GREEN RIVER—Green River High School students aim to start conversations about eating disorders and body image in the upcoming production of “Eat.”
“EAT (It’s Not About Food),” by Linda Daugherty, is an intimate, “black-box” style production where the audience surrounds the stage on all sides. The topic is our relationship to food and eating, and the many ways the simple act of nourishment gets out of hand.
Terrin Musbach, director, said that the nature of theater is to hit close to home, but this play goes even further. She said this generation bears the brunt of mixed messages in school and society.
“I think these kids are really confused about what they are supposed to look like and who they are supposed to be,” said Musbach.
During a pre-rehearsal meeting with the cast, Musbach told the students that this play is meant to get people talking.
“It’s about starting a conversation,” said Musbach. “If they don’t like it, don’t tell them to shut up because that’s exactly what they’ll do. If they say they don’t like it, ask them why. Did it make you uncomfortable?”
Technical Director Karen Feigel and the production’s publicity team took the message a step further by using images of Green River High School students for the play’s advertising.
The high school’s hallways are decorated with banners of its own high school students acknowledging their insecurities and moving past them.
“We’ve tried to communicate that the perfect you doesn’t reside in the mirror,” said Feigel. As the production has progressed, said Feigel, more kids have been opening up about their own problems.
Show times are at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 11th and Wednesday, October 12th in the Green River High School Theater. General admission is $5. Seniors and students get in for $3.
The play will also be performed for high school students on Thursday, October 13th at 7:55 a.m., 9:53 a.m. and 12:24 p.m.
