Peer Education

Illusion Theater's innovative Peer Education Program gives agencies, schools and other groups the right to perform Illusion's educational plays for their own communities. The most popular peer education model is TRUST: Teaching Reaching Using Students and Theater. At TRUST sites, high school students perform Illusion?s educational plays for the elementary, middle and high schools in their communities. Illusion Peer Education sites receive scripts, training, performance direction, evaluation and on-going technical assistance from the Theater?s staff of trained professionals. Eight plays addressing three different topics are currently available:

Sexual Abuse Prevention: TOUCH Explains the continuum of touches from good to confusing to bad-and teaches children personal body safety protection and prevention skills. (Grades 2-5)

NO EASY ANSWERS Addresses adolescent issues of sexuality, sexual abuse and the misuse of power in relationships. Protection and prevention skills are introduced and explored. (Grades 7-12)

Violence Prevention: PEACE UP! Focuses on ways to channel anger constructively and prevent violence and harassment. Also, introduces peer mediation in schools. (Grades 3-6)

WHAT GOES AROUND Deals with harassment and violence prevention. This play addresses issues of stereotypes, sexual and racial harassment, conflict resolution and respect. (Grades 6-9)

EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS Presents scenes on sexual harassment, ethnic harassment, homophobia, acquaintance rape, stalking, homicide, and ways people can work together to raise awareness and understanding around these issues. (Grades 9-12)

Mental Health Awareness: TALK IT OUT The play takes place in a phone/drop in center for teens and demonstrates through several different situations how help can be addressed by communication with others. Deals with issues such as teen depression, suicide, chemical abuse, overeating and family violence. (Grades 9-12)

Eating Disorder Awareness: NO LAUGHING MATTER The play centers on the lives of a group of characters, high school friends, who deal with a variety of situations and experiences faced by many adolescents, including struggles with eating disorder behaviors. Addresses topics such as media images and stereotypes, societal pressures to be thin, struggles with self-esteem, and a range of personal and family issues. (Grades 6-12)

Teen Smoking Prevention: CLEAR THE AIR The play centers around eight high school students running their own radio show and web site. These students portray the stations DJs, engineer and a cast of comedy players for the radio's wild and wacky skits and routines. A key element of the play is the documentary footage of real people's stories filmed expressly for CLEAR the AIR. Also included is a soundtrack of music for various segments. (Grades 5-9)