Our second of three goals, “Applied Theatre Practice,” is to generate thought provoking performances through methods such as playmaking, community-based theatre and theatre in education as Fuse works with community partners using both actors and non-actors. The goals of these programs are to teach, to provide opportunities for collaborative work (create opportunities for silenced voices) and create awareness of social issues through performance. In this vein, Fuse is excited to announce partnership with Sequoia High School’s Dream Club!
The Dream Club:
The Sequoia High School Dream Club, a group of about 30 students, works to raise awareness of the challenges that undocumented students face as they pursue their dreams of attending college. The club also works to raise money to provide scholarships for graduating undocumented Sequoia students to help make their goals attainable. The Dream Club works in partnership with the Immigrant Youth Action Team (IYAT), a component of Redwood City Together’s youth initiative to help create a more welcoming environment for immigrant youth in our community. The Dream Club meets weekly and the IYAT, which includes students as well as community allies, meets monthly.
The Collaboration:
The Dream Club will partner with Fuse Theatre to create a student-devised performance to be premiered at the Making Dreams Come True Dinner & Fundraiser in November. The Dream Club will then use the performance throughout the year to continue raising awareness about the challenges faced by college bound undocumented students. Artistic Director, Stacey Ardelean, will meet with students for a pre-school workshop in August and continue to work weekly with students to develop and rehearse their performance through November. Fuse Theatre will also offer technical support as well as marketing for the event.
The Dream Club has been steadily growing as has the attendance for this event. The club’s first public event was held in 2009 with about 25 people in attendance. At the first annual Making Dreams Come True dinner in 2010, about 125 people attended. We expect at least 200 this year. This large turnout is an amazing opportunity for these brave students to heard and Fuse Theater is honored to help provide a medium for their powerful voices.
Post Performance:
The Dream Club will use this performance during the rest of the school year for their outreach efforts. Fuse will use both student participant and audience feedback surveys to assess effectiveness of using the devised performance medium. This information will help both Fuse and the students involved grow as artists and activists.
Performance Information:
The main event will be the seventh annual Making Dreams Come True dinner, which is the Sequoia High School Dream Club’s most important community event and fundraiser. This year it will be held on Friday, November 18 from 6-8:30 pm in the Sequoia High School Multi-Purpose Room. We have a suggested donation of $10 for adults, $5 for students. Children under 10 are free. It is likely that parts of the performance will be recreated throughout the school year at various community events.
