In our fraught and divided age, many theatremakers are harkening back to theatre’s roots as a town hall, a public forum, a community gathering place. In that spirit, this year our national season preview looks at the programming surrounding the mainstage seasons, from lobby displays to pre- and post-show talkbacks, from afterschool programming to community events, as ways that theatres are using the work onstage as a springboard to educate and engage their audiences and their communities. We also survey education directors about what they’re looking forward to in the new season.