My name is Shannon Ivey.  I'm an actor, director, educator, and drama therapist in training.  I tell stories.  I help people tell their stories.  The good ones, the tough ones, and the important ones.  We all have a story to tell. 

I have been flirting with Drama Therapy since 2002.  I had moved to St. Louis after receiving an MFA in Acting from UNCG to work for a children's theatre company.  I was living "the dream" making theatre for children, and yet, I kept wondering if I could do more.  Not Broadway type of "more" but more for people who really need theatre.  I started looking up Drama Therapy programs, but going back to school was not in my cards at that time.  I needed to work...another 12 years.

I left that company and came back to teach and direct in North Carolina, until that lingering thought happened again, and so I avoided Drama Therapy and moved to Washington, D.C.  EIght months later, I auditioned for the Kennedy Center and landed a national tour and an Equity Card.  You'd think I'd be satiated, but no.   After tour, one of my teaching applications got a hit, and so off I went to teach full time at a college near the Outer Banks, NC.

Fast forward 7 years later, to 2014.  I am divorced with a four year old.  And it's time.  Time to put all of these experiences (both professional and personal) into a frame work...and that frame work is Drama Therapy.

Currently, I teach at South Carolina State University, an HBCU in Orangeburg, SC.   Due to lack of funding and support, traditional theatre doesn't work at the school.  Students are overly committed and usually work at night.  Our department is severely under supported and gets no operating budget to make theatre.  Yesterday, the university laid off 90 more staff members,  Both faculty members teach over full time loads with classes over 50.  So, with these restrictions, what do you make?  

I make Theatre of the Oppressed Forum Theatre.

About two years ago, I picked up a copy of Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed that I had lugged from job to job, but never read.  The font on the front was red and drippy like a bad horror film.  Too dark, I thought...until this one day, I brought it home with me.  As I read, I realized that I had to understand this work in order to make theatre at my current job.  I travelled to Memphis to drop of my child, and then flew to NYC to train as a Joker (facilitator) at TONYC in March of 2013.  I came back, on fire to do this work, and have lead a group of students and volunteers to make two performed pieces addressing social justice issues.  I have also lead Theatre of the Oppressed workshops at USC, SCTA Conference, and Omega Arts Festival.  Later this summer, if finances allow, I've been accepted to present my work at Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed Conference in Omaha, Nebraska.

When I get back, I am lead to make a piece of self relevatory theatre with women in my community.  I will continue to do Theatre of the Oppressed Forum Theatre work, hopefully getting some grant funding from South Carolina to create a new troupe in the area along with my student troupe.

Here's the cost breakdown:

Registration with Omega Theatre: $75

Omega Theatre 10 day training: $1,350

Lodging at Omega Theatre studio: $275

Train between RVA/Boston: $78

Materials:  $40

Conference Membership and Fees: $ 175

Airfare: $467

Lodging: $300

Total need?  $2,860

This is, if you can help.