OCR Text |
Show Auditions to be held for anti-child abuse production The University of Utah Theatre Department's Child Abuse Prevention Preven-tion Program will hold auditions for its 1985-86 season Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon. A mandatory orientation meeting will be held Oct. 4 at 3:30 p.m. The orientation and audition will be held in room 301 of the West Institute, on the northwest corner of Third South and University Streets in Salt Lake City. Six men and six women are needed for the nationally acclaimed theater program that is designed to prevent child sexual abuse. U of U credit is available and cast members will be paid. No advance preparation is necessary, but auditioners should play to stay at the audition three hours. Call backs will be Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Rehearsals will be Saturday mornings during fall quarter. Perf or-mances or-mances will begin in January and run through May on Tuesday and s Thursday mornings, The Child Abuse Prevention Program was introduced to Utah elementary school audiences five years agc about the time child sexual abuse emerged as a major social issue. Since then, a different group of performers has traveled each year to area elementary schools to present a play that educates children about the differences between normal, healthy touching and child abuse. More than 50,000 Wasatch Front children have seen the program. "We have a long waiting list of schools who want to see our program," said Ann Floor, manager. "We hope a large number of interested people will come to the auditions because we would like to expand to a double cast in order to visit more schools this year." Housewives, social workers, students, stu-dents, a professor as well as actors ranging in age from 18 to 50 have all been part of the cast. "People who join the cast really enjoy the experience," said Mike Arnow, program director. "The play is upbeat, positive and even humorous at times." Through role playing, the cast presents several messages to their audiences. Children learn: Your body belongs to you and no one has the right to touch you in any way that makes you feel uncomfortable; trust your own feelings if anyone touches touch-es you in a way that makes you feel confused or scared, tell someone you trust and if that person won't help you, tell someone else. The Child Abuse Prevention Program is part of the U of U Theatre Department Child Drama program.. , It is produced by Jan, S. Johnson, Young People's Theatre artistic director. Call Pat Wells at Pioneer Memorial Theatre (581-6356) for more information. ' |