Lincoln Public Schools

Letheby, Illusion Theatre recognized

Originally published on: November 6, 2009

The Star City Optimist Youth Foundation has presented the Hartley Doane Optimist Mentor Award to Susan Letheby, Director of the Illusion Theatre: Project TRUST, based at LHS.  The award recognizes longtime volunteer service to youth in academic or personal mentoring.

Letheby has worked with the theatre outreach program for 17 years.  Project TRUST is offered through Minneapolis based Illusion Theatre; an acronym for "teaching and reaching using students and theater.”  The theatre outreach program provides a non-threatening approach to subjects such as sexual abuse, bullying and violence prevention.

Letheby works with 10-15 high school students each year to prepare performances for elementary, middle and high school audiences.  Last school year, the group performed 65 times for over 12,000 students, parents and professionals.  This school year, all available performance dates in October and November had been filled by the fourth day of school.

In accepting the award, Letheby acknowledged "the kids and the wonderful educators all across LPS who continue to support our program."  She singled out "Dr. Schoo for believing in the idea, Dr. Moore for being our champion all these years, Dr. Wortman for his unfailing support, and wonderful co teachers John Heineman and Patsy Koch Johns.  Those are the people who deserve the recognition.  If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be here!"