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BIDDEFORD, Maine

UNE hosts 'Out and Allied,' theatre pieces about LGBTQ youth and allies

The University of New England will host a collection of theatre pieces from the Out & Allied Project Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010 at 7:30 p.m., at the Biddeford Campus Multi-Purpose Rooms in the Campus Center.

This production of the Out & Allied Project features performance pieces that center around what it means to be an ally to LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning) youth. 

Most of the poems, monologues and short plays are youth written and take a deeper look at life, love and acceptance. The pieces are slated to be published in an anthology this fall and will be made available to schools and youth groups across the U.S.

For the the UNE production, students from UNE and the University of Southern Maine have written pieces in addition to submissions from across the U.S. and Canada. Under direction by USM Lecturer Meghan Brodie, Ph.D., both schools have actors joining on the stage with community youth and adults.

The program is produced and performed by Add Verb Productions and the University of Southern Maine's Department of Theatre. The program is free and open to the public and is suitable for middle and high school students.

UNE's Director of Multicultural Affairs Diversity Programs Donna Gaspar Jarvis recalls a performance from the Out & Allied Project held on campus last year: "Students really responded and it was a great catalyst for conversation.  The monologues were edgy, raw and real and provided an opportunity for students to hear stories and talk about subjects and issues that might not otherwise be addressed."

The production is funded by a grant from the Mukti Foundation and directed by Brodie.  "I'm honored and amazed to have such an enormous and talented cast.  I had no idea there would be so much interest in this project.  It's great to be doing a project with Add Verb and to have young writers get their work on stage."

Add Verb Productions is a Portland-based non-profit organization that provides health and wellness education through provocative theatre performances and aims to activate and empower bystanders. The ultimate goal is to build stronger, healthier communities, according to Add Verb Productions Executive Director Cathy Plourde.

Additional performances will take place as follows: Monday, Oct. 18 at USM's Gorham Campus in Russell Hall; and Wednesday, Oct. 20 in Portland at the First Parish Church on Congress St.

To learn more about National Ally Week visit www.allyweek.org

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.