Participant Love...
"It never ceases to amaze me how a dozen people, all with messy lives and loads of luggage, have the ability to create the most calming and therapeutic environment for one another. We had the whole building to ourselves, only lit by a total of four lanterns. I was so worry free I lost the concept of time. My only focus was breathing to the music and matching my body movements to everybody else’s. It sounds strange but it’s the best therapy I’ve had in my whole life in comparison to sitting on a couch with my muscles tense and ready to bolt out of the room at any second. After the training, we gathered again in the lantern lit space to put some words into writing."—ALEX S. (age 15)
"One of the things I’m most proud about the Recovery Theatre, and why I am so honored to be a part of it, is the opportunity it gives young people to claim ownership of the title “artist” after having gone through something in their lives that they feel is really labeling them in a negative way. And so taking ownership of a positive label and a positive title like actor or performer is just an incredibly refreshing thing to see"—ALYSSA WRIGHT (Co-Founder Recovery Theatre)
"Organizing and leading this workshop helped me maybe as much as the people who were there to be helped. The world needs more spaces like this, and honestly so do I. The community holds itself together, and loves every single person it holds"—ZACH ARFA (age 18) Student-Faculty Recovery Theatre & Summer Workshop
"I think you do an amazing job of harnessing the creative energy in any person and turning it into something beautiful. I will take away that being bold and putting yourself and your energy out into the world is a good thing. " - LILLY S. (age 16)
"Of my 12 years of doing drama, working with the younger kids was definitely my favorite part. It’s just incredible to see them evolve throughout the summer and to watch them grow as human beings into much stronger individuals. It’s a privilege to help mentor this group of kids who someday are going to be in my position and become the mentors of a new generation of performers." - EMMA LONERGAN (age18, Aerial Fabric Instructor and Counselor Little & Middles, a half day program for 7 - 9 year-olds)
"The thing the workshop does best is bringing campers together. Last year was my fifth year, and I saw my old friends and met new ones. Everyone from the workshop comes from a different background– despite this, everyone is tight-knit. Any divisions at the beginning of the workshop disappear very quickly. Which has led to some of my best friendships and hopefully will lead to more...I think the most important thing I’ve taken away from the camp has been a part of my personality. I’m not an actor, but I’ve had big roles in two of the productions. I’m not going to become a musician but I’ve led a lot of the music instruction. I’m not an acrobat but I’ve gone on the trapeze and stilts and silks. There’s never any pressure to try new things, but the option is always there and is always free of judgment. This is made possible by the staff and faculty who (both in and out of camp) are open to anything. This has encouraged me, someone who had typically stayed in their comfort zone, to branch out and be open to more not just in the workshop, but in my general life."—FRANKLIN SPECK (former workshop participant, assistant music director, age 18)
"I think we’re at the very beginning of this (heroin) crisis and it’s not going away soon. This past summer the task force was fortunate to see first hand how the Hilltown Youth PerformingArts Programs addresses this problem in ways that are creative and unique. And I think as we work to identify people when they’re in their younger years, even at the elementary school level, and expose them to programs like the Recovery Theatre, we’re going to benefit as a community. We’ve witnessed a whole generation of families that have been impacted by this. And it’s not just the users who are impacted by it. It impacts siblings. It impacts parents. It impacts grandparents. And anything we can do to promote positive programs like this are going to be vital to the future of our community, and the quality of life of our community will be better as a result.”—JOHN MERRIGAN (Co-Chair and founder Opioid Task Force of Franklin County, Register of Probate and Family Court, former state representative 2nd Berskhire District)
"One of my favorite aspects of the workshop is the great range in age of the kids; the younger kids get to learn from (and with) the older more experienced participants. The older kids get to be mentors and role models to the newer folks. We live in a society that tends to be very age segregated, I love that this camp is not. In addition, you do an excellent job of modeling and teaching kids what it means to be creative, compassionate, expressive community members! My children took away an understanding of how fun, hard work and dedication can be combined to produce a high quality performance art piece." -CHARLIE FLYNN— (parent)
