'Throwaway' an artistic expression, exploration of youth homelessness
(June 26, 2008) On any given night in Colorado, there are approximately 1,500 youth without a bed to sleep in.
The prevention of youth homelessness and the reversal of this staggering statistic starts by promoting a culture of individual, familial, community and government responsibility, according to the Colorado Department of Human Services.
On June 21 and 22, local students used the performing arts to shed light on this plight and explore the severe and often overlooked issues of youth homelessness during the premiere of Throwaway/Runaway. Written and performed by underserved high school students drawing from their own experiences, the play examines the lives of young people who have run away from home or have been forced onto the streets.
The play was directed by Jose Mercado, UC Denver College of Arts & Media (CAM) assistant professor of Theatre, Film & Video Production, with guidance from playwright Craig Volk, assistant professor of Theatre, Film & Video Production. Costume designs were developed by Denver fashionista, Mona Lucero.
In the summer of 2007, Mercado selected 15 students ages 14-19 from throughout Metro Denver to participate in ArtLab at PlatteForum—an innovative, collaborative internship program with Labyrinth Arts Academy that he founded and directed. The students spent the summer researching and volunteering at a homeless shelter. The result was a collage of monologues and scenes exploring the substitutes youth find for the loss of family and the tragedies that often result in the search for those substitutes.
In one story, Ruben Villalobos played Miguel, a homeless youth who used drugs to help him get through his problems. In another, Thomas Lopez was Louis, a gay character whose mother threw him out due his homosexuality. The collection also addressed the issues of mental illness, orphans, pregnancy and gender discrimination.
The script had its first staged reading during Homeless Youth Awareness Month in November 2007. Mayor John Hickenlooper hosted the event, held at the Webb Atrium. Last weekend, the premiere performances took place at Riverfront Plaza at the base of the Millennium Bridge in Denver, where the genesis of the play was born. An encore performance will be held Aug. 27 at City Park as part of Dialog: City during the Democratic National Convention.
ArtLab, an intensive year-round internship program, uses the arts, mentorship and learning to encourage the development of academic, personal and workforce skills. Labyrinth Arts Academy helps develop creative and critical thinking skills by providing underserved youth access to the media and theater arts. For additional information, visit: www.platteforum.org or www.labyrintharts.org.
Photos: Top, at right, Ruben Villalobos plays homeless youth who used drugs to help him get through his problems. He befriends Stacy, left, played by Anistasia Padilla and they have a charming interaction that is cut short as she steals his iPod. Bottom, Thomas Lopez is congratulated for an outstanding performance by an audience member.