With more than 50 performances already scheduled, booking is well underway for the Winter/Spring tour of the original production, “1 ½.” In development for over a year and a half, “1 ½” addresses the complex issues that surround the alarming escalation of childhood obesity: bullying, peer pressure, economic and social disparities that complicate positive decision making, and of course the importance of physical activity and making healthy food choices.
After pre-production readings at Earl Boyles Elementary and Scappoose Elementary, weeks of rehearsals in the studio, and a final dress rehearsal at Rieke Elementary, the “1 ½” team was well-prepared to kick off the tour at Concord Elementary on January 11th. Performing for over 200 fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students, the show took another leap forward.
For the first time, two versions of a script have been written. Both scripts will be touring this winter and spring, rotating from week-to-week. This innovative approach has allowed the playwright to explore the same themes through the eyes of a variety of young characters who struggle with weight for very different reasons. This structure will also make it possible to return to a school during the fall leg of the “1 ½” tour, giving teachers a brand new platform to revisit the important themes of the play with all-new stories.
With a uniquely interactive structure, “1 ½” offers students opportunities to reflect on and respond to the issues of the play “in the moment,” providing advice to adult characters struggling to prepare their children to navigate complicated choices. To help facilitate the continuing conversation and exploration back in the classroom, a study guide, reading lists, and a variety of other tools are provided in the "Resources" section on the “1 ½” page.
Though many early tour dates have been booked, plenty of dates still remain. With the new Educational Theatre Program website, launched this fall, online booking has become even simpler. If you have any questions or require booking assistance, please contact Bridie Harrington: Bridie@octc.org, 503-228-9571 x116.
