STRAP UP May-June 2003 Participating sites: UDYC and YEP Performance Venue: Local schools, libraries, and community organizations STRAP UP, created with the intention of touring beyond its original school, is a hard-edged and relevant social play about responsibility and intimacy- a combination of themes made all the more accessible to students when the teachers are students themselves. Given the importance of the subject matter (birth control, STD's, healthy choices), on-going community outreach conducted by this ensemble allows for practical experience in an increasingly complicated world. Director' Notes: I share the concern of my fellow teachers that today's students may still be uninformed about the consequences of sexual activity--even our Metro buses are carrying billboard reminders that the majority of HIV infections occur in adults under the age of 25. Certainly education and the sharing of information come in many forms, and these student artists have found a unique, valuable, and accessible way to reach their friends. Blending elements of fantasy and comedy with some of the more realistic truths of our culture, this project attempts--and I think succeeds--in empowering students with responsibility in their actions. I applaud them for it, and I hope you will join me in doing so. --Amy Rider

Student quotes from Strap performance at YO Columbia City:

"I wish the play would have gone on, I wanted to know what happened to Lateesha.
"The students knew their stuff...it was an exciting way to learn" --Jessica Diibon

"I liked the way the music was incorporated into the acting. Acting without music is not good". --Robin Barrera

"Very extraordinary and informative...I learned that people should definitely 'strap up'. --Eboni Pennington

YO and Interagency Staff quotes:

"Those actors and actresses were dedicated and the play was clever and relevant to the audience...no matter how old you are you're never too old to hear about safe sex". --Emiko Atherton

Compelling and pertinent information for a 'now' crowd." --Deborah Moffit

ABOUT THE ARTISTIC AND PRODUCTION TEAM

AMY RIDER (Director)
Amy has been producing original plays with the students of Interagency Academy for the past five years. She is eager and optimistic for this first touring production to take flight, and dedicates her work on this show to the youth on the stage and the youth in the audience. Long may you live.

AMY NGUYEN (Stage Manager)
I am 17 years old. I've been working with Amy since November. I enjoy acting as well as writing scripts. For this play I helped transcribe the text from videotaped audio. My goals are finishing high school and hopefully getting accepted at UW. I would like to become a fashion designer.

MEG LIPPERT (Production Assistant)
I've enjoyed my work with Amy and the students of Interagency Academy for the past three years. I'm inspired by their dedication and creative power and I'm honored to be part of this production. My hope is that the message of this play will reach students and inspire them to protect themselves.

If you would like to see a video of this production follow the links below. Make sure that you've downloaded Windows Media Player 9 to play the clips. Also, you'll need to be on a fast internet connection.

Strap Up Video

(Live Performance, recorded april 28th, 2003 at YO, Columbia, Seattle.)

Anonia Torres, Nicole Bakc and Papa Brown. Payday for Strap Up tour at the Bank of America.

STDs and AIDS INFORMATION AND TESTING

Anonymous & sliding scale (down to $0) testing for HIV, AIDS & STDs available:
Seattle Public Health: 1-800-687-1595 (www.metrokc.gov/health/apu)
Planned Parenthood 1-800-230-7526 (www.plannedparenthood.org)
Hotline for appointments and questions about HIV & STDs Mon. to Fri. 8 - 5:
(206) 205-7837 or 1-800-687-1595