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a non-profit, comprehensive,
community mental health service
Our Services
ActingOut
ActingOut is a dramatic arts program which helps 'tweens and teens explore contemporary issues through expressive arts and group and peer interaction.
The mission of this program, unique in our region, is to cultivate resilience, social skills, and healthy development in youth from age 10 through young adulthood through theater training. The program offers after-school and in-school groups for those interested in the performing arts or those in need of social and life skills development.
ActingOut’s theater work focuses on improvisational acting and is generally related to youth topics and issues such as relationships, school, peers, and substance use. Along with theater training, there are many performance opportunities as well.
For information, including fees, or to discuss setting up a class, performance, or residency in your school, contact ActingOut at 603-355-3040, Ext. 107.
ActingOut Programs
After-School Groups
Have a great time, learning and building skills in improvisation, acting, and movement while exploring issues important to the group's members. There are many opportunities for these groups to perform.
In-School Groups and Residences
ActingOut offers regular sessions for classes or groups during the school day. These sessions are tailored to meet the needs of specific student populations. The broad goal of most groups will be to build self-esteem while developing resistance, decision-making, communication, and conflict resolution skills. Groups usually meet for 8 to 12 sessions.
Participants in a group or class will explore specific themes. A health class, for example, may use theater activities such as role-playing, public service announcements, or other formats to look deeper into issues about positive decision-making. A group of students referred by school counseling staff may explore issues of intolerance, social justice ,or relationships. Similar formats or others, including mock trials and interviews with actors in character, could also be used.
ActingOut staff members are also available for in-school residencies for one or more days. Options include:
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One-day performances with an ActingOut troupe.
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Classroom facilitation to explore a specific issue for one or more days.
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Creation of a performance piece by class members for a larger school audience.
For Information, including fees, or to discuss setting up a class. performance, or residency in your school, contact ActingOut at 603-355-3040, Ext. 107.
Stage Combat Skills Groups
ActingOut also offers training in stage combat, a performance skill which may appeal to students who have little or no experience with theater or who face greater challenges in their everyday lives. Stage combat is the technique of portraying theatrical violence. It is a fun and energetic skill, which requires trust, self-control, and focuses on safety and skills in other performance areas such as storytelling, directing, choreography, and general acting.
Performances
ActingOut features audience-interactive, issue-oriented improvisation performances for schools and the community. ActingOut has performed for age groups from pre-school to adult. Since ActingOut focuses on improvisation, programs are customized to meet the needs of any audience. Any setting from classroom to stage can be utilized. Presentations are designed to engage audiences in exploring a wide range of important topics, including:
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Substance abuse
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Dating issues
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Violence and abuse
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Bullying
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Awareness of HIV/AIDS and other STI's
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Depression and suicide
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Peer pressure
ActingOut performances invite age-appropriate participation in many ways -- including through dialogue with the characters, determining the outcome of scenes, or joining the “on-stage” action.
