Director Mechelle Moe and Sullivan High School student Carlos Avila read over the script for “A Bird of Prey.”
In the past year, violent incidents at Chicago schools have risen at an alarming rate. To take a stand against school violence, more than 20 students from Rogers Park’s Sullivan High School have worked with artists from Edgewater’s Raven Theatre to present a one-night show, “A Bird of Prey,” featuring scenes the teens have written about exclusion, violence and community, along with Jim Grimsley’s drama.
Directed by Teaching Artist Mechelle Moe and Sullivan High teacher Stefanie Rivera, the event takes place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, at Raven Theatre. Admission is free. Call the theater for reservations.
The goal of the community event, the organizers say, is to shift the dialogue from parents and politicians to the teenagers who are directly effected by school violence, empowering them as proponents for change in their own neighborhoods. The theater piece discusses the lives of the youth and the harsh realities they face daily, bringing to light their danger and isolation.
If you want to grab a bite before the show, Alexander’s across the street is a friendly little diner with solid food and low prices.
