In a groundbreaking community event, Raven Theatre and students from Sullivan High School join forces to take a stand against school violence with the one night show, A Bird of Prey. Over twenty students are participating in this production in a brave step toward neutralizing the violent forces lurking in their own school in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood.
A Bird of Prey is an educational theatre piece that discusses the lives of today's youth and the harsh realities they face every day. From difficult situations at home to blatant cruelty from their peers, this play brings to light the extreme danger and inevitable isolation felt by teenagers.
In a tumultuous and frightening year for Chicago Public School students, this Raven Theatre outreach event gives a voice to students whose everyday lives are effected by school violence. Sullivan students present scenes from the play A Bird of Prey, as well as pieces they've written on topics of exclusion, violence and community.
The primary goal of this outreach is to shift the source of dialogue from parents and local politicians to the teenagers who are directly effected by violent events - discussing their fears in a safe environment and empowering them to be proponents for change in their own neighborhoods. The evening's events are sure to resonate throughout the community, not only bringing awareness to this horrifying situation but elevating these students past the label of "victim", giving them the support they need to play a part in a positive, proactive solution.
A Bird of Prey will be presented on Wednesday, December 16th at 6:00pm. For more information visit ww.raventheatre.com.
About Raven Theatre's Education and Outreach Program
For nine years, Raven Theatre's Education and Outreach program has partnered with Chicago Public Schools to bring theatre arts education to students in low-income schools with little access to the arts. Raven's in-classroom outreach program,"Take Flight", serves over 350 students annually in the Rogers Park and Edgewater neighborhoods. In 2008, Raven expanded "Take Flight" beyond neighborhood elementary schools to include an arts residency program with Sullivan High School. Now in its second year, the residency provides Sullivan students with professional theatre instruction in the classroom and invites students to share their performance on the Raven stage for an audience of friends, family and community.