|
 |
|||||
 |
|||||
Youth Life Theater GroupAbout | Sample Plays | Current ActorsFirst Performance | Photo Gallery | Get Involved Southwest Community Health Center's Teen Theater Program is an educational theater group performing original works dramatizing important social and health issues for youth such as parent-teen communication, body image, teen pregnancy, gang prevention, non-violent communication, healthy relationships, and positive self-esteem and self-expression.
Youth Life Theater auditions in the news » The program is funded through a grant award from the California Family Health Council (CFHC). Group members - many of whom have had no previous theater experience - create and produce original theater pieces in English and Spanish based on their own voices and real-life experiences. Participating in the group gives these students skills far beyond the dramatic arts by helping them develop confidence, learn to take healthy personal risks such as speaking up and speaking out, develop trust, learn how to focus, improve writing skills and reading comprehension, and develop self-expression. Director Alexandra Geary-Stock works with SCHC Teen Advocacy Group (TAG) members on script development and design, teen mentoring, and event production. Local theater arts professionals volunteer their time periodically to assist Geary-Stock and coach the novice young actors. The Youth Life Theater Group gave its first performance in July 2006 and appeared at the recent Latino Health Forum. Plans are in the works to perform for school assemblies and after school programs, as well as other youth venues and community events. "Theater is a powerful way to communicate a message to teens," explains Rory Gibbens-Flores, SCHC's Director of Outreach and Health Education. Geary-Stock is part of AChoir: An Army of Arts Educators in the North Bay working to provide youth with education in, experience with, and exposure to the Arts toward counteracting a lack of emphasis and resources for the arts in schools and society.
Geary-Stock earned an undergraduate degree in community studies with a minor in theater arts from University of California, Santa Cruz. Before joining the Peace Corps, she tutored children in English as part of a Santa Rosa Kid Street Theater's summer program and interned with an inner city theatre company in Los Angeles learning about all aspects of community based theater. "This is my dream job. I've always wanted to do this," Geary-Stock says of her role at SCHC. "My goal is to establish a sustainable educational theater program for the health center, but this process will take time. It's very challenging to work with kids who have never done theater. I want to help youth without very many opportunities to develop their theater skills, and through this find self-confidence and a sense of honesty." The Youth Life Theater Group periodically recruits new teens who have a passion for theater --theatrical experience and background is great but not required! The group meets and rehearses twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays, 5-8 p.m. 
Sampling of Plays These plays are written and performed by real teenagers who devote a lot of time, effort, and passion to this endeavor. Through theater, these teens invite the audience to listen to their struggles and stories and hear what's on the minds of young people today. "Mother and Daughter" is about beginning a conversation with parents, using a touching scene where a daughter is honest with her mother and asks questions she has always wanted answers for. "In the Waiting Room" portrays teens discussing hot topics such as emergency contraception and abortion. "Who am I?" is about several girls who have normal teen problems and want to communicate better with their parents. They are also wondering what is the best way to deal with their problems. "Body Image" is taken from group member's personal experiences with image. A collection of original poetry speaks to loving their own bodies and is incorporated into a scene to comfort a young woman who doesn't feel good about her appearance in a bathing suit. "Immigration Scenes" depicts three different situations and issues immigrants face in daily life. "Jobless" portrays a recently immigrated young man who is trying to find work. "The Other Side of High School" depicts the experiences of several young Latino women struggling to integrate into their high school. "Pride" portrays the sense of personal pride about one's cultural self-identity, particularly as being Latino. Current Actors Daniella JimenezSaul Jimenez Cinthia Gomez Karina Gomez Lupita Aguirre Mayra Aguirre Pamelo Solano Moises Mendoza Beatriz Ruiz First performance: July 2006 "ACT NATURALLY: When a cast of teen actors staged its debut performance in Santa Rosa recently, the themes were real tough. And real-life. Sex. Difficult communication with parents. Social pressures. Poor self-image. The kids, members of a new Teen Theater that Alexandra Geary-Stock directs at the Southwest Community Health Center, did a great job in a warm-up performance for parents and other grown-ups. Now they're getting ready for the hard part. They're offering to visit schools and put on their powerful and personal play in front of other kids." From Press Democrat columnist Chris Smith Youth Life Theater Photo Gallery First Performance - Lincoln Arts Center 
Latino Health Forum - Finley Community Center 
Get involved To learn more about getting involved in Youth Life Theater or to request a presentation, contact: |
