Village Voices
October 27, 2010
Messages with music for Jo Daviess County high school students
By www.nwiaccess.com Dan Stevens
Village Voices - a weekly newspaper for Jo Daviess County in Northwest Illinois published in Lena, Illinois
October 27, 2010
( Newspaper owner, publisher, writer, and photographer: Dan Stevens)
Students in Jo Daviess County made their way to River Ridge High School last week for a rather "different" kind of assembly. The ensemble MWAH! - an acronym for Messages Which Are Hopeful - performed two ninety minute shows that addressed several real life issues and stressed the importance of making smart choices.
From the very beginning it was far from a traditional assembly as "planted" members of MWAH! within the student audience got into a fake argument, and were ushered out by "security".
The plants got the students attention, mainly because all of the performers are students themselves, and the kids in the crowd had no way of knowing at first if what they were seeing was staged, or kids from a different school were in fact getting out of hand.
From there, the audience was captured.
The MWAH! troupe presented several topics - all very real problems facing today's youth - from bullying in school, to drinking and driving, to teen suicide, to abusive relationships with parents, guardians or boyfriends. And the message was delivered through music.
Solos and short skits were used to act out scenes - some so real that there was an audible gasp when one male member slapped his female partner.
The performances were arranged through Jodi L. Zeal, coordinator of a victim witness program in conjunction with the county's States Attorney's office and who's a member of the Jo Daviess County Juvenile Justice Council, was the lead sponsor of the MWAH! appearances.
In addition to the students, Warren Police Chief Bryan Bohnsack and State Representative Jim Sacia both gave very pointed, and personal messages.
Bohnsack revealed how the hardest part of his job is when he has to go and tell a parent that one of their kids won't be coming home ever again.
Jim Sacia revealed his own personal tragedy of the night he selfishly told his oldest son not to be the one to drive because it was costing too much money in gas. Later that night, his son and three friends were in a terrible accident in which their car struck a bridge abutment at 100 mph.
In addition to the calls for responsible choices, several students were brought out onto the gym floor stage and were recognized for their positive attitudes and special leadership qualities. Other students were brought out to participate in some of the staging fun.
The one who stood out was Stockton's Cole Schamberger. Not only was he not embarrassed to be serenaded by one of the female members of the troupe, but he showed off his own dancing moves while getting into the performance.
"Hey, she was really cute," he said afterwards. "I wonder if she lives anywhere close by."
The student performers come from around the state of Illinois and ranged in age from 9 to 19. Current troupe members attend 12 different schools, both public and parochial, and they live in 11 communities from northern and central Illinois and the western suburbs of Chicago ... Elizabeth, Chenoa, Magnolia, Rockford, Cherry Valley, Yorkville, Aurora, Plainfield, Naperville, Willowbrook, and Bartlett.
Locally, River Ridge Sophomore, Lexi Parr is a member of the ensemble for the second year.
They auditioned over the summer, and if awarded a role in the troupe they spend their summer rehearsing. During the school year, they then spend two days a month traveling throughout the state to deliver their moving performances.
"They get paid, but it's not a lot," said director Ray Moffit. "It's like $20 per show. Just enough to cover gas and expenses."
But the money isn't the reason the kids auditioned.
"It looks great on a resume," one pointed out. "If we want to get into showbusiness, it's a great experience."
And while the experience and chance to go around the state performing is an attraction for the performers, it isn't the most powerful reason they do it.
"We know we're helping people and making a difference," Parr said. "I mean, did you see the girl break down and start to cry in the audience? That happens at every single show we do."
The emotional strength of the message could not be denied.
"Yeah, what they are talking about still applies out here too," said Samantha Magee of Stockton. "We may be seen as the sticks, but it happens out here too."
Combined with the message, was the music used to deliver it.
"That's what I really liked," said Miranda Davis of Warren. "They all have really good voices, and they sang today's songs that we all like too - not some old lame ones."
Overall, the presentation was well received and enjoyed by those in attendance. Considering how hard it can be to entertain a group of 200 High School juniors - that alone is saying quite a lot.
The not-for-profit ensemble is affiliated with "Kids Do Count, Inc." the Chicago Area Project - a grass-roots service and advocacy agency based in downtown Chicago and part of a statewide community services network targeting at-risk youth and their families.
For more information about MWAH! or to book an event, call Moffitt at 630-993-0003, or visit the website MWAH! page.
