Salpointe, Tucson High use theater to address tough issues By Jasmine Demers - Mar 25, 2019

Two Tucson high schools are taking the stage to address tough social issues. Salpointe Catholic High School examines gun violence with the play “Bang Bang You’re Dead,” and Tucson Magnet High School presents “Our Border Town,” an original piece about immigration. School shootings and immigration are issues many high school students grapple with daily. Theater can be a healthy way to deal with these complex social problems, said Noshene Ranjbar, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Arizona. “Children have even less control over their lives than adults, so when they see injustices around them, their nervous system can react even more strongly,” Ranjbar said. Outlets such as art and advocacy are some of the best ways to cope with stressful situations and emotions, she added. “Practicing speaking up, advocating and taking action is a learned behavior,” she said. “When early in their lives they don’t have the opportunity to speak up, be heard, or express emotions in healthy ways, it is harder to learn to do so as adults.”

OUR BORDER TOWN Students at Tucson High are tackling another relevant social issue with the premiere of “Our Border Town,” an original play by Amy Almquist. With 45 cast and crew members, the documentary-style play is based on interviews with members of the Tucson community, including migrants, Border Patrol agents, humanitarians, undocumented students and militia leaders, all with different perspectives on the border issue. “I want people to see that everyone has a story and

Tucson High Magnet School performing arts students recreate a scene from the school’s upcoming play “Our Border Town” at the school, 400 N. 2nd Ave., March 13, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz. The play about immigration and life in a border state, written by Amy Almquist, runs April 25-27, May 2-4, 9th and 11th at 7 p.m. May 11 also features a 2 p.m. show. Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

everyone has a perspective that is born out of their own personal experience,” Almquist said. “And when we can see other people’s stories, whether we agree with them or not, we can develop a level of compassion.” Her husband, Art Almquist, and Julian Martinez, both drama teachers at Tucson High, said the project attempts to humanize the border issue and dive beyond political affiliation. “One of the goals of this play is to get the human perspective back on this border crisis and to create empathy for the humans that are involved, as opposed to how much strife and stress and conflict that the politics behind it cause,” Martinez said. Art Almquist said students were immediately engaged with the idea of taking on such a controversial topic and felt strongly about telling the stories. “One of my favorite moments was in my advanced drama class in December, and Amy wanted to hear the play read out loud right after she had finished it,” he said. “We read it out loud and by the end of it, everyone was in tears. It was just extraordinary to be a part of that and see how excited they were to do this.” For sophomore Sharlyn Zavala, who plays a 42-year-old Bolivian immigrant, students should be at the forefront of these difficult conversations. “As the prodigies of many immigrants, it makes us feel like we have a voice and like we are doing something to help these stories be heard,” Zavala said. Because the play doesn’t focus on a single perspective, the students said they also had to open their minds and be vulnerable on stage and that the border issue is not simply black and white. “I think the play is really powerful,” said freshman Ella Bracale, who plays 78-year-old Rev. John Fife, a retired minister, founder of the Tucson Samaritans and co-founder of the Sanctuary Movement. “It’s important that we as a school get to talk about this big issue, and it’s so beautifully written in the fact that it does not lean to one side, it’s not bashing the viewer, it’s not saying ‘your view is wrong

and you have to feel guilty,’” she said, “It’s so important for students to be aware of what’s going on, and I think using art and theatre makes it really approachable,” said Tucson High sophomore Rosie Nuccio. “People who are making decisions need to know that students care about this and that this is important to us.” vvv

From left, playwright Amy Almquist, and co-directors Julian Martinez and Art Almquist of Tucson High Magnet School’s “Our Border Town” play at the school, 400 N. 2nd Ave., March 13, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz. The play about immigration and life in a border state, written by Amy Almquist, runs April 25-27, May 2-4, 9th and 11th at 7 p.m. May 11 also features a 2 p.m. show. Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

From left, Tucson Magnet High School performing arts students Laysha Pon-Marquez, Jacky Talavera and Estevan Silvas re-create a scene in a migrant detention center in the school’s upcoming play “Our Border Town.” Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star