improbable PLAYERS   

"Hi, my name is Gregory Redd and this is my wife, Pat.  We have a son Shawn who could not be here with us today because he died two and a half years ago from drug and alcohol abuse. He was generous, kind and funny.  He was an average kid, just like you. I know that if Shawn knew where the drugs and alcohol were taking him, he would be here today." Continue reading the rest of the story below.

Though Greg Redd has since passed away, Pat Redd has courageously turned the family's real-life tragedy into a gift to young students in Melrose, where their son grew up and attended school. She continues to sponsor an Improbable Players' performance for the school's Drug & Alcohol Summit. The play leaves a lasting impression - and she hopes will save someone's life. 

Continuation of Greg Redd's remarks...
"... Drugs and alcohol make it so difficult for our children to think and make the right decisions that frequently they turn to death to stop the pain and break the vicious circle.

Our son Shawn was 28 years old when he died. He was our only child. He went through the Melrose School system just as you are doing now. He loved action movies, playing sports (soccer in particular), music, and working with his hands. Shawn was always looking after people younger than himself because he understood what being the UNDER DOG meant. He was generous, kind, and funny. He was an average kid, just like you.

When Shawn was 14, he started drinking and hanging out with people who were experimenting with drugs. He did not plan to use alcohol or drugs. He didn’t intend to die.

Shawn used to talk to us about almost anything: how his day at school went, what was happening with his friends, and so on. Over the years, particularly in high school, the conversations that we had began to decrease, until there were none. He would

come home only to eat, sleep, and clean up. We tried asking him if everything was okay. His common reply would be that everything was fine and he was just hanging out with some friends. But he never brought his friends home. Later he became moody and secretive about his friends and what they were doing.

These are personality changes. They are a clear warning that something is wrong. Unfortunately, we did not start questioning Shawn about these changes until it was too late. Shawn was deeply involved with alcohol and using drugs.

Pat and I didn’t notice the changes because they occurred slowly over a fourteen-year span. The next thing we know is that our son is dead and we as parents are left wondering what went wrong.

You don’t have to drink or do drugs to belong in a group. If you feel that you do, then you are probably with the wrong group.

Whether you believe it or not, your best friends are not those you walk to school with, or even those that you sit next to in class. Your best friends are your parents. PLEASE DON’T CUT THEM OUT OF THE LOOP. Your parents have a huge concern for your welfare. Even though they put restrictions on what you can and cannot do, they will always be there for you.

With this said, we hope you enjoy the play and you will take something out of it to discuss with your parents." 

May 30, 2007 - Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School

melrose middle school students responded

"The Shawn Redd play had an extreme impact on me because his parents came and told us now he lived his life and what he did for fun before drugs and alcohol."

"This assembly made me realize when you start to use drugs you don’t think you are affecting anyone. But once you are gone, all the people that care for you have a hole in their heart."

"Of all the speakers, I remember Mr. Redd. He spoke to us like we were adults. He really made me listen. He told us to give our parents a break. As soon as I got home, I gave my mom a hug and told her how much I loved her."

"It got me to realize that what can seem to be normal may not be. Kids can really be hiding a big secret. I would never ever want my friends and family to go through the same thing."

"The assembly that had the most impact on me was the Improbable Players. The scenes showed us the effects of drugs and alcohol rather than lecturing on it."

"After seeing the play my opinion is that more people will think not only about what they are doing to themselves, but also how they are affecting their families as well."