| real people - real stories |
Improbable Players is a touring troupe of young, diverse actors who present a repertoire of plays that spotlight tough social problems as they relate to substance abuse. All of the actors are in long-term recovery*. All of the plays are developed from their life stories. After each performance they tell their own stories of change. Their authenticity, honesty, and speaking from the heart makes the programs come alive for audiences.
* Being "In recovery" means not picking up a drink or a drug, one day at a time. Actor / educators working with the Players must be clean and sober one year before auditioning. |
"I started the company...
...in 1984 to inform people about alcoholism and drug abuse through theater. My own story, which once seemed so ordinary to me - a story of closet drinking, nightly blackouts, and endless promises to quit - became the basis for the first play, still performed today: it tells a timeless story of addiction and the hope and reality of long-term recovery."
"What did I do last night?!" Meet Charlie, the 2nd of 6 masks that dramatize the merry-go-round of addiction. I designed and made the masks, and looked in the mirror to get the expression right. As you can see, blacking out was a scary experience.
Learn more about the origins of this work.
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| Lynn Bratley |
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winter 2007
sober actors
Maiken, a new member of the Improbable Players/New York cast, did a double-take when she spotted an ad for "Sober Actors" on an on-line casting agency web site. "I had never seen an ad looking for sober actors, and it really was intriguing." She immediately emailed and applied for the job. After auditioning with Director Lynn Bratley and being offered a position in the troupe, Maiken joined the company, impressed by the approach, outreach efforts, and successes of the Improbable Players.
Life as an Improbable Player is inspiring to Maiken. "It is amazing for me to go back into schools. When I was drinking, I didn’t realize where it would take me. During that time of my life I would have appreciated someone being up front with me about the consequences of the partying I was doing." She continues, "Going into schools makes me remember where I was back then, and it opens my eyes to issues bigger than myself. Recently a high school student came up to me after the show and related her story of recovery, and how the performance reinforced her choice to stay sober. It is clear to me that the shows are what the students need."
"The value of drama is actually seeing your problem illuminated on stage. The plays help people see that they may be involved in unhealthy relationships that come out of substance abuse, either in the family or peer groups. Realizing that is a first step to recovery or prevention." Every actor in the Players shares their personal story after a performance. " My story might be tame to some people, but that’s OK, because there are some people who will identify more with a story like that. The value of all our stories is that people can identify with them and maybe change their lives."
Read more actor interviews. |
actor/educators 2007-2008
Margaret Ann B. BFA, Loretto Heights College, Denver - actor/ storyteller, Mrs. Potato Head - Boston
Amie B. BA, Music Performance, Northeastern University, film and stage actor - Boston
Steven D. BA in Human Services, SUNY Buffalo, performance training S.A.G. Conservatory, actor, sketch comedy artist - New York
Dorothy D. Improv/sketch actor, stand-up comic, Mrs.Potato Head -Boston
Christina E. BA in Theater Arts, UMass/Boston - actress, singer, and voice over artist - Boston
Matt F. BA in Theater Arts, UMass/Boston - actor - New York
Arielle G. BA candidate, Emerson College - standup comic - Boston
Brian J. BA in English, Weslyan University - actor, singer and Polarity Therapist - Boston
Michael J. D.M.A. in studio music and jazz performance, U. of Miami, performance artist and teacher- Boston
KariAnne K. BA Emerson College, MFA candidate in Theater Arts, teacher and actor - Boston
Bryan M. Singer/songwriter, recording artist - Boston
Owen P. Singer, songwriter, musician. www.owenplant.com - Los Angeles
Mary V. BA University of Hartford, B.F.A. musical theater, The Hartt School, stage and television actor - New York
Maiken W. BA in Drama, University of Washington, Seattle, stage and film actor - New York
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visible, valuable, vocal
Some might say the Improbable Players' message is "we drank and took drugs and had fun, so you can do it too, and then get sober like we did" --thereby encouraging substance abuse.
Our track record and our reviews prove this is not true: the Improbable Players do not demonstrate drug use or portray it in a glamourous light. The plays and follow-up discussions show that alcohol and other drug abuse was destructive in our lives, causing pain and loss with consequences we live with today.
The Players...
Remind people that one doesn't have to be an addict to have a devastating life-changing/altering experience because of drinking too much. Support those who have decided not to use. Provide inspiration and encouragement to people who are trying to stop, by telling our own stories and providing information about where to get help. Introduce community resources: people and organizations. Changed our lives from being destructive people to people who are making a positive contribution: we are visible, valuable, vocal.
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