Palm Beach Dramaworks is excited to launch its One Humanity Tour, a project designed for sixth-grade students that aims to contribute to the development of informed, thoughtful, and compassionate citizens. The One Humanity Tour brings
Eric Coble’s
powerful play,
Swagger
, to northern Palm Beach County middle schools, free of charge. Coble was commissioned to write a balanced play addressing the tensions that our community and our nation are experiencing between citizens and law enforcement. The first performance will be given tomorrow, September 26, at Watston B. Duncan Middle School in Palm Beach Gardens. The tour continues through November 3, and will be an annual event.
Accompanying the production is a comprehensive teacher resource guide that prepares students and faculty for the play. At the end of each performance, the cast will lead a 20-minute talkback that will also include a school resource officer and a law enforcement representative.
“We believe that drama is the perfect medium to address the issues of empathy and value of life with students,” said Gary Cadwallader, director of education and community engagement. “Theatre is storytelling, and through its narrative,
Swagger
will impact young audiences by presenting a story that focuses on personal responsibility and the need for positive and appropriate interaction with leadership figures and law enforcement officers. The play presents topics that either challenge or affirm young people’s beliefs, and engages them to think critically about making informed decisions. Sixth graders are at a stage in their cognitive development when they begin to form long-term, independent judgments. This project will help guide our children to think openly and critically about all facets of the play’s subject matter.”
Swagger
is about an incident involving three characters: Jordan, an eighth-grade student; Daniel, a police officer; and Leela, a small business owner. Their lives intersect in a fateful scene captured on video, and Coble affords each of them the opportunity to share their perspective on what took place.
Swagger
is directed by
Michael Leeds
, and features
Stephan Pineda
(Jordan),
Michael Wallace
(Daniel), and
Ariana Lobo
(Leela). Scenic design is by
Michael Amico
, costume design is by
Leslye Menhouse
, and sound design is by
Brad Pawlak
.
The One Humanity Tour was made possible by a grant from Impact the Palm Beaches.
For more information, please contact Gary Cadwallader at
561-514-4042, ext. 123
Palm Beach Dramaworks is a non-profit, professional theatre and is a member of the Theatre Communications Group, the South Florida Theatre League, Florida Professional Theatres Association, and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.
