a call for hope in a world that seems doomed for climate catastrophe
59% of youth are extremely worried about climate change, according to a recent study of 10,000 young people, from 10 different countries. Eco-anxiety plagues this generation of American youth, and React is proposing a new treatment for this diagnosis.
Premiering Friday March 1, 7:00 p.m. at the Athenaeum
In 2022, React and Earth Charter Indiana teamed up to create Dreamland, a Climate Crisis play by and for students, rooted in real life stories from youth with eco-anxiety, mental health professionals, climate activists, professional theatre makers, and experts on Earth Science. Dreamland is currently touring schools across Indiana. Click the link below to see the performance schedule and get tickets. Do your students have eco-anxiety? Reach out to alethea@reactclasses.org to learn how to bring Dreamland to your school.
The Process
During the research phase of script development we conducted a series of classes for middle and high school students on climate science and advocacy. Guest instructors includ Dr. Gabriel Filippelli (IUPUI), Shannon Anderson (ECI’s Director of Advocacy), and Scott Deal (composer and artist, IUPUI). Each week, Ryan Mullins, React’s Associate Artistic Director, and ECI’s Jim Poyser, work with the students, exploring climate science, eco-anxiety, advocacy and solutions.
“We discussed why the climate crisis is happening, why different solutions exist yet aren’t being put in place, why it affects some populations disproportionately, and from this we were able to bring the show to life.”
Dreamland cast practicing. Photo Credit React Website: https://www.reactclasses.org/projects/dreamland
The Team
React, formerly known as Youth Actors Theatre, has evolved into a social justice theater project since beginning in Indianapolis in 1976. According to their website, “Every React show is created from the ground up by students, along with their director. Because we bring in ideas and stories from everybody in the group, we can make plays that matter– to the people onstage, to the people behind the scenes, and to the people in the audience. The result is meaningful, fun, creative work that sticks.”
ECI has also helped with React summer camp classes, and last fall, students created this video during a multi-day camp focused on the climate crisis:
We at ECI are so excited to work with React and their excellent team of theater professionals that include Ryan Mullins, Justin Wade, Georgeanna Wade Smith, Lillian Crabb and many others. This project is made possible by grants from Allen Whitehill Clowes and Glick Philanthropies.
Theatre for EVERYONE
