Students use the stage to face their fears in "Yellow Light Crossing"
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: May 4, 2012
When Utica College Freshman, Alexander Hodkinson signed himself up for theater class, he had no idea his own story would become a part of the actual production.
"I just thought we were working with kids from the community and we were just going to be writing a play about their lives," said Hodkinson.
"My colleague and I wanted to see how can we use theater to build community and use theater to help some of these issues that go on through a regular basis," said Co-Director, Shannon Enders.
Helping the students face their fears tuned into "Yellow Light Crossing."
It is a play that doesn't have your typical script.
In fact, these actors would be playing themselves, and sharing their own stories.
"It was tough. I didn't think I was going to be able to tell my story at all," said Alexander.
But with courage and strength, Alexander was able to take the stage and speak out, even when some of those memories are tough to re-live.
"The emotion was a lot deeper because in rehearsals I was fine, but when I did it for an audience I almost felt like I was in the moment again when I was acting out the parts from my story," he said.
And with every story told in "Yellow Light Crossing," Co-Director, Shannon Enders wants it to leave an impact on not only the community, but the storytellers themselves.
"I just thought we were working with kids from the community and we were just going to be writing a play about their lives," said Hodkinson.
"My colleague and I wanted to see how can we use theater to build community and use theater to help some of these issues that go on through a regular basis," said Co-Director, Shannon Enders.
Helping the students face their fears tuned into "Yellow Light Crossing."
It is a play that doesn't have your typical script.
In fact, these actors would be playing themselves, and sharing their own stories.
"It was tough. I didn't think I was going to be able to tell my story at all," said Alexander.
But with courage and strength, Alexander was able to take the stage and speak out, even when some of those memories are tough to re-live.
"The emotion was a lot deeper because in rehearsals I was fine, but when I did it for an audience I almost felt like I was in the moment again when I was acting out the parts from my story," he said.
And with every story told in "Yellow Light Crossing," Co-Director, Shannon Enders wants it to leave an impact on not only the community, but the storytellers themselves.
