Pandora Productions proudly presents the GLBTQ YOUTH PROJECT, a Pandora original staged reading. Strikingly bold and honest, infused with innocence and grit, and equally heartbreaking and uplifting, this enlightening and educational experience blazes new territory in the evolution of live theatre in Louisville.
Playwright Kevin DelPrincipe and Pandora's Artistic Director Michael Drury have created this riveting piece through writing workshops, conversations, and interviews with the kids at The Louisville Youth Group (LYG) and the students from the University of Louisville's commonGround LGBTQQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgendered, Queer, Questioning, Intersexed, Ally) organization and have now developed the information into the compelling and unique staged reading that is the GLBTQ Youth Project. Uniting both groups to share their stories has resulted in a theatre production that tears down the walls surrounding the thoughts, feelings and actions of our community's LGBTQ youth who day after day face a myriad of mixed messages and conflicting emotions.
Brian W. Buford, the University of Louisville's Director of LGBT Services states, "Giving LGBT youth a voice-telling the stories of their lives-is a powerful antidote to the risks and challenges they face. At a time when suicide and anti-gay bullying are part of the daily news,
Pandora Productions is taking us in the right direction by showing its audiences what today's young people are experiencing as they struggle to come out of the closet and find their place in the world. I'm honored by the courage of my students; seeing themselves in the performance will be a transformational experience for them, and all of us."
"The Louisville Youth Group is excited to partner with
Pandora Productions to bring to life the very real stories of young gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth," adds Donald Taylor, Jr., Executive Director of the Louisville Youth Group. "We hope this project brings about awareness to the larger community regarding what our youth are going through and that they may leave with a sense of obligation to reach out and create a safer Kentuckiana for all youth."
Throughout its 16-year history,
Pandora Productions has consistently presented unique and rarely seen theatrical pieces that champion and connect with the Kentuckiana Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Transgender and Questioning community. With the GLBTQ Youth Project, Michael J. Drury,
Pandora Productions Artistic Director explains, "It was time for us to go back to our roots and create something we feel speaks directly to our audience, while also reaching out to the community at large, and to be aware and further informed about these profound issues affecting the youth of today." Pandora's vision has always been, and continues to be, one of relatedness and belonging by and for a diverse human community, as its ongoing mission examines the individual and collective accountability for our society and community, exposing the beauty and dignity of all people.
The GLBTQ Youth Project is presented at Walden Theatre, 1123 Payne Street, Downtown Louisville, January 6, 7, 8, and 9, 2011. Nightly performances begin at 7:30 p.m. The reading is approximately one hour in length with a 30 minute panel discussion following each performance. Individual tickets are $10 and are available Wednesday, December 22, through the run of show; tickets may be purchased at www.pandoraprods.org or by calling 502-216-5502.
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About
Pandora Productions: Founded in 1995 in Louisville, Kentucky,
Pandora Productions represents the transformational power of theatre. Its mission is to entertain, engage and inspire its audiences, the community, and the greater human communities by presenting bold, cutting-edge theatrical productions that reveal
The Commonality of all people while investigating the diversity of human nature, particularly the nature of sexual orientation, through artistic expression. Find Pandora on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pandoraproductions and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pandoraprods.
About Louisville Youth Group: Founded in 1990 Louisville Youth Group outreaches to LGBT youth through its Youth Leadership and Adult Mentor Programs offering a safe environment where the youth can socialize and interact with other LGBT youth. LYG helps build strong leadership and communication skills that will stay with them into adulthood. Guest speakers are often featured and discuss a wide range of topics including safe sex practices, college/career prep, personal finance, and physical fitness. Additionally, LYG sponsors many events during the year both social and motivational. The group has an annual prom, holiday parties, and a youth summer camp. LYG reaches close to 200 youth annually and since its inception has helped numerous GLBT youth overcome adversity and live successful lives. For additional information visit www.louisvilleyouthgroup.com.
About the University of Louisville's Office for LGBT Services: The Office for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Services, works to strengthen and sustain an inclusive campus community at the University of Louisville, one that welcomes people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions through support, educational resources, and advocacy. The office works in partnership with other diversity efforts on campus supporting the Vice Provost for Diversity and International Affairs. commonGround is the largest LGBT student organization under the auspices of the Office for LGBT Services. For more information please visit http://louisville.edu/lgbt and http://louisville.edu/rso/commonground/.
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