Messages about diversity and social issues will be dramatically communicated to campus this year. The newly formed Humanities Troupe will use theatre to address topics such as race, gender, age-ism, body issues, able-ism and class-ism-- sensitive subjects that can be difficult to broach without raising defenses.

"Part of what theatre can do is make ideas that seem abstract and distant much more real and present," according to Dr. Michael Ellison, a faculty member in the Department of Theatre and Film and the leader of the new theatre company.

The troupe came into being this summer with support from President Ribeau's Cabinet following a proposal from the Diversity Liaison Committee (DLC), a campuswide committee charged with promoting diversity and helping the Office of Equity and Diversity monitor the implementation of the Diversity Plan throughout the University.

The DLC had sponsored a campus visit from SST, a Chicago theatre company that gave performances about diversity to students and staff. Their shows were very effective, said Kim Kirkland, equity and diversity, who is co-chair of the DLC.

"We asked ourselves how we could embed this kind of just-in-time, small- or large-scale diversity training for our own faculty, staff and students," she said. Meanwhile, Ellison and Dr. Ronald Shields, chair of the department, had for several years wanted to create such a troupe, but the resources were lacking.

In collaboration, they proposed the Humanities Troupe, an idea whose time had come, they say.

With a three-year commitment and funding for four graduate assistants, the troupe was born. Its members, Macaela M. Carder, a continuing Ph.D. student; David S. Sollish, an incoming Ph.D. student; and master's degree students J. Michael Bestul and Diane Sullivan meet 10 hours per week to work on scenes and vignettes, writing some pieces themselves and using clips from already written pieces to develop a repertoire.

Also involved are Julio Sepulveda, a graduate student, and sophomores Julio Mata and Amanda Clements.

"Most theatre practitioners are doing their theatre for a reason," said Sullivan. "We like the feeling that we are doing something valuable and we have high hopes and big goals. Theatre is an art and a performance, but it can do so much more. It can be an icebreaker and a connection. It can say to people 'Look around you--there are things to see.'"

The troupe will be communicating with campus areas such as residence life, the Wellness Center and Greek Life to identify topics of concern to BGSU students and staff. They work closely with the DLC as well. "We're also looking at issues such as alcohol and drugs, sexual harassment, workplace violence and conflict resolution," Kirkland said.

"We want to awaken consciousness in our audiences and then to take it a step further to say 'these are the issues but what actions can we take to address them?'" Ellison said. "If someone makes a hurtful comment, for instance, what can I do or say to counter that?"

"What I love about theatre is that its power to change people's lives is huge," he added. Kirkland agreed, noting that when the troupe previewed one of its first pieces, "Label Me," for the committee, "it was so impactful I felt it in my heart. When you 'freeze-frame' the action and reflect on what you've just seen, you realize you don't know what you don't know."

The Humanities Troupe will give about 10 performances a year in the Joe E. Brown Theatre in University Hall and will be available to perform for classes and offices as well. They will use several models for their presentations, including improvisation, "talk-back" theatre in which the audience has the opportunity to discuss the issues portrayed, and other interactive models.

"We're not here to give answers. We're here to open dialogue," Sullivan said. "We're already meeting with a psychology class to model specific behaviors for a case study of certain disorders," she added, "and we're open to helping anyone on campus who would like to use theatre in their classroom."

While the Humanities Troupe was being designed, Ellison happened to meet with a number of theatre professionals involved in social justice issues while attending meetings and conferences last summer. The result was the planning of a series of visits to BGSU by some leading individuals and groups.

One, Fringe Benefits, from Los Angeles , had a grant to conduct free "social justice institutes" around the country. They will be coming to BGSU Nov. 14-20 to conduct workshops for the Humanities Troupe to help them raise awareness about sexism. The troupe will create a series of vignettes to be performed on campus next spring. Insert

"We've also invited other groups such as the Counseling Center , the Women's Center and Vision to participate," said Sullivan. "We want to get the community involved and do cross-curricular activities."

The troupe and other campus groups will also have another opportunity to learn how to use theatre for social justice issues. On Nov. 4, David Kay of the University of New Hampshire will come to BGSU. Insert - Faculty and staff who wish to participate are encouraged to email htroupe@bgsu.edu, said Ellison.

We think the troupe will be able to address a variety of needs and issues in a variety of venues," Kirklands said. "When people get involved in an experiential exercise, it's much more effective than making them feel they're being preached to. We can reach a broader spectrum of people but in a smaller setting."

BGSU Monitor 10-24-05