ERIC Number: ED298359
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1986-Sep
Pages: 8
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Family Life Education through Teen Theatre.
Burdyshaw, Cynthia; Fowler, Marilyn
This paper describes how to create a teenage theatre project and explains why such a project is effective in educating teenagers. New Image Teen Theatre is a project which has combined peer education and improvisational theater since 1981 to reach teenagers with accurate family planning information, encourage communication, and promote responsible decision making. Results from 3 years of pre/post testing show a 28% to 100% increase in knowledge about sexuality and contraception among cast members and teen audiences. Training and staff requirements for setting up a teenage theatre program are met by a budget of $25,000. Following open auditions and special training sessions on sexuality, contraception, sexual abuse, and substance abuse, the cast collaborates to write a repertoire of skits. Performances at Parent Teacher Association meetings, schools, churches, and youth and professional groups bring humor to the audience; release audience tension; and allow the audience to take in information, ask questions, and make comments freely. The paper concludes that the New Image program models responsible reactions to peer pressure to have sex and to use drugs, and communicates the harsh realities of teenage pregnancy. (Author/NB)
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association (114th, Las Vegas, NV, September 28-October 2, 1986).