The Rockford Register Star
Feb 28, 2008
Music, skits highlight tough issues during Mack visit
By Rob Baxter
For 80 minutes Thursday, students and staff at Stephen Mack Middle School were spellbound.
They were asked to imagine a world where the last thing one sees is the color of another’s skin, where children are no longer the butt of slurs and hurtful jokes about their weight, looks or who they like.
The audience was transported to such a place by 13 multitalented kids in the MWAH! (Messages Which Are Hopeful!) Performing Arts Troupe. Their riveting performance featured tear-jerking, hard-hitting skits that tackled addiction, abstinence, racial conflict and respect for one’s self and others. There was even a segment on tragedies like that of the shootings at Northern Illinois University.
“I thought it was really good because they were issues that aren’t really talked about at many assemblies, and I am glad they addressed them,” eighth-grader Jordan Brown said.
Members of the Dan and Tabitha Pitney family of Cherry Valley are MWAH! performers.
They joined the Chicago-based group a year ago and have performed twice monthly during the school year since April.
“Everything we do here has to have a purpose and a message,” said Tabitha Pitney.
Twins Holly and Blake Pitney, 14, and Morgan “Moe” Pitney, 15, also have joined the group, which was started by director Ray Moffitt, a former social worker. Whitney McDermott, a freshman at Christian Life High School in Rockford, enjoys her newfound artistic outlet in the group.
The Pitney kids are home-schooled and much of their studies revolve around music and family togetherness, the second a trait MWAH! strongly supports.
“Over the years, I’ve looked for ways to reach young people and I discovered a long time ago the arts is one important way,” Moffitt said. “By combining drama, music and performing with some real issues, we’ve been able to do that.”
“I thought it was amazing because the issues were presented to everyone in a way they understand, through acting and music that we listen to,” student Lauren McElmeel said.
Principal Jay Larson shed a tear on more than one occasion as the school saluted several local heroes and students as part of the festivities.
Two of the more emotional songs MWAH! shared with the crowd were “Alyssa Lies,” a song by Jason Michael Carroll that is based on a young girl suffering abuse, and “Life Goes On,” written by Tabitha Pitney that deals with the loss of a loved one.
“It’s great to have fans, that is what keeps us energized,” said performer Chris Oechsel of Naperville. “But we do this to get the messages across. That is what this is all about.”
MWAH! troupe member Christian Rodriguez reacts with anger and despair following the breakup with his girlfriend in a reality-based
skit based on an abusive relationship. The setting is an all-school assembly at Stephen Mack Middle School in Rockton.
Photo: Christina N. Elbers of the Rockford Register Star
Morgan 'Moe' Pitney, 15, was joined by two siblings, twins Holly and Blake, age 14, as part of the MWAH! performance at
Stephen Mack Middle School. The Pitneys, who live in Cherry Valley, also are part of their family bluegrass band, Big Mo &
Shytown, described by 'Moe' as a "new generation of traditional bluegrass music." Performed during the assembly was an
emotional song
on loss, 'Life Goes On,' written by their mom, Tabitha Pitney.
Photo: Christina N. Elbers of the Rockford Register Star
Watching the assembly by the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe at Stephen Mack Middle
School are two sixth graders - Henry Reynolds (left) and Hayden Hough.
Photo: Christina N. Elbers of the Rockford Register Star