INDUSTRIAL/EDUCATIONAL THEATER

In the 1990’s, corporations, government agencies and educational institutions were concerned about lawsuits around HIV/AIDS and sexual harassment, as well as a diversified work force. They wanted effective training to avoid the costly punitive damages they would pay in lawsuits. Plays That Work worked with trainers, human resource specialists, lawyers and theater artists to include live full-length plays as part of comprehensive interactive training. One organization reported an increase of 150% increase in reporting which helped them resolve issues before legal action was taken. Where video is like looking in a window, theater puts participants in the room. The loosening of legal consequences reduced the need for the highly effective use of live theater.

Working Relations

Print length: 62 pages

The first productions of this piece occurred shortly after the hearings of Justice Clarence Thomas when Anita Hill gave testimony about his sexual harassment. Effective training was in high demand.

Angel, the heart and mind of top management, is ill. As a way of attacking the symptoms, he brings together victims of harassment to get a better understanding of the issue and therefore, cure himself.

In Part I, Angel has each worker act out their experiences. Scenarios include hostile environment, an office romance, quid pro quo, women working in male-dominated areas, gender harassment and cultural harassment. In between scenarios, they talk about their varying reactions to each other’s experiences.

In Part II, Angel decides these workers should be able to resolve their own issues of sexual harassment and asks each worker to come up with a “fantasy solution.” After finding the first fantasy solution unworkable, he asks workers who acted the part the perpetrator of sexual harassment to come up with a fantasy scenario. The scenarios are at the very least amusing, and at the very most ridiculous. After one of the workers walks out in frustration and announces her intention to find a lawyer, Angel takes her place in a fantasy solution. Experiencing sexual harassment for himself, he decides that the problem is systemic. He determines that if top management takes preventive measures, and creates and enforces an anti-harassment policy, he just might relieve himself of his symptoms, although he has a long way to go before getting healthy.

1991-1996

Cast size: 3 women, 3 men

ANGEL	40-60 white male
ZIP	30-40 Jewish female
CHERIE	20-30 African-American female
DICK	40-50 white male
MANUEL	30-40 Hispanic male
MIYUMI	30-40 Asian-American female

SAMPLE ORGANIZATIONS:

HIV AT WORK

Print length: 32 pages

This play was first developed when HIV and AIDS emerged in the late 1980’s. In those early days, HIV was a death sentence. The production was delayed because the expert on AIDS was suffering from dementia and hadn’t disclosed his diagnosis, even to his colleagues. This was a truly tragic situation. Today, may live long lives. As the science and social scene evolved, the play also evolved. Too much of the emotional content remains current even though the facts and concerns have dramatically changed.

Harvy has contracted HIV. His co-workers have no idea how to think about this and react in very different ways – ways that aren’t always helpful. He dutifully answers their questions about transmission. He eventually

1986-1998

Cast size 2 women, 3 men

DIANE	20’s
HARVEY	30’s
LUIS	40’s
JOHN	40’s
FANNY	60’s

WORKFORCE COMING OF AGE

Print length: 48 pages

Is it true that older workers can’t handle stress, take more sick days or are challenged by new technology? Maybe, but probably not. This play looks at theories of aging and other ideas about the aging workforce. Issues such as promotional challenges, younger managers, potential work policies and health concerns are taken into consideration.

1998

Cast size: 2 women, 2 men

ANGEL	white, 40+ years old
NANCY	Asian American in her 20’s
RICHARD	African American in his 40’s
JUDY	woman in her 60’s

THROUGH THE EYES OF A FRIEND

This collaborative project with Living Voices on the holocaust was to tour high schools. It was a one-woman show with real footage as background. Originally, the main character was Kitty, Anne Frank’s imaginary friend. Kitty was to have conversations with pre-taped characters.

Living Voices included Z. Sharon Glantz in discussions about the script, and she made revisions. However, the first time she saw the final production was at a presentation to local Jewish leaders she had organized. It had changed dramatically. Despite the efforts, no cost-effective legal remedy could be found. Living Voices continues to tour educational one-person plays all over the country, including Through the Eyes of a Friend.

1992

KITTY 14-17 years old