High School visited by high energy performance group MWAH!
The Atwood Herald
(Atwood, Illinois)
January 23, 2002
by Christopher Prince
High School visited by high energy performance group MWAH!
by Christopher Prince
Published January 23, 2002, Volume 112 Number 04
Atwood, Ill. -- Keeping High School students attention can be a difficult proposition, as any teacher can attest to. So when an assembly keeps the entire student body of Atwood-Hammond Junior High and high school clapping, cheering, and enthralled for 45 minutes, it is obviously something special!
Last Friday Atwood-Hammond High School hosted for students in grades 6-12 the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe, a high energy drama and dance group from the Chicago area.
MWAH! (Messages Which Are Hopeful!) is an issues-oriented performance group that travels around the country providing entertainment while focusing on current issues that teenagers are facing.
"Whatever our differences are, we all belong together," stated Steve, one of the seven members of the performance group. Their skits and songs conveyed many of the messages of hope, friendship, and smart decisions.
The group consists of teenagers from the Chicagoland area. The seven students take time out from school to travel around the country giving assemblies just like this one. The youngest, Jackson, is 12 years old. The oldest, Jemell, is 23. Other performers include Steve and Kaylin, both 14 years old. Mike and Jeff, both 16 years old, and J.C., 17 years old.
Theses youthful performing artists, because of their diverse ethic and cultural backgrounds, convey a message of hope and promise for the future. Their repertoire reflects the changing times in which we all live.
The group sung the songs themselves while acting out dramatic interpretations of situations many teenagers have to face. Songs performed included "We Belong Together", "You Are Not Alone", "What a Wonderful World", and "I Can Only Imagine". However, the highlight for many of the students was J.C, Mike, Jeff, and Jackson performing the high energy dance routine to Boy Band songs "Don't Want You Back", "Dirty Pop", and "Bye, Bye, Bye".
Among the issues focused upon by MWAH! are healthy alternatives to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, prevention of various forms of child and parent abuse, awareness of problems associated with untimely teen pregnancies, elimination of discrimination because of differences among people; and the enhancement of coping and survival skills with respect to violence prevention, peer influence, street gangs, suicidal thoughts, career decision-making, and other youth related values and concerns.
A focal point for MWAH! is the importance of choices. An overall objective is to inspire young people to face life's challenges and opportunities with knowledge, confidence, and a positive self image.
The group was approached by Sue Froman, advisor to the school's FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) chapter, after she saw them last year. Froman was so impressed with the performance that she has been trying to make plans for them to visit Atwood-Hammond High School ever since.
"The school did not use any of its money for this assembly," stated Froman. "It was totally FCCLA and business supported."
The following businesses helped make the MWAH! assembly possible: First State Bank in Atwood, Atwood Meat Service, Inc. in Atwood, Funk Insurance in Atwood, Scooters in Hammond, Davis Garage in Hammond, and Casey's General Store.
The not-for-profit charitable organization is under the direction of Ray Moffitt who travels across the country with the performers. Moffitt is also the executive producer of MWAH!
Copyright 2002 The Atwood Herald. Some rights reserved.
For more information about MWAH! or to book an event, call Moffitt at 630-993-0003, or visit the website MWAH! page.
