Madison Students Bring Discussion of Peer Pressure to Polson

From M.A.D.E. in Madison:

Madison, CT – MADE in Madison for the third year running proudly presents two showings of The Worst That Could Happen, a one act play written by Dylan Mather (DHHS ’13) and Brendan Zinser (DHHS ’14). The show, directed by DHHS junior Declan Maloney, is about peer pressure, underage drinking and fitting in. It will be performed on Friday, May 20 for eighth grade students at Polson and at 6:00pm for families. The show is free and open to residents of Madison and beyond.

Mather and Zinser wrote the play in 2013 as part of S.T.A.R. (Student Theater Arts Repertoire) at Daniel Hand. After seeing the first performance of the play, MADE’s former Vice Chair Jill Swimmer knew it was something special that the coalition needed to get involved with. “The play is a wonderful tool to teach young adults by listening to older students in the DHHS cast. All of the issues in the play are on the minds of the soon to be high school students,” Swimmer explained.

Since 2014, MADE continues to work with a cast and crew of DHHS students to bring the play to life. The production, from casting to curtain call, is lead entirely by the youth with junior Declan Maloney at the helm as director. Hand’s Emma Green stars as Emma, a 16-year-old who starts a downward spiral after being pressured to drink at a party to impress her crush, played by Mario Calabro.

The play is meant to spark a discussion about the dangers of peer pressure and the culture of high school. “Though almost 70% of Hand students choose not to drink alcohol, it is still important for us to talk about peer pressure. We want to help the eighth graders figure out how to deal with that before they get to high school,” said Maloney.

As part of that process, the eighth grade students are invited to ask questions of their soon-to-be high school peers. Last year’s questions focused mostly on underage drinking, with the students advising their young counterparts to “just say no” by making up an excuse such as, “My parents would kill me.” They also suggested that teens utilize the Safe Rides program supported by Madison Youth and Family Services (MYFS). Safe Rides is led by trained DHHS students (supervised by adult volunteers) who offer to pick up peers in need of a ride home on Friday and Saturday nights. Safe Rides can be reached at (203) 245-8347.

This year’s stellar cast also includes: Shae-lyn Taggart Meoli, Riki Klaskin, Tim Stevens, Olivia Fumiatti, Aidan Hughes, Julianna Edigio, Isabella Reynolds, Luke Fumiatti, Lan Shoemaker, Erin Elliott, Megan Stewart and Maggie Shaw. The crew members are: Chris Hall, Jason Noel, and Michael Morro, led by crew chief Jane McManus.

Though the play is largely student-led, invaluable support is provided by a cadre of caring Madison adults. This list includes Joe and Joan Walker who provide backstage guidance by helping with sound and lighting.

MADE in Madison is a diverse coalition of youth and adults striving to promote positive youth development. Right now, the coalition is engaging young people in its campaign to reduce youth stress and to address the nationwide opioid epidemic. Madison residents who would like to know more about the group and its efforts should visit MADE’s website, madeinmadison.org.