Theater: The Playground

I went to see “The Playground” at the Unknown Theater last Saturday night for a special midnight performance and was blown away.

THE PLAYGROUND is a powerful rock-drama inspired by the true events of teenage runaways and street kids that combines live theatre, rock music, urban vibes, video, and street style dance. Michael Justen adapted their stories from journal entries, interviews and documentaries.. Members of the production team and cast spent time on the streets without food or money with actual street kids to gather true stories for the production. THE PLAYGROUND has joined forces with Los Angeles Youth Network in efforts to promote community involvement to end teenage homelessness.

It’s a great play with a great cause. I wish I had heard of this earlier. I read about it on Gold Star Events and it looked interesting so I got tickets.

The show tells the story of what it’s like to live on the streets of LA as a teen. It’s taken from real teens and I think it’s very well portrayed. It’s meant to raise awareness and funding for youth support programs.

Some of the performers were just amazing. They had so much energy and so much passion for what they were telling. I haven’t seen that much passion in a show in a long time. The show is nicely put together with large video screen projected showing clips of interviews with the teens provide good transitions. They also show facts about homeless teens. There are some 8,000 youths that live on the streets of LA 12-17 years of age. Most resorting to prostitution and drugs to get by.

There’s talk of it becoming a movie along with an extended run in LA and other US cities.

A tip: bring some pocket change to give to the actors. They interact with the audience a lot and ask for money. I’m sure they give everything they collect to the LA Youth Network. =)

The show closes THIS SATURDAY! SO GO SEE IT THIS WEEK! Tell all your friends too!

The Playground
Unknown Theater
1110 Seward St., L.A.
unknowntheater.com
Tickets are $9 through Gold Star Events (if you’re a member click there, it’s free to join)
or $18 on their website or $24 at the door.
Wed-Sat only at 8PM

Also check out the Los Angeles Youth Network at http://www.layn.org/ for more information and to make a donation.