For more information on the
Drama for Healthy Living Program,
please contact:

Margot Parrott
Drama for Healthy Living
Program Coordinator
704-973-2839

This program is supported by

The Longleaf Fund

What teachers say about
Drama for Healthy Living:

"It was incredibly moving and very, very real. The production did a great job of showing the more insidious side of substance abuse; that addiction slips in slowly-almost anonymously-until it has you (as we saw today) by the throat. There was nothing preachy or simple about the Ice Cream Man and that is what made it so powerful."
- John A. Basilice CMS Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator

“I think this program is one of the best ways to inform students. It gives students a chance to see how problems seem in real life situations as opposed to reading from textbooks.”

“The students were spellbound.”

“The students thought the play was a very real situation. This was a very good play to see just before we started the drug unit ... An eye opener. Made them reconsider usage.”

“Right on target.”

“I think that this semester’s performance was outstanding- the best I have seen in 5 years! The workshops are great and a great opportunity for the students to get involved.”

“Excellent presentation! You guys got this group talking and discussing and thinking. Awesome!”

Drama For Healthy Living Program

Research shows that using drama in schools is an effective method for transferring information to students in a way they can easily understand and remember. Children's Theatre of Charlotte has the unique ability to use dramatic productions to grab and hold students’ attention and present situations where characters must choose how they deal with difficult social issues.

Through the Drama for Healthy Living Program, Alcohol & Substance Abuse Prevention is presented to all middle schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system. The goal of this important program is to create positive change in students at a critical point in their lives. During the season, we anticipate serving approximately 10,000 CMS students through the Drama for Healthy Living Program. We know from listening to countless students and teachers that this program reaches young people in a way a simple class discussion or lecture never could.

Alcohol and substance abuse continue to be tough issues for young people; behavior patterns formed at this age can have an impact on students for the rest of their lives – for good or bad. The first part of our program for 8th graders is the presentation of a play called The Ice Cream Man, which dramatically, yet realistically, illustrates the negative consequences of making unhealthy choices.

A free public performance of The Ice Cream Man will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 6, in the Wachovia Playhouse at ImaginOn. Seating is limited. CLICK HERE to make a reservation.

After seeing The Ice Cream Man, students participate in an intense 60-minute follow-up workshop. Led by trained actor/facilitators, the workshops are designed to assist students as they examine their emotional reactions to the material in the play.

Strategies for resisting peer pressure and other potentially negative influences are discussed; students with existing problems can also speak to the actor/facilitators confidentially, to seek appropriate support if they think they have a problem.

Our Alcohol & Substance Abuse Prevention program is made possible in part through the generous support of the Mecklenburg County ABC Board.