If you're in the Chicago area on the weekend of November 7 or November 14, then you may want to stop by the Irish American Heritage Center and watch the play Six Stories Up in Peace. It's funny, and interesting on many levels.
Six Stories Up is an annual production of six original stories woven together around a theme. This year's theme of peace is especially significant considering the vitriolic nature of the political campaign and the fear associated with the economic crisis.
In one of the lines, the Mother Teresa character says "Perhaps Dan has no peace because he forgot that we belong to each other." For some reason that line continues to unfold for me as we rehearse for the show.
Have we forgotten that we belong to each other? Are we angry because we think that the rich guys got away with something and we are bailing them out? Or are we afraid that someone will take away our comforts so that some poor person can have a better life?
I believe that we do belong to each other. I find joy in discovering the magnificence in everyone I meet, especially those who may be marginalized by disability, age, or poverty. That's why I am grateful to be a mentor in Six Stories Up.
Six Stories Up pairs up six adult mentors with six middle school children to produce an original theater production.
Each adult/child team works together for six weeks to write a 10-12 minute theater piece on an assigned theme. The entire group comes together to weave the pieces into a full-length show, which is performed for two weekends at a professional theater. We also provide apprentice opportunities for children in set design, mask making, music composition and stage management. Because of the intimacy of the group, we are able to take the time to draw out the specific abilities of each child and empower him or her to shine. Kids with disabilities get starring roles, which they rarely get in school. The adults and kids without disabilities grow in their understanding of disability.
Because this year's theme is peace, we researched Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Teresa, Wangari Maathai, Greg Mortenson, Socrates, Confucius, and more. The result is not only hilarious, but also poignant and moving.
So if you have time and you want to remember once again that we in fact do belong to each other, please come to Six Stories Up in Peace. Get details here>>
Call 312-409-1025 for reservations. Adults and children over 5 years old will love it.
If we have no peace it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other - Mother Teresa
2 comments:
May you break all of your legs! For those of Mary's readers who have not witnessed this theatrical event, please do. It's always special, always fun, and always moving... for participants and audience alike.
Thanks Danielle.... it is really you who should be in this...but....alas...you are far away.... I miss your wit and humor..... there are a few who can hold a candle to you in the production though.
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