, founder Alexis Lazear found herself wanting to reach out to her theater community and work together to DO something about all the people the new administration was threatening to leave behind. A facebook post quickly became a group, and within a day had over 100 members looking to be a part of something. Now, over 400 members and 4 years later, they have plans to turn their focus inward to their community in the face of this global crisis.

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ARU was born from the belief that art and theater are a valuable and necessary tool for creating our future. We believe that in our darkest times, our most important citizens are those that get us talking to each other and thinking of each other. Art isn't just an escape; it is connection, and it's hope.