"The faculty was amazing. I improved my acting skills and found a sense of community. Not only is it a great acting experience but it’s wonderful to be so connected with the outdoors, which is an opportunity not many people of my generation have or use."—ALEGRA S. (age 14)
"My daughter came out of her shell in the Recovery Intensive. She spoke her mind, contributed in the group setting and discovered new ways for self expression…Her self hatred and low self esteem seemed to just drift away! It was amazing to watch her grow so significantly in such a small amount of time…She put a lot of her heart and soul into this experience and I can't say enough good about her time in both workshops. She's also better able to channel her anxiety, sings more, draws more engages more…And she's found her passion in the trapeze!”—DANIELLE N. (parent)
"This workshop allows kids to be who they are, celebrating their unique style and strengths. You plan a day with a rhythm of intense work and fun play so kids are eager to keep coming back. There is an authentic exchange of mutual respect and trust between staff and kids. You bring in top quality artists to teach the workshop participants...Our region is so very enriched by the great work you do with our kids.”—LINDA SARAGE, Grand-parent,former Director, The Recovery Project, Greenfield MA)
"Hell yeah it was fun and it helped a lot! Your organization was good becuase it wasn't good. I'm not saying it was bad but if the kids wanted to do something else first you went with it so it seemed like they’re opinions actually meant something...I'm going to take away that other people know what I'm going through and I know that if they can do it so can I. It also built a community of friends that I'm still In contact with. "—TAZ O. (Age 16)
"Collaboration is at the heart of the work Jonathan Diamond has led with students in every aspect of these projects. I would risk the pun to add, ‘Collaboration is the fabric of the work’ in that the use of aerial fabrics, in particular, are highlights of both the experience and the performances. In addition to the collaborations involved in making theatre, Dr. Diamond has been the architect of joining schools, both public and private, to each other and to professional artists and organizations. I have been involved in academic theatre for twenty-eight years spanning five states and four regions of this country and I have never seen this level of working together shoulder to shoulder between institutions and people traditionally pitted in competition against each other."—MARK EFINGER (former Head of School, Academy At Charlemont)
"The Recovery Theater was a godsend for helping our family support a young lady, newly living with us, who was struggling with a recent heroin exposure. I had no idea where to even start in helping her. The Recovery Intensive provided the perfect combination of both structure and adrenalin rush (a.k.a. trapeze) that kept her connected. We could not have navigated this summer without this program...Little did I know that it would also be a pivotal experience for my son. He struggles with severe anxiety. The week provided him with so many positive and meaningful experiences. Through drama and prose, he was able to find a voice for some of his fears. The balance between being on the edge of panic yet strangely safe at the same time allowed him to sleep and laugh in ways we rarely see. Finally, both kids felt so accepted as human beings yet totally hearing that their addiction and anxiety levels weren’t okay. They heard the reality that those broken parts didn’t have to define them."—KAM O. (parent)
"As a parent of a 14 year-old daughter who could not attend eighth grade due to her panic disorder, her experience in the Recovery Intensive was just what she needed after a brutal year of isolation, teasing and therapy. She told me that for the first time she felt “okay” to share how her anxiety had interrupted her life. She never felt like the outsider. She felt accepted just as she was. She started to gain her self esteem back and felt empowered. My daughter was back!"—SANDI M. (parent)
"A thirteen year-old girl, just out of rehab for drug addiction and bulimia, told me that this training was the first time she got the chance to write about rehab, the first time she met other peers as young as her who were also addicts and the first time she had a chance to stand up and speak her truth in front of others. At the end of the week, she said she would have been more tempted to go back to using if she had not had those weeks in Charlemont, writing monologues, learning ensemble and flying on the trapeze."—ALYSSA WRIGHT (Co-founder, Recovery Theatre)
"Your work changes lives and gives the gift of theatre to so many young people in your rural community." —AMRITA RAMANAN (Dirctor of Literary Development and Dramaturgy, Oregon Shakespeare Festival)
"This is a truly innovative and amazing performing arts program and proud to say it is run by another Hampshire College alum and in the Hilltowns!" —ANN HACKLER (Director, Institute for Musical Arts)
