2009 was an exciting year for ITLP.

We served 120 Tanzanian students at three schools: Nkoanrua Secondary School -- with two ITLP student groups and four TZ teachers, Akeri Secondary School -- with two ITLP student groups and four Tanzanian teachers, and St. Margaret's Academy with 40 middle school students, four Tanzanian teachers and one Tanzanian musician.

Ambassador Augustine Mahiga and his wife Elizabeth visited both ITLP schools while ITLP was in session. His visit was a thrilling moment for the ITLP students. Ambassador Mahiga spoke to the students in a most inspiring way about the value and necessity of using and communicating effectively the knowledge in your head -- and that theatre is the best way to exercise those muscles and thus succeed in one's professional life.

But most of all, it was made exciting by our wonderful team of Teaching Artists:

• Sarah Bever - actress, education scholar
• Rebecca Blumhagen - returning ITLP teaching artist, actress, director, writer
• Leigh Curran - actress, playwright, arts educator
• Lee Sunday Evans - director
• Nancy Fales Garrett - returning ITLP teaching artist, playwright, director, teacher
• Didi Goldenhar - poet
• Marianna Houston - ITLP founder & director, actress, playwright, arts educator
• Jill Marie Lawrence - actress
• Amanda Lichtenstein - director, poet, arts educator
• Aimee McCabe - actress, yoga instructor
• Robert Poole - filmmaker
• Will Power - actor, playwright, poet
• James Williams - returning ITLP teaching artist, TV, film & stage actor, arts educator