Passage Theatre Company and TCH Presents an Evening of Short Plays, 11/12-13

Passage Theatre, Trenton's only professional theater company, and Trenton Central High School, will present three plays by TCH playwrights: From a Whisper to a Scream by Unique Crawford '12, The Adventures of Poncho by Breyon Smith '11, and The Perfect Ghetto Barbie by Amariss White '10 for two performances only on Friday and Saturday, November 12 and 13 at 7pm. All tickets: $5.
To reserve tickets, call (609) 392-0766 or visit online at www.passagetheatre.org 
 
Since the fall of 2009, Passage Associate Artistic Director David White (who also directs Passage's educational program known as the State Street Project) has been working closely with Drama and Creative Writing students in Melissa Wyatt's Trenton Central High classroom. Ms. Wyatt, who recently became the new drama teacher and has many connections with New Jersey theaters , saw an incredible opportunity and approached Passage Theatre to present the students work on its stage. "These kids are amazing," Wyatt says. "They do everything - write, act, you name it. It's impossible to keep them narrowed down to just one thing! They're so excited about working with Passage Theatre." Wyatt cast the plays and began rehearsals last month working with Passage teaching artists Denna Jiles and Kate Benincasa to bring these plays to the stage.
 
"We've been doing programs with elementary and middle-school students for many years," says David White, "but the high school students brings an intensity and maturity to their writing and performance that truly inspiring. These are kids with something important to say and I think we owe it to them to listen. Not to mention the fact that they're incredibly entertaining!"
 
From a Whisper to a Scream by Unique Crawford is a poetic drama about a very timely topic --   teenage bullying.  "To me it is a number of things," Unique explains, "It's controversial, it's dramatic, but most of all it is urban. My play is about something that's going on today."
 
Ghetto Barbie by Amariss White is a satirically, scathing look at how toy companies reinforce unhealthy, cultural stereotypes to sell their productions.  "I hope the audience gets the message I'm sending behind the humor of it all," Amariss says.
 
The Adventures of Poncho by Breyon Smith is a comedy about a career stuntman gone to seed, who has to choose between his family and his legacy. 
 
But underneath the work and the fun inherent in creating theatre, everyone involved in the production wants the same thing - to learn, grow and hone their skills through the rehearsal process. "All three writers, and many of their peers, have been working long and hard on this project and we're very eager to present it to the Trenton community," adds White.
 
Passage Theatre performs in the historic Mill Hill Playhouse, which is located at 205 E. Front Street in the heart of Trenton's historic Mill Hill district.  Security-guarded on-street parking is available on S. Montgomery St., Ernie Kovacs St., E. Front Street and in the Artworks parking lot.
 
Tickets can also be purchased at the Passage Theatre Office: 219 East Hanover Street in Trenton, Monday through Friday from 12:00 pm -5:30 pm or at the box office, one hour before each performance at the Mill Hill Playhouse. 
 
For over 20 years, Passage Theatre has developed and showcased new work by emerging and established playwrights. As a key participant in the revitalization of urban Trenton, Passage presents outstanding plays that celebrate experiences common to all and transcend culture and race.