Devised and premiered with high-school students, Searchers lives in the authentic hearts and minds of today’s young adults. With humor, conflict and theatricality, a chapter in the lives of three teens unfolds. Sammie’s parents are divorcing, and if that isn’t enough, her dad is pressuring her to uproot her life and move with him to another state. Sammie’s best friend, Ben, has been in a traumatic car accident that left his mother disabled. Even though the accident wasn’t Ben’s fault, he blames himself. Finally, loner Isaac longs to be part of a crowd that secretly makes fun of him. All three characters search for answers as a friendship between them grows. An ensemble of peers surrounds these three characters, reacting to the action in the play and speaking directly to the audience, commenting on ideas that resonate with the universal world of young adults. Who am I? How do others see me? Who do I want to become? With a flexible cast and a simple, easy set, Searchers presents a play that will speak to students and parents alike. An optional interactive forum between actors (who remain in character) and the audience offers a bonding experience, brainstorming possible solutions to the issues presented in the play.
