St. Paul Central High School Touring Theater company visits Carleton to perform their production “American Dream: Where is it?”, an original play created by the urban youth ensemble Special guests included Northfield High School’s ESL class that started the first Latino Short Play Festival. At the conclusion of the play, Northfield students joined Central students to discuss reactions to the performance.
This year’s play, “American Dream, Where Is It?”, utilized hip-hop, spoken word, dance, and theater to express youth voice. Set in a classroom of a caring social studies teacher, the young people in the class reveal problems that get in the way of their ability to focus on their studies. They ask heartfelt questions such as what is the American Dream and how to use education to create a safer and more just America. Stories focus on resisting peer pressure, surviving street violence and growing up without a father. The stories also touch on social justice issues such as immigration and GLBT rights, homelessness and other issues that affect them as they try to get through their daily lives in school. As the play ends they make the same statement in their original song that ends their play Don’t Give Up Its Okay It Get Better!
Central Touring Theater (CTT) was established thirty-two years ago under the leadership of Jan Mandell as a safe space for youth to explore artistic expression as a powerful and meaningful force in the world today. CTT members participate in the SPPS ARTLITERACY LEADERSHIP TEAM, they advocate for theatre on the stage as well as in the classroom as a learning process. The troupe has toured to over 10,000 people this year, from Monticello Middle School to Mankato State, the University of Minnesota and 20 other schools in the Twin Cities. They perform as well as lead literacy workshops for educators. Local actors T. Mycheal Rambo, Ansa Akyea, and Amiee Bryant have contributed their expertise to the development of this educational theater ensemble.
