Making A Difference With Kids

by David R. Newman

Northwest Senior News

Lane County Edition

June 2002

Eugene- The petite, grandmotherly lady stands before the group of burly young men, all residents of Oregon's largest juvenile detention facility. Wrapped in sarong-like garments that belie the current truth of their institutional lives, the at-risk young men are being taught the fundamentals of a Samoan warrior dance.

Their mentor has her apprehensions but pushes on, and soon her group of juvenile warriors is enjoying learning what she has to share, which brings relief to her grandmotherly face.

She has taken a risk; the boys have taken a risk. And that's the way it was for an entire week earlier this year when Eugene-based Encore theatre conducted its residential program at the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn.

When Encore theatre was formed in 1997, its mission was clear: provide a forum, via theater and song, where older adults can share their life experiences with children. Under the guidance of founding director, Eliza Roaring Springs, with songs and music by Lydia Lord, that's just what the Eugene-based group accomplished. To date, eight troupes of seniors have presented their stories to more than 30,000 children in settings ranging from elementary, middle and high schools through a variety of juvenile detention centers. At these centers, part of the agenda is to do a performance and then hold a workshop, where the young juveniles can work one on one with the older adults.

The residential program at MacLaren was the most ambitious effort to date. It included not only a performance by the regular Encore troupe, but also a day-in-day-out workshop effort to write and put on a show that included both the older adults and the young MacLaren residents.

The results were successful. "The magic happened," as Encore trouper Carol McIntyre put it. So successful, says Roaring Springs, that much of Encore's efforts are going into continued work at other juvenile detention facilities.

"Working with at-risk kids feels incredibly important. They ask questions, their stereotypes about age are overcome, they see that here are adults who are honest," she says. "At-risk kids are starving. These are the throwaways, kids on a dead-end course, and we throw out a life preserver." But a funny thing happens as Encore theatre does its thing. It impacts the older adults who are doing the performing. "It's my life work," says troupe member Helen Riddell. "You lose your aches and pains, and that's great."

"I have grown so attached to the kids," says McIntyre, a retired teacher. "By the time we sit down to lunch, they know who we are." "If I didn't make a difference, I wouldn't do it," she adds.

"We are ourselves; we are exactly who we are," says another participant, Ross Phibbs. And for him, that means telling a story of , among other things, the abuse and beatings he received as a child. "The main thing in my story is that I came out the other end and led a productive life."

The basic requirements of being honest can be difficult. Sometimes there's pressure at the institutions to promote one cause or another, for example, to come down hard on drugs. "Quite a few groups come into these facilities and have an agenda," comments Phibbs. But Encore resists the pressure, making sure every word is true. "Kids are so sharp; they know instantly if you are trying to put something over on them," Phibbs remarks. Adds Roaring Springs, "We try to be clear and definite that anything we say is what is true about our own lives."

This can also be difficult on the performers, wherever they appear. It requires them to be "on" and truthful at every performance, even though the same lines have been said many times before. For Phibbs, telling the story of his sometimes heart-wrenching past often brings tears to his eyes. "Do you know if you are going to cry?" asks McIntyre. Responds Phibbs, "If I don't relive it each time, I am not being honest." The effort has its rewards. Phibbs recounts how, after one performance at a juvenile detention center, a resident's mother "hugged me afterwards and said 'you moved my son.'"

It's not as though the performers don't have their own lives and difficulties as well. One troupe member took time off to deal with bladder cancer. Others take breaks, and some drop out after fulfilling the commitment to complete one tour with the show.

Others take their place, and Encore Theatre is always looking for new "talent". But it's not acting talent, Roaring Springs says. More important: that people are willing to tell their stories with honesty. And she is looking for more diversity among the performers.

"We can make it work for people's limitations," says Roaring Springs. Indeed, the troupe would welcome seniors "who are blind, or can't walk." She is also looking for other diversity as well including Latinos and African Americans, and "more men."

In the meantime, Roaring Springs has her sights set on something else. In August, Encore Theatre is planning to perform at the National Senior Theatre Festival in Ohio. To Roaring Springs, this is more than an opportunity for Encore Theatre to strut its stuff. She sees it as an opportunity to help change the very nature of how "senior theatre" operates in this country. Quite often, she says, "senior theatre" means a bunch of older adults "getting up on stage and telling their stories but with no consideration given for the audience. By showing why we are here and what is our message," Roaring Springs hope to open a few eyes at the senior theatre festival.

Thus, between the national performance and the work with troubled youth, Encore has a full agenda. But it takes money. And for the non-profit, tax-exempt group, raising funds to cover the $90,000 per year budget is an ongoing effort. While money does come in from grants and from private donations, Encore welcomes continued support from the community. Part of this support comes from public performances, where donations are accepted. One public performance is set for Aug. 16 at the Amazon Community Center. And those interested in participating either as a cast member and/or financially, can contact Encore Theatre at P.O. Box 50816, Eugene, OR 97405, or at (541) 342-1630