Roanoke Children's Theatre Starts Conversation on Teen Pregnancy wth BABYLAND

In the early 1990s, Roanoke City had the highest teen pregnancy rate in the state of Virginia. Roanoke City has seen incredible progress over the last 20 years and in 2014, a big decrease in teen pregnancy put Roanoke City as 14th in the state out of approximately 130 cities/counties. Roanoke Children's Theatre will shed more light on this issue facing teens with the upcoming production of BABYLAND. There will be public performances of BABYLAND on February 3 and 9, 2017. Performances will be held in the Black Box Theatre at the Jefferson Center (541 Luck Avenue SW).

In this new play by Samantha Macher, Amelia is a high school junior who seems to have it all: great friends, a cute boyfriend, and a bright future ahead of her. But one night she is faced with a life-changing decision that could throw her off track for good. Her two futures converge in this new one-act play. Find out which path she chooses to walk at Roanoke Children's Theatre.

"In our 7th year of presenting issue based plays for teens, we are happy to report significant data results each year from surveys given to grade wide audience members following the plays. These positive results remind RCT of the importance education makes in the lives of the youth in Roanoke Valley. It is so important to talk, to give facts, to show through the power of theatre the consequences of risky behavior and their effect on young people's lives," says Pat Wilhelms (RCT Artistic Director and BABYLAND Director). "BABYLAND deals with a life changing decision of a 15 year old girl. I am grateful to be able to have a platform to openly discuss relationships, safety in relationships, peer pressure, and setting goals."

RCT4TEENS is a program that provides a unique and creative approach to connecting with young people about current health issues through a theatre arts experience. In the past, RCT4TEENS has presented plays dealing with substance abuse, eating disorders, bullying, underage drinking, depression, suicide and the teen brain. Each RCT4TEENS performance is accompanied by education and outreach workshops that connect area youth to agency health professionals who address the issues at hand in talk back sessions and provide resource materials.

On Opening Night, February 3, there will be a discussion, after the performance, with leaders in family and protective services. Discussion panelists will include: Dr. Jeri Lantz, Nancy Hans, Lynn McDowell, Brooks Michael and an Adolescent Health Educator from Carilion.

Thanks to special funding from and the generosity of the Roanoke Women's Foundation the two public performances of BABYALND (February 3 and 9, 2017
at 7 p.m.) are FREE. Patrons must call 540.400.7795 to reserve their seats in advance. Patrons may also visit RoanokeChildrensTheatre.org for full details.

BABYLAND CAST

This production is backed by an exceptional artistic team of designers and actors.

The cast of BABYLAND includes:
Layla Esch-Bickel as Amelia

Brandon Duncan as Xavier

Peyton Conner and Clara Chahine as Simone (alternating performances)
Chloe Hunt and Madisin Witt as Jocelyn (alternating performances)

Abby Martin and Phoebe Stevens as Makayla (alternating performances)

The creative team includes Director Pat Wilhelms, Set Designer Laurie Powell-Ward, Lighting Designer Rob Bessolo, Props Artisan April Corbett, Stage Manager and Projections/Sound Engineer Megan Corsnitz and Technical Director Star City Sets.

BABYLAND DIRECTOR

Pat Wilhelms is the founder and Artistic Director of Roanoke Children's Theatre. Since 2008 she has led the team to create productions, school residencies and year round classes and camps as well as tours that travel all across the Commonwealth. Prior to that, she was the Director of Education and Outreach at Mill Mountain Theatre for 10 years. Other theatre residencies include: Theatre of Youth Company, Melic and Mime Inc., and Idaho Repertory Theatre. Pat currently serves as Board Member at the Burton School of the Arts, is a partner with the Star City Reads initiative and serves as an adjudicator for the Southwest Theatre Conference. Directorial credits at RCT include: Madeleine's Christmas, Charlotte's Web, The Giver, Junie B. Jones, The Secret Life of Girls, Tuck Everlasting, If You Give a Mouse A Cookie, Wrecked, The Velveteen Rabbit, Go Dog Go, Junie B in Jingle Bells Batman Smells, Eric & Elliot, Stuart Little, How I Became A Pirate, A Little House Christmas, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, The Cat in the Hat, EAT: It's Not About Food, Fancy Nancy, James and the Giant Peach, SHREK, the Musical, The Ice Cream Man, Rapunzel, The BFG and SEUSSICAL, the Musical. Pat is married and the proud mother of 3 grown children and 2 young cats.

ABOUT ROANOKE CHILDREN'S THEATRE

Roanoke Children's Theatre: Professional Theatre for Young Audiences is an independently owned and operated 501(c)3 organization located in the Jefferson Center. RCT is dedicated to providing high quality theatre education and entertainment to families, schools and children with year-round programming; crafting new and exciting partnerships and programs that engage our youth in a world of communication, imagination, creativity, empowerment and learning.