AWOL Invites Youth to ACT UP!

Normally, acting up isn't considered a good thing. But one local non-profit organization is encouraging kids to do it in front of a live audience. AWOL's theater program, known as Act Up, will celebrate its fifth year this fall with open auditions for its annual production. This year's focus, a hip hop-themed adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Auditions will be held September 17-18 at the Black Box Theater (9 W. Henry St.) from 6-8pm.

The goal of the Act Up program is to engage young people in positive, creative activities during the evenings when they are statistically more likely to get into trouble. The program teaches students lessons about theater combined with positive conflict resolution workshops, giving students the opportunity to pursue their talents while showing them ways to promote positive behavior.

AWOL is an acronym for All Walks of Life- a local organization founded by Tony and DaVena Jordan. Its mission is to promote and provide self-awareness through the use of poetry, hip-hop, and life. The organization's main goal is to successfully develop youth in an environment that encourages respect, education, creativity and non-violence. Using the elements of hip-hop as a means to promote self-expression and self-respect, AWOL strives to provide troubled youth with an outlet for their creative energy.

The organization hosts a number of events including: a weekly television show called the Chop Shop, a monthly open mic night (Therapy Session), a conflict resolution workshop, an annual hip-hop history play, digital arts education programs involving film and music production (My Block and The P.R.O.J.E.C.T.S.) and the IT program (GOON Squad) training youth to refurbish used computers. AWOL is supported by The Governors Office for Children and Families, The City of Savannah, and The Chatham County Commission

The production, titled Choices: The Romeo and Juliet Story, will be presented February 5-6, 2010 at the Lucas Theater. There will be one daytime show presented to students of schools from around the region, and two nighttime shows open to the general public. Teachers are encouraged to reserve seats now as the school show sells out every year. Cost of attendance is $3 per child and includes a free curriculum guide based on the Georgia Performance Standards for the study of Shakespeare.

For more information, click here: www.awolinc.org
Email kgreen@awolinc.org to reserve seats now.