Rosy cheeks: a creative exploration of theatre for young audiences and drug education

The failure of abstinence-only reformation programs regarding drug use (e.g., D.A.R.E.) points to a concrete need for effective and codified risk-taking behavior education. While many school districts have turned to “pop-up” programs such as the Red Ribbon Campaign, these systems have become highly mechanized to make up for the abstinence-only approach that D.A.R.E. left. In my experience as an avid theatre fan, I’ve found that conversations had through the art of theatre have a significant impact on perception and risk management processes while still providing an entertaining and emotional experience. This is especially true within the domain of Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA), in which younger and younger students are exposed to stories that inform them about real-world experiences, such as grief management (Harris’ The Arkansaw Bear) and even the AIDS epidemic (Saar’s The Yellow Boat). It is with this in mind that I started the process of analyzing the relationship and responsibility theatre artists must encourage through conversations surrounding real-world experiences and expectations. Starting in January during my student teaching practicum, I worked with my students to conduct discussion-focused lessons surrounding perspectives on recreational drug use and its presence in the lives of young people today. I took this knowledge and crafted a TYA piece with my students loosely inspired by these perspectives. I have found that creating dramatic art with youth in mind has shown the enduring strength of arts engagement in the classroom, and how real-world experiences can be explored and examined through the lens of art.Thesis (B.?)Honors Colleg