Improbable Players use theater to educate youth about substance use disorder

The youth development organization MyCom Cleveland is providing a free, virtual performance of The Group Chat by Improbable Players on Wednesday, May 12 at 11:30 am. Improbable Players is a nonprofit organization that uses theater and drama workshops to address substance use disorder.

According to the website, The Group Chat “follows four best friends in their first year out of high school as they pursue their dreams. As one friend begins to use alcohol to deal with stress and their life starts to fall apart, the other friends in the group struggle to understand the true nature of substance use disorder and how they can help.”

“The play explores how substance use disorder can affect relationships, how to talk to someone you love when you feel concerned about their use of alcohol and other drugs, and the different pathways to recovery,” the website continues.

The performers in the play are actors from Cleveland, New York City, and Boston who are in recovery. The performance is scheduled to last 45 minutes and will be followed by a Q&A session.

Karen Snyder, Ohio Regional Director for Improbable Players, says the goal of the show is to engage youth and community members in better understanding substance abuse. “The show is very engaging,” she said. “It shows elements of the progression of the disease, and how it can start off as not that big of a deal to the person and those around them, and the denial and emotions that come with it. It shows how to be supportive to someone who’s struggling and how to take care of yourself when someone else is struggling.”

Learn more and register for the performance here.

Lee Chilcote is a freelance writer and editor of The Land.