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THEATRE
X IMPACT
THEATRE
X IMPACT
THEATRE
X IMPACT
The art of theatre within it's nature is an elevation of storytelling meant to inspire and create impact in a variety of ways. After a show, audiences could leave laughing, crying, or simply thinking - it is the power of theatre that sparks conversations of all sorts, and influences the thoughts of others. It is a self-reflection of reality, humanity, and the lessons and choices that everyone faces in their life. We have made it a priority of ours to use the strong power of theatre to our advantage in order to continue elevating these stories and inspiring others; a huge factor of that being the work on equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Moreover, we acknowledge that change and progression is better when it's started from an early point, motivating us to make an impact in high school theatre in order to reflect towards theatre as a whole - both professionally and community wise.
In this hub, you'll find all sorts of resources to look into! From videos to articles, everything will be placed in one single hub and will continue to be updated.
Happy Pride, Thespians!
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Here at the San Ramon Valley High School theatre department, we are committed to recognizing, hearing, and acknowledging everyone’s voices. Theatre is an art made to influence and inspire through the strength of ensemble - moreover, we are proud to
commemorate and celebrate those in the LGBTQIA+ community during Pride Month.
We wanted to look back on some of the history that make Pride possible in order to keep telling LGBTQIA+ based stories, keeping the legacy of certain events alive and remembered.
“with these stories and the characters whose lives they explore, comes a better understanding of the complexities of the LGBT+ experience. Every new, well-built character is worth so much more than a place in their world.”
-Holly Mallet, Backstage.com
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6.27.21
Theatre 4's collaboration to bring such an impactful play to the SRV Performing Arts Center will forever be something that will never be forgotten. With multiple performances in the form of assemblies to almost the entire school, it truly brought many lessons and thoughts to the table. Not only does it remind us about the tragic events of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, yet it explores a number of aspects and things to consider when on the conversation of gun violence. Not just that, author Eric Ulloa manages to capture the event from different eyes: perspectives from the real people who were effected by what happened. The play was thrown from one direction to another, making sure the audience manages to grasp every concept in every corner of the situation in ways that they have never probably thought of. Once again, not just capturing the tragedy, the sympathy, and the news that plagued conversations and media at the time, but the rippling thoughts that truly needed to be heard and considered.
Through this story, we simply learned about humanity, and what it means to face the darkest moments. What about gun violence? What about the shooter? Those factors within the script were used to enhance the purpose and lesson of this story. It manages to successfully avoid being too political while it attaches itself to humanity and the grief that progresses into something so much more. We see Newtown - the people, the shivering moment of the day it happened, and the outcomes and emotions that lay behind all of it that define humanity processing the ugly. In reference to the 26 lives that were lost, they are described as "pebbles being thrown into a pond." Through the entire experience, audiences follow along the idea that each of those lives created ripples. Not just the effects, yet the thoughts, the emotions, the actions, and anything that comes after that. Those lives were the circumstances, while "26 Pebbles' is a story of hope and of family and of community. It is a story of the human condition," Ulloa states.
"Newtown doesn't want to be remembered as the town of tragedy. We want to be remembered as a bridge to a new and kinder world. It's not about the suburbs or the urban areas. It's about the red blood that flows out of all of our veins. It's about the clear tears that flow out of our eyes. We are all the
same...." proclaims the local Newtown rabbi. 26 Pebbles turns into a story of healing rather than a story filled with political-based dialogue and argument despite the commotion that occurred in reality of the event. Through theatre, the voices of the Newtown community were able to be heard in a way that makes the audience truly feel instead of see.
The parts that we didn't get to see at the time were finally seen here. The loudness of the news and media felt silenced. The story being told through live theatre is a huge factor in this, as it stays grounded with the audience every second of the way, and we are led to see each step of Newtown's healing all in one sitting, walking away from the Performing Arts Center feeling the emotions connected to the people of Newtown.
26 Pebbles: What We Learned.
26 Pebbles
Moms Demand Action
Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America is a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence.
Sandy Hook Promise
Sandy Hook Promise is a national nonprofit organization founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Everytown Support Fund
Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund is the education, research, and litigation arm of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with nearly six million supporters.
Gun Violence Resources
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Moms Demand Action visits a showing of "26 Pebbles" at SRVHS
Taking a Stand on Broadway
Through taking much action over the past few months, many have realized that the theatre community itself is consisted of many diverse communities who have not felt safe through their artistic passion in the past - ranging from the autistic spectrum to the black community.
Over the course of the pandemic, live performance artists across multiple communities, specifically Broadway, have come together to address certain factors that have made theatre an unsafe place for both actors and audiences. In regards to Broadway returning later this year, these artists have put in full efforts to make theatre extremely better and safer than before.
At the same time, many have uncovered ways to heal or support the many wounds and the sources that drive them. Read about it all in the following sections:
“Those of you who say you’re scared — what are you afraid of?”
Moulin Rouge! The Musical and Hamilton star Karen Olivo announces their refusal to return to the industry until the ugly parts of Broadway are confronted. Moreover, they illustrate the power of speaking up and the impact behind it. Read about it here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/theater/karen-olivo-moulin-rouge.html
More
"Back-To-School Essentials" by the Sandy Hook Promise
The Sandy Hook Promise releases a chilling PSA spreading awareness about gun violence in schools through the form of a back-to-school commercial.
*This video contains graphic content related to school shootings that may be upsetting to some viewers. If you feel that this subject matter may be too difficult for you, you may choose not to watch this video.*
The Broadway Community Forum Students Meeting
Students from different backgrounds come together to answer questions and formulate valuable discussions over the future of theatre in reflection to the negative sides of the industry, and their own experiences of what it's like to grow passionate in an art that feels unsafe towards them.
Rebuilding Broadway Resources
Broadway Advocacy Coalition
The Broadway Advocacy Coalition is an organization founded by a group of Broadway actors working to fight against systemic racism and police brutality through the power of theatre.
Broadway for Racial Justice
Broadway for Racial Justice amplifies BIPOC theatre artists in the industry, at the same time pushing for action through spreading resources and amplification of important events.
https://www.americantheatre.org/2021/03/26/practicing-disability-justice-honoring-wholeness-onstage/
Practicing Disability Justice, Honoring Wholeness Onstage
The following article by the American Theatre elevates the call for acknowledgment towards disability justice in the theatre.
More resources will be added over time.
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