Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Viento, Wanda L" <>]

Hi All,
 
I want to let you know about a new bystander intervention program that 
started here and is available for booking. 
 
I strongly recommend Megan Rae's production "When...", an interactive play of 
several vignettes focusing on bystander intervention with topics on sexual 
assault, consent, and relationship violence. I first met Ms. Rae, a senior in 
theater at the time, in the spring of 2009. She approached the Women's Center 
at Minnesota State University, Mankato to volunteer her talents in support of 
our Sexual Violence Education Program (SVEP). She wanted to do "something." 
After a brainstorming meeting with us, she began to craft what "When..." has 
eventually become, based in the style of Forum Theatre, a version of Theatre 
of the Oppressed as taught by Augusto Boal. 
 
The program ran for the first time here in April 2009 and the audience 
reaction, men and women, was overwhelmingly positive. Not only were the 
scenes thought-provoking and educational, Ms. Rae's skills at facilitation 
were exceptional and the interactive nature of the program kept the audience 
engaged. There was no victim-blaming or "preachiness" to this event, but an 
honest and open exploration about serious issues affecting our students' 
lives along with numerous possibilities for bystander intervention being 
demonstrated. She includes same sex relationships as well as opposite sex 
relationships in the vignettes.
 
Additionally, because she used students from our campus, the experience for 
the actors was also educational. During rehearsals, time was spent processing 
the information they were working on and their reactions to it. For many of 
them, this was the first time they may have thought about the issues of 
interpersonal violence. Some were survivors of violence and their 
participation in the show helped to shape their own healing. For our campus, 
the extra benefit was that these student actors, men and women, remained on 
our campus after the event was done and their new awareness got passed along 
to others. In a sense, she educated them to continue educating others about 
the concerns with interpersonal violence. 
 
Because the program was so unique and successful, we contracted with Ms. Rae 
to bring the production back the following spring in 2010. Her rates were 
very reasonable. She used a different set of actors from our campus, 
rehearsed with them, brought the SVEP coordinator in to speak to the cast, 
and proceeded to put together another outstanding production. Once again, the 
audience participation and response were very positive. Ms. Rae, again, 
facilitated the discussion with depth and ease, always expressing respect for 
the audience's serious reflections. 
 
I appreciate the creativity of "When..." and the skills of Ms. Rae. When she 
produces the show, it is truly a collaborative event between her and the 
Women's Center, between her and the student cast, and between the cast and 
the audience. I highly recommend this production!
I've attached a flyer with her contact and website info. She's based in 
Minneapolis currently. I'm happy to answer any further questions about the 
production as well.

Thanks,
Wanda