Kayhan was approached by Ms. Smith’s team to manage and design an innovative audience conversation exchange for Act II of Anna Deveare Smith’s Notes from the Field. Act II was a participatory and interactive moment of reflection and discussion built into the show where audience members left their seats and met in one of 23 different small group conversation circles, led by a facilitator, to discuss the issues the play raised and then return to the theater for a final Coda. 

Kayhan created a facilitation methodology, trained a team of 49 facilitators (made up of community organizers, restorative justice practitioners, students, educators and teaching artists)and built the community of the facilitation team to one where the individuals involved are still collaborating and supporting each other. This project successfully engaged approximately 17,000 people in dialogue around race, education, incarceration, and equity over the run of 30 shows at the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, MA.