Fighting opioid abuse with real Indianapolis stories
A local theater company that uses the stage to drive conversation and social awareness is lifting the curtain on its next presentation.
Why it matters: The latest show from Summit Performance Indianapolis is another weapon in Indiana's arsenal as we continue to drive down the number of Hoosiers lost to the opioid epidemic.
Driving the news:" THIS IS DIFFERENT," an original one-act stage play based on interviews with 20 people affected by opioid misuse in Indianapolis, makes its debut this weekend at Phoenix Theatre.
Flashback: Founded in 2017, Summit's core values are promoting equity in the arts, increasing the representation of ethnically and racially diverse populations on and behind the stage, and fostering dialogue around social issues.
Previous program topics include racial inequity in health care, living in Indiana as a trans person, domestic violence, environmentalism and reproductive health care.
What they're saying: "One thing that we try to do is create a script and a play that draws the audience in and connects them to the experiences rather than alienating and othering the stories," said Sally Wasmuth of the IU School of Health and Human Sciences, who has worked on nine performances with Summit. "We believe that we all have stigmatizing beliefs and biases, whether we're aware of them or not."
Zoom in:"THIS IS DIFFERENT," a free show supported by an Indy Arts Council Art for Awareness Grant, will be followed by a panel discussion featuring artists, interviewees and subject matter experts.
"We always try to make sure the play isn't too long so the conversation part receives equal weight," said director and co-playwright Lauren Briggeman. "The beautiful thing about theater is that it can explore things that are difficult to discuss in a more removed way."
If you go: 7-9pm Friday and Saturday at Phoenix Theatre, 705 N. Illinois St.
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