CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Arts and Athletics Club is raising awareness of Mental Health through the arts. This local nonprofit organization is producing an original musical for teens called In My Head. The major goal of this production is to show Chester County youth what mental health looks like and to let them know that they are not alone.
“There are many people in our community who have been struggling with mental health,” says executive director and playwright, Chris Hutelmyer. “We wanted to utilize our platform with our nonprofit organization to lend our support to our community. That is when we came up with this project.”
The project consists of three major components. Arts and Athletics Club is partnering with local artists to paint inspirational messages on lawn signs. They are also working with local community members and organizations to share people’s stories with mental health and to have resources available for anyone who is looking for them. Finally, the project concludes with a performance of the original musical, In My Head at Pierce Middle School on June 23rd and June 24th.
“In My Head tells the story of a group of high school students who begin to bond with each other through their newly developed Mental Health Club at school. When the club is in danger of being shut down, the students must band together to save their program,” says Hutelmyer. “We wanted to create a show that teens would both enjoy and relate to. While the central theme of the show is mental health, the production takes time focusing on the relationship between friends, family, and more.”
Downingtown Area School District parent and community theater advocate, Karen Dixon, will be assisting with the directing of the production. “As a parent of teenagers, I have seen first hand the pressure our kids are under; whether from internal or external sources,” says Dixon. “Add in the effects of Covid-19 and many of our young people are really struggling with their emotional health. There could not be a better time to shine a light on the issue and to give our kids some hope.”
Arts and Athletics Club is currently looking for actors to be a part of the production. The show is free to participate in and open to anyone, regardless of experience or time availability. Rehearsals will take place at Grove United Methodist Church. Arts and Athletics Club is searching for youth from all over the county to participate to make this a true community production. For more information and to sign up, please visit: artsandathleticsclub.com/in-my-head or call 484-947-9586.
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