Broadway Actor LeeAnne Hutchison Teaches Public Defenders Courtroom Advocacy Through Acting Techniques
By
Sohini Desai
Summary
LeeAnne Hutchison, a Broadway actor whose debut play Liberation won Best Play at the Tony Awards, has spent two decades teaching trial skills to public defenders through The Defenders Academy. She uses acting techniques—storytelling, body language, vocal delivery—to help public defenders become more compelling and effective in courtrooms. The article explores the parallels between theater and courtroom advocacy, and Hutchison's commitment to supporting public defenders who often face overwhelming caseloads and limited resources.
Source
DefectorBroadway Actor LeeAnne Hutchison Teaches Public Defenders Courtroom Advocacy Through Acting Techniquesdefector.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledThe courtroom is a stage, and every trial is a performance. Public defenders have the hardest job in the legal system, and they deserve every tool we can give them.
I've been doing this for 20 years because I believe in what public defenders do. They are the backbone of our justice system.
When you're in front of a jury, it's not just about the facts—it's about how you tell the story. That's where theater and law intersect.
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