"The two biggest passions I have in this world are the arts and helping others," said Andrew Garr... ‘Clippings’ Takes Page

"The two biggest passions I have in this world are the arts and helping others," said Andrew Garr, director of marketing development for Positive Alternatives, Inc. (PA) And it is with those passions he is producing Clippings through special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. The play, written by Deni Fuson, is directed by Jeannette Peters and will be staged July 28-30 at the Menomonie Theater Guild (MTG) Studio, 502 Second St., Menomonie.

In collaboration between MTG and PA, auditions for Clippings were held in May at Menomonie High School. High school and middle students were cast, some with experience and others new to the stage. Rehearsals are currently being held at the MTG Studio.

Concerned with issues that youth face in today's fast-paced world, the drama Clippings takes the audience inside the relationships of eight high school students who share stories from newspaper articles they were assigned to clip. Throughout the play, in discussions, conversations and confrontations, the characters in a nontraditional classroom setting find that memories are triggered, personal values are put to the test and biases about private issues rise to the surface. Symbolically, "mimes dramatize the dilemmas teenagers face as they struggle with the voices of their hearts, minds and souls." And finally, "love, acceptance and forgiveness are offered as values that make life worth living."

The play is also geared toward raising awareness of what kids go through, whether it involves identity questions, drugs, teen pregnancy, suicide, sexuality, emotions, moral issues, sexual harrassment, sibling rivalry, abortion or forms of abuse.

Performed in theater-in-the-round-style, the hour-long Clippings contains six scenes and utilizes the talents of area students: Sam Sundstrom (Liz), Zena Knaus (Robbie), Erin Simpson (Shae), Chelsea Chase (Madison), Alex Collie (Buck), Jon Hillman (Lonz), Sarah Collie (Natalie) and Josh Salt (Steve).

Other local individuals involved in getting the play off the ground include Blaine Halvorson of MTG and UW-Stout graduate student Austin Gullickson, who created the poster and program graphic design pro bono.

An opening reception will be held July 28, at 7 p.m. and will include hors d'oeuvres and a display of art work by area schools and local artists, which serves as the set design for the play.

Play performances are at 8 p.m., July 28 and 29, and at 2 p.m., on Sunday, July 30. Tickets to Clippings are $5 each, available at the door, with all proceeds going directly to PA.

This is cache, read story here