11/13/17 – Three local non-profit groups are seeking help from the community to raise awareness about the opioid epidemic. The Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre is working with PAVE, People Against A Violent Environment and CARE, Community Awareness Recovery Environment. The theatre group recently received a grant from the newly established Dodge County Crime Prevention Funding Board to develop a performance that shines a spotlight on the heroin problem. The project is called “With One Voice: Letters from the Opioid Crises Zone” and will feature personal stories, experiences, and observations from area residents. The writings will ultimately be performed on stage as readings with musical interludes followed by a panel discussion with audience participation. The community theatre’s Annette Kamps says the submissions will not be judged based on their writing but rather the message contained. She says the writer can remain anonymous and interested individuals can dictate their message if they are not comfortable writing it themselves. Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt, who sits on the crime funding board, says the goal of the grant is to educate the public on opiates and their effects. Schmidt says the grant offered will cover all project costs. CARE Vice-President Brenda Tratar says it is important to spread the message of substance abuse and she adds that the community needs to be aware of the problem. The deadline to submit essays, poems and other writings that will be dramatized by the theatre group is December 8. The performances will be held January 26 and 27 at the Beaver Dam Community Theater located at 219 North Spring Street with all proceeds from ticket sales going to PAVE and CARE. To obtain a submission form visit www.bdact.org. For more information call 920-887-2093 or email Annette Kamps at [email protected]. Submissions can be sent to the community theatre at PO Box 219 in Beaver Dam or emailed to [email protected].
