Eleventh-grader Veronique "Nikki" Taylor hopes that her friends and family will see the latest production of City at Peace called "Show Face." Nikki, a five-year veteran of the production, believes that the issues addressed in the show — sexual identity, relationships, physical abuse, self-mutilation, depression, eating disorders, friendships — will help her friends face their own problems with strength.
"I want them to see it so they can take it into their lives and say, that show really helped me out," said the Robinson High School student.
The mission of City at Peace is to confront issues faced by teen-agers today in a theatrical setting. City at Peace draws 45 young people together from Virginia, Maryland and the District for seven months to produce a show written from their own life experiences. Using music, dialogue and dance, the company members attempt to solve their problems, with the hope that their example will inspire others to do likewise.
"People sit around and think they’re alone," said Sandra Holloway, City at Peace artistic director. "I think it’s important because dealing with these issues lessens the chance of people taking out these issues in another area [like school violence]. As a society, I don’t know if we’ve tried to meet those things before they happened."
"It’s, like, real stuff," said Nikki.
This year’s production, "Show Face," uses the TV reality series format to examine the lives of teen-agers. Since last September, the company has met weekly to conduct theatrical exercises and learn from one another. A production team made up of former cast members listens to the teens relate to each other and writes an outline of what the show will look like.
They noticed that the young people always felt like something was holding them back from trusting others and themselves. As a result, many teens felt betrayed or let down.
"The challenge to the cast is, are they really going to show us what happens in their lives?" said Holloway.
For Nikki, participating in City at Peace has helped her to become more optimistic and open-minded. Instead of basing her impressions of people on unconscious stereotypes, she tries to see them for who they are.
"It changed a lot of my views on things," Nikki said. "I just view things from a whole other light."
In a previous production, one scene was based on Nikki's life story. It dealt with abuse in a single-family home. When she saw it enacted, she cried.
"I just broke down right then and there," Nikki said.
Nikki hopes to be a physical therapist, because she liked helping her grandfather get around. She also hopes the experiences of performing with City at Peace will help her be a better person.
"It all depends on you changing yourself first. And then all around you, people start to change," Nikki said.