Play for a Cause

Last year some clients at Marshfield clinic asked if our company would be open to working with them on a new type of health education event. Would we be interested in writing a series of short plays or skits that would give the audience important information about breast cancer screening and treatment? Oh, and could we make them funny? Well, I love a good challenge, so of course I said yes and ran with the project.

I got some background information from them, came up with a list of concepts (which they liked), and proceeded to panic. I write scripts for video projects on a regular basis, but it had been a long time since I'd written a play.

I did what any self respecting student of words would do - I found a class. I had planned to attend the Rhinelander School of the Arts, a summer program run through UW Madison, and they just happened to be offering a one week class on writing 10 minute plays (taught by Gail Sterkel). Halleluiah and pass the paper. I was saved!

The class turned out to be not only informative but fun. We read well written plays and shared our own work in the class. I got some great feedback on the first of my six plays, and I was off. I had a blast concocting scenarios and characters and getting them to work in tandem to entertain while still conveying important information about breast cancer screening, symptoms, and treatment. Other people who read the plays even laughed at the parts I had intended to be funny - no small relief.

The plays were performed on May 2, 2013 by the wonderful Artista Players for a sold out crowd of about 200. Attendees enjoyed delicious appetizers before the show and desserts at intermission. They laughed and cried thanks to the magic of the actors and the power of the information. And at the end of the evening, we learned that the event organizers had raised $10,000 for cancer patient care funds.

What a night!

There’s a chance we’ll take the show on the road to other regional Clinic centers which would be cool. But no matter what, that evening will always remain etched in my mind… being surrounded by people gathered for a common cause, enjoying the entertainment, and learning along the way.