Meet the Program Developers

Kristy Bartley

Bio:
I have an Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and an MA in European Medieval History. I am currently the Counseling Coordinator at the Women's Resource Center and work on issues of cultural change including ending men's violence against women. I am a dog girl, so I like to spend time training and hiking with my Australian Shepherds. I am a knitter and spinner and fiber designer. I also love to read and play my harp.

Why were you interested in being involved in this group?
I believe interactive theater is a powerful way to create cultural change and reduce violence in the world. And I LOVE our team!

What outcome do you hope to see? (either for yourself or for the community)
I hope that we will be able to create a space in our community for talking about men's violence against women and to enlist our community in ending it.

What have you seen as challenges so far?
Many people do not want to acknowledge that men's violence against women is a problem. That denial not only allows the problem to continue but is very damaging to survivors and creates road blocks to reporting and getting support.

Meet the Director/Writer/Story Developer/Man of all Trades

Rob Luckau

Bio:
I attended the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, in England. Currently, I work for the State of Utah. With 3 likeminded people, I started up a community theatre company, Proletariat Theatre, 1 year ago. Do work through this company, working with various community groups and watching the company grow are the things that really excite me.

Why were you interested in being involved in this group?
I have always been interested in socially conscious theatre. There are many tough topics which can be easily and comprehensibly approached using theatre. Sexual assual it one of those topics and I enjoyed the challenge of putting it together.

What outcome do you hope to see?
I hope this produciton will spark the conversation, disucssion or debate which people should be having about sexual assault.

What have you seen as challenges so far?
To this point, the greatest challenge has been to get actors comfortable in their roles. This is tough subject matter and it requires the actors to do things they do not do in the real world or in their real lives.

More Meet the Cast

Bryce Mesa (plays Mark)

Bio:
Employment Counselor for the Department of Workforce Services. Graduated from the U of U in 2008 with a BS in Psychology, and a minor in Sociology. Likes all sports.

Acting Experience:
None

What interested you in getting involved with this performance?
To help the community understand the importance with this issue.

What do you hope to get out of this experience?
Awareness about an issue that is often dismissed and not seen as a serious matter.

What has been easy so far?
Nothing.

What has been difficult so far?
Being aggressive.

Performance Dates and Locations

College of Social Work Auditorium

Friday, April 9th, 7:00pm
Saturday, April 10th, 7:00pm
Sunday, April 11th, 2:00pm

Friday, April 16, 7:00pm
Saturday, April 17, 7:00pm
Sunday, April 18, 2:00pm

First Unitarian Church - 1300 East 600 South

Monday, April 19th, 7:00pm

Utah Arts Alliance - 2191 South 300 West

Friday, April 23, 7:00pm
Saturday, April 24, 7:00pm

Meet the Cast! numero tres

Candace Christensen (plays the Clair)

Bio:
Ph.D. Student in Social Work. I work at Hartland Partnership. I supervise MSW students in their practicum working with people that have a refugee background. Likes: performing arts, theatre and dance,learning Spanish, traveling, hiking, cooking.

Acting Experience:
I have been acting since high school. I have a Bachelors degree in theatre. I co-founded a feminist theatre company a few years ago (Avalon Isle, Womens Theatre Group).

What interested you in getting involved with this performance?
This project combines two of my passions: theatre and social justice.

What do you hope to get out of this experience?
I hope this experience changes the prevalence of sexual violence in the University of Utah community. That outcome would make me very, very happy :-).

What has been easy so far?
Nothing about this project has been easy... which is just fine... I love a challenge!

I have to say that working with the team... Kristy, Rob, Kristin, Shireen, Karen, and Trevor has been not only easy, but incredibly enjoyable... It has made all the difference to have a group of committed, focused, passionate people working together on this project.

What has been difficult so far?
Finding funding for the project has been difficult. That has come through in small ways. But, it would be nice to have more substantial support. Recruiting a lead actress has been more difficult than any of us would have imagined. We have had three actresses quit on us... I wonder if there is something really scary about playing the role of Sam... hmmm... We had some challenges finding a performance space in the community that does not charge for use. We did end up finding the Utah Arts Alliance Space. Derek Dyer, the Exec Director, is generously donated that space to us for use on two nights in April. We have had a difficult time finding a home for the service learning course that is expected to be born from this pilot project.
That will be our next barrier to really and truly tackle. Completing the IRB forms to obtain permission to evaluate the project has been a little tricky. I think that is because this is my first time working with IRB.

Meet the Cast! part deux

Karen Cone-Uemura (plays Williams)

Bio:
Staff Psychologist, University Counseling Center. Spending time with my kids, Theatre, Running, Spending time with friends, travel, eating out, movies, photography, dancing & other things that I can't think of right now.

Acting Experience:
Used to act a fair amount. Been in a number of plays ranging from No Exit (Estelle) to The Rocky Horror Show. favorites: Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show; Comrade Chin in M. Butterfly.

Why were you interested in becoming involved with this performance?
Want to learn more about interactive theatre.

What do you hope to get out of this experience?
Spread the message that date rape needs to be treated for what it is: interpersonal violation/violence. Increase awareness of the situation, responses, resources.

What has been easy about this experience so far?
The others involved seem easy to get along with. But, the production is scarcely started rehearsals... I think Rob may be easy going now.... :)

What has been difficult for you so far?
Scheduling.

Meet the Cast!

Jessa Brocklebank (plays Janice)

Bio:
I am a freshman at the U majoring in Theatre Studies. I work at an Auto Body Shop and Mimi's Cafe, and sub dance classes around the valley when I can. I dance at the Treehouse in Draper, I love doing shows, obviously. I LOVE playing with my three beautiful nieces, and watching the classic movies such as Meet Me in St Louis, The King and I, and Roman Holiday.

Acting Experience:
Belle in Beauty and the Beast. Joy (a step sister) in Cinderella. Ensemble roles in South Pacific, Funny Girl, Joseph, Seussical as well as others. I have performed with Odyssey Dance Theatre in Thriller, and Joy to the World, and Ballet West in The Nutcracker. Film Creditintials include The American Mall and High School Musical's 2 and 3. I study dance under Bonnie Story, voice under Eric Richards and Brian Manternach, and have taken acting courses at Hale Centre Theatre, and Juan Diego.

Why were you interested in this performance?
I heard about this through an email sent out to all the Theatre Majors, and decided to audition. I thought it was a good thing for students, well anyone really, to be educated about and was excited to be involved.

What do you hope to get out of this experience?
This is heavy material, and I hope that the performance portrays the seriousness of the issue. I hope to touch just one person, and inspire them to help those they know in this situation, or if they have delt with this personally, inspire them to gain the courage they need to get the proper help they deserve.

What has been easy about this experience so far?
The cast and production team has been extremely fun to work with. They each have great personalities and we seem to get along brilliantly.

What has been difficult about this experience so far?
I found the training session difficult.