About Teen West Project: Year 9 - Impact, Vol. 1
The Teen West Project
The goal of the Teen West Project has historically been to develop and eventually publish new theatrical works by professional playwrights where aspects of the teen experience are explored and expressed through bold and innovative storytelling. IMPACT continues that tradition in an innovative way by bringing professional dramaturgy and play development to student writers during the Pandemic, giving voice to the youth experience in this challenging moment.
IMPACT
Inspired by the need to allow individualistic expression by student artists during this unprecedented and historic time, IMPACT features 12 solo performers each embodying a teenaged character in a solo-show microwork. These short pieces, written by 10 different Ida B. Wells-Barnett High School students, are inspired by the myriad challenges (personal, financial, educational, sociopolitical, etc.) seen in our country over the past many months – and represent many styles and genres…drama, musical, comedy, surrealism - and everything in between! Students recorded their work in the safety of their homes in keeping with the experiences of the past year. The production, broken into two offerings (Volume 1 & Volume 2), will be available on video demand for viewing starting May 26. This will be the first time in the 9 year Teen West history that an all solo show event has been executed; this is the ideal time for such a unique offering.
Playwrights West - Our Mission
Drawing upon a growing national movement of playwrights taking the production reins for their own work, Playwrights West seeks to introduce Portland audiences to compelling, innovative theatrical experiences while engaging in a dialogue with the Portland theatre community about the rewards of presenting vital new plays by gifted local authors.
Playwrights West's members feel staging new work is essential to furthering Portland theatre's continued relevance to its audiences and the region's overall culture. New plays provide thrilling, unique evenings at the theatre, while exploring the complex, dynamic 21st Century human condition.
Want to know more about the writers and projects of Playwrights West?
Go to playwrightswest.org
SouthWest StageWorks
WHAT IS SOUTHWEST STAGEWORKS?
Our mission with (SW)2 is two-fold:
1) To help the young people of the Ida B. Wells-Barnett community take their place in the world as the very best citizens and contributors they can be. A successful (SW)2 company member will learn time management, critical thinking, creative problem solving, collaboration, service, self-sacrifice, perseverance, how to see the world through another's eyes, and how to never stop working toward a higher ideal.
and
2) To help the young people of the IBWHS community take their place in the theatre community as the very best artists they can be. An (SW)2 company member will have worked with professional teaching artists on stage and behind the scenes, will have had the opportunity to pursue professional internships, will have worked with the widest variety of material from across the theatre canon, will have shared their work with colleagues from around the region, will have had the opportunity to take true positions of leadership with their peers, and will have had their work evaluated at the highest levels.
We are SouthWest StageWorks, The Ida B. Wells-Barnett High School Theatre Company...Enjoy the Show!