FHS APPLIED THEATRE
The Second Annual Anti-Bullying Conference
On February 26, 2014, Franklin High School’s applied theatre program and “Shadows” held their second Anti-Bullying Conference with co-sponsorship of Kean University, and the National School Climate Center. The conference was once again held at Kean University at their Union Center. All presenters and space were donated by people committed to the cause of continuing dialogue and awareness of this issue. Food is discounted and provided by Franklin Township Shoprite. This year's keynote speaker was Sgt. Thomas Rich, creator and CEO of Always Connected is a certified police officer in the State of New Jersey. In his 17th year of service, his entire career has been dedicated to children. Sgt Rich travels the country and creates programs like this one to help make a difference in the lives of children. Sgt Rich was recently featured on Good Morning America and the Nancy Grace Show and at present has spoken to over 250,000 people about technology issues and cyberbullying!
Sgt Thomas Rich, Keynote Speaker
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
Alyea Pierce, Spoken Word Artist and NY Knicks Poetry Jam Finalist - BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND - focusing on how poetry/ spoken word is an outlet for bottled emotions, as well as expressing your truth in a creative way.
Valentine Road
Marcela Barrientos, Lori Barringer, Michael Pantone - Professional Actors and Applied Theatre Artists - Valentine Road - is participatory based revolving around the narrative of two teenage youths. One of whom began to cross dress to school and the other who murdered him. The narrative of the story allows for moments of reflection and poses the question "how does a community respond to intolerance?" The aim of the workshop is also to have participants strategize ways they could work within a community to prevent things from escalating as they do in the story. The structure of the process drama (narrative) also allows for a great deal of freedom for the participants to draw their own conclusions as to who may be considered the "victim" in hopes of generating dialogue around varying points of view.
IMPROV IT!
Jane O'Leary - Professional Actress and Applied Theatre Artist - IMPROV IT! In this introductory workshop the principles of improvisation are explored. Active listening, risk-taking, and making your partner look good are all fundamentals to good improvisation. We will explore how to say yes, and build creatively in the moment. How do these skills translate into the real world? How do we collaborate successfully? How do we know when our voice is too dominant? How do we build the confidence to put our voice in the room? Everyone has the skills to build positively from where you are.
The Little Boy Who Lost His Smile
Nati Hardin and Diana Garten - BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND with "The Little Boy Who Lost His Smile" - an interactive theatre experience for our younger and older members!
Choices
Choices - an interactive theatre piece which follows the story of AJ, a senior in high school who is living his fathers' dream for him, but makes a choice that threatens his possibilities. The Forum Theatre piece allows the audience to change the outcome of the story, along with discussing and dialoguing about possible strategies and outcomes dealing with family, friends and authority.
Pais Country
Marcela Barrientos, Lori Barringer - Professional Actors and Applied Theatre Artists - Pais-Country -- focusing on the process of interpretation, using exercises that encourage participants to question how they view their current country and how their past countries influence their understanding of it, creating dialogue around differences and similarities between the two but more importantly explore how these experiences influence/define identities.
Shadows
At the lunch break, students from Franklin High School will perform “Shadows,” the anti-bullying drama, written, choreographed and performed by students. "Shadows" recently returned from a triumphant trip to Scotland's Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where it played to packed houses in August. In addition, the ensemble has been performing around the state and touring their new Forum Piece, "Choice."
Donate $20 to help support our cause!