Four friends, divided by their opinions about drinking and drug use. They have to answer hard questions: Aren't I supposed to have fun when I'm young? How much should friends help each other? Would it be better to drop out than come back to school after you get clean? In the play, we watch as the central character hits bottom -- she's runnin' on empty -- and she has to make a change.
faculty members say
"Thanks for being so transparent,so real, for sharing your life stories with us. A first hand account as the most potential to teach and to persuade."
"Thanks! Running On E was a good depiction of how we can help each other with drug problems."
"I have never seen our students so quiet and involved in a program--it was well worth the time."
students say
"I liked the play because it showed us the real-life situations and consequences of drug use."
"I think each person here can relate to at least one of the characters - we could easily be in their shoes."
"These are people who went through what I went through, so seeing the play and talking to them makes you feel like you're not alone."
I'm going to New York - why don't you come with me?
the program models these underlying messages
Alcohol is a drug.
Recreational drug/alcohol can get you into life-changing trouble.
There are consequences of use/abuse on friends and family.
You don't have to 'pick up' - there's more to life.
You don't have to drink to have fun.
Feelings won't kill you. Drugs might.
Help your friends when they get into trouble - and get help if you have to.
It's ok to be yourself - it's ok to talk about your feelings.
The youth personal fable - that feeling of complete uniqueness - is not reality.
You're never too young to get sober.
Just as there were steps to getting hooked, there are steps to getting clean/sober.
There's always hope - the door can be opened: talk with someone.
Running On E was developed with combined grants from the Greater Boston Council on Alcoholism, the Roy A. Hunt Foundation, the Paul and Edith Babson Foundation, and rehearsal space from the Cloud Foundation.
Running On E is suitable for and adapted for middle school, high school, college, and community events. It comes with pre- and post-performance discussion guides. For more information about space and time requirements, go to the performances page.
