New Collaboraction show to focus on education

Tyrese Hall, of Alain Locke Charter School, Leah Aberman, of Lane Tech Academic Center, and Esmeralda (Emse) Ayvar-Perez, of Lane Tech High School, will be part of the cast of Collaboration’s world premiere piece, “Forgotten Future: The Education Project.”

For the next installment in its “incite change” mission, Collaboraction, which has already devised two original shows (one addressing Chicago’s crime problem and the other looking at many aspects of cancer), will shine the spotlight on the American education system.

For its fall production (running Sept. 18-Oct. 26), it will present the world premiere of “Forgotten Future: The Education Project”, a work of theater inspired by the dysfunction plaguing this country’s education.

Conceived and written by Sarah Moeller, co-written by Adam Seidel and Michele Stine, and co-directed by Sarah Moeller and John Wilson, “Forgotten Future: The Education Project” takes three students’ unique perspectives of the Chicago school system and how it is both serving them and failing them and their potential future. The show has been constructed from extensive research, and tackles the key issues of inequities, cultural barriers and testing. The result promises to be an immersive theatre piece designed to entertain and inform the audience, as well as stimulate dialogue.

Not only will “Forgotten Future” focus on the stories of children going through Chicago’s schools, but three child actors – – will make their Collaboraction debuts playing students in this production.

The “Forgotten Future” cast also stars Scott Merchant , Susie Griffith, Angelique Roque, Nathaniel Swift, Ebony Joy and Jasmin Cardenas. It will be presented at Collaboraction’shome in the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave, Room 300 in Wicker Park.

The performance runs approximately 90 minutes, and will be followed each night by a Town Hall Meeting. For tickets ($15-$30), call (312) 226-9633 or visit http://www.collaboraction.org.