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SCREAM Theater
Students
Challenging Reality and Educating
Against
Myths |
SCREAM Theater is an interactive, educational theater
experience. Participants are encouraged to learn about issues of interpersonal
violence by interacting with peer educators and are provided with opportunities
to become engaged in their own learning. Student actors develop improvisational "scripts" that
utilize the words, thoughts, ideas and behaviors of the audience they are
addressing. SCREAM will take the unique aspects of your community to make
each performance speak directly to your students.
The format for SCREAM
is simple and effective. An introduction by the program facilitator
focusing on the topic begins the presentation and challenges the
participants to learn more about the issue.
This is followed by a
15-25 minute skit on the issue being addressed (such as sexual assault or
dating violence) that is performed by SCREAM members. Members incorporate
language that is specific to the audience and their community, including
local hangouts and activities. This helps the audience to more closely
relate to what they are watching. Scenes are tailored to the needs of the
target group and address issues that are particularly salient to that
community. The goal of the skit is to present a realistic portrayal of how
an issue of interpersonal violence may occur within a setting familiar to
the audience. The skits show the audience situations that usually happen
behind closed doors, and set the foundation for discussion.
Next is a unique
in-character question/answer period that allows the facilitator and the
audience to ask questions of the characters. The goal of the question and
answer segment is for audience members to challenge the characters on
unacceptable behaviors, and in doing so, teach each other what behaviors
and attitudes are appropriate. Through questioning the characters’ values
and beliefs, audience members may question their own value and belief
systems. The hope is that insight and a willingness to change will come
through this values-exploration process.
The last major segment
of the presentation is the out-of-character discussion, during which the
peer educators come out of character and introduce themselves to the
audience. Members discuss the purpose of their character and the message
that they are trying to convey. They may also discuss how they developed
their character and why they joined the program.
The program concludes
with a wrap-up by the facilitator that includes resource and referral
information for the audience.
For more information
on scheduling a SCREAM performance, please contact
Sharon Zucker, Coordinator of Peer Education, at 732-932-1181 or srzucker@rci.rutgers.edu.
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