The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Youth members to perform ‘Unfinished People’
EAST HAMPTON >> Epoch Arts is celebrating its 20th birthday this year and we kicks off a celebration with performances of an original play, Unfinished People. The two-act play will be presented Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 2, 3 and 4 at 7 p.m. at Epoch Arts, located at 27 Skinner Street East Hampton. Admission is $7. Reserve tickets at info@epocharts.org or by calling 860-365-0337. www.epocharts.org
Beginning with a grassroots cast and crew, Epoch Arts has produced 20 years of original theater and has grown into a community rich arts organization.
Writing original plays has been the backbone of the organization,specially with the variety of tense issues faced by young people, said founder and director Elizabeth Namen.
“Working so closely to these issues, not only gives us a front row seat, but allows us to provide a positive outlet where our youth can voice their concerns and emotions about a world that at times, seems upside Epoch Arts students will present the original play “Unfinished People” June 2 to 4 at the arts center in East Hampton. down,” Namen said. “This year’s play focuses on issues of social and economic differences, it looks at what causes separation, what distracts us from community involvement and how we can educate ourselves on issues that we know nothing about.
In the story, Megan Crotty plays a character named Pruet who lives in a perfect diverse society. But when she is pulled out of that society and forced to look at the real world, she is shocked at how broken the world really is.
“The play tackles current social and economic issues, as well as addresses the drug problems in this world that others seem to ignore. It teaches us that we need to be passionate and active members of our community, instead of being distracted by superficial things,” said Crotty. “The play asks the question of how we spend our time, what superficial things we fill it up with and should we be investing in people, rather than things.
Cast member Robin Leet, 16, said, “This isn’t your average play. This show discusses important, sparsely spoken of issues, such as drugs, addiction and what it can do to a person, and the unhealthy things we consume ourselves with in daily life. We will speak of the vacancy in relationships and people caused by cell phones and other casual, everyday devices. We break down barriers you might not even know were there and bring attention to poverty, the middle to lower class, and how these issues can affect our community as a whole.”