COD STUDENTS COLLABORATE WITH FAB FEMALES

      This spring, MTW Fabulous Females and College of DuPage (COD) students are collaborating through a Creative Non- Fiction Writing course that meets each Wednesday at the Illinois Youth Center in Warrenville. "This program enables young people in vastly different circumstances to discover how much they have in common, and enriches the programs both at Warrenville and COD," commented COD Professor Allan Carter. Carter co-teaches the course with MTW Artistic Director, Meade Palidofsky.
      "The Fabulous Females continually challenge my intellect with their honesty," noted COD student, Vanessa Abeln, commenting on her personal experience with the class. "Listening to their stories has fueled my desire to dig deep within myself and find my stories. Each member of the class has grown because of this open environment.
      "I've known these women for three months, and I look forward to every visit. I know that, each class, I have an opportunity to laugh, cry, or voice my frustration with the world and these girls will see me as I am, a real person with feelings and a voice longing to be heard. On Wednesday nights, I get to let my guard down and become vulnerable with acceptance and understanding."
      In January and February, students wrote personal stories and song lyrics about the secrets that define a person, and in many cases twist lives into an unwelcome shape. On March 14, 2009, the class presented excerpts from those stories, and songs in HIDE ‘N SEEK, a staged reading of their works-in-progress.
      Since then, class members have used the writing process to explore their own personal challenges and internal battles. On May 9, the class will present LETTING THE MONSTER OUT: TALES OF WAR & PEACE, their final staged reading. Friends and families of all participants will attend the performance.
      "One of the most important outcomes of this class is the way the exchange of personal stories helps participants develop insight and empathy," Palidofsky said, "I see students understand themselves and their own lives better - but they also learn to see others more clearly."
      The stories written this spring will provide the material for the next original Fabulous Females musical. This summer a small group of Fabulous Females will create composite characters, songs and scenes for the fully produced one-act musical.