Cathartic. Empowering. Instrumental.

Outreach

ETD offers a limited number of annual residencies to area middle schools, high schools, and colleges. Typically lasting 3-5 months, an outreach residency includes in-depth mental health discussions, speakers who share their personal experiences, and creative activities designed to stimulate storytelling and team building.

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For the last three years, Executive Artistic Director Brighid O’Shaughnessy has worked with students at Al Raby High School as part of their service learning. The goal is to help put a human face on mental illness, generate awareness and safe dialogue, and create a space where students can share their own stories about mental health issues such as depression, addiction, and trauma.

The project included real people who have experienced mental illness sharing their stories with the students. Ultimately, the program participants either wrote their own stories or interviewed people they know who have experienced mental health issues. Stories were then adapted into theatrical productions performed by the students using poetry, dance, original song, scenes and monologues.

Check out a two-minute clip of Al Raby students Danyell and Kyasia reflecting on the impact the residency had on them. To view the video, click here.