Dear Colleague,

It is that time of year where classes are wrapping up, books and classrooms are getting packed for the summer months and everyone is dreaming of sun filled days at the beach!

Alas, I am writing today in regards to next fall and plans for your teens in the areas of theatre and positive life experiences. Do you have teens who are looking for unique theatre opportunities? Are you looking for a way to bring more recognition to your program? Are you, as is the Performer’s Playground, aware of the importance of educating today’s youth about the dangers of substance abuse and the powerful tool that theatre provides to do just that?

The Performer’s Playground, a youth based non profit arts organization founded 8years ago, and Communities United For Substance Abuse Prevention (CUFSAP) have partnered to bring to Sullivan County an exciting theatrical opportunity, and we would love to have you and your high school students be a part of it!

On November 6th, 2010, high school aged youth from all over Sullivan County will be gathering in one location to produce a day of theatre, and participate in engaging and educational discussions about the problems associated with substance abuse. And we want your kids to have the chance to shine as well!

The Sullivan County Theatre Festival is the first of its kind in our area and our state !This is a high school level theatre competition, open to all high school aged actors and crew from public and private school programs, clubs, home school groups, youth groups and teen centers. This will be a full day of competitive theatre based on a pre-chosen theme along with adjudication by theatre professionals,. It will also include breakout sessions to discuss each entries' production as well as the lots of laughs, sights and memories!

This year’s theme is substance abuse prevention. We will be working with other teen organizations to offer additional

conversations about substance abuse prevention in our breakout

sessions. Chaperones will receive materials and advice from

trained professionals about how to deal with these topics in an

engaging and positive way and the Advisors/Directors of participating programs and groups will have time with their counter parts to discuss their process and receive feed back.

Finally, the best two overall productions as voted on by

the teens and adjudicator's, will have the option of taking their

productions on tour to local middle schools to further the communities awareness of both your program and our efforts to bring this theme to Sullivan County.

Please feel free to contact us via telephone, mail or email. We

will follow up with a phone call later in the month.

Thank you and we hope to see you there!