Escape the Noise

GreenStage welcomes the Shoreline Theater Academy/Kidz Konnection (STA) of Clinton in the full North American premiere of a play that explores the issues of isolation, exclusion and mental health that have accompanied the smartphone and social media’s promise of connectedness. Written, directed and performed by teens in STA’s young emerging playwrights’ group, “Escape the Noise” reveals teens’ challenges of attention and focus, developing grounded identities and positive self-esteem, creating and maintaining relationships, and feeling part of a community. With outreach to seniors, we offer a cross-generational dialogue to reflect on how values, beliefs and behaviors have changed under technology’s influence, the merits of the changes and their impact on humanity’s future. The play will have its world premiere the previous week at Edinburgh Festival Fringe.