A drug prevention forum, combined with a live performance of a play entitled “Keys to the Castle,” will be presented on Saturday, Nov. 18 starting at 3:30 p.m. at Abide in the Vine, located at 1277 Taylor Rd. in Owego, N.Y. The event is open to the public and admission is free; canned goods will be collected at the door for a local food pantry. Families are encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be served. Pictured are cast members during a recent rehearsal. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
A drug prevention forum, combined with a live performance of a drug prevention themed play entitled, “Keys to the Castle,” will be presented on Saturday, Nov. 18 starting at 3:30 p.m. at Abide in the Vine, located at 1277 Taylor Rd. in Owego, N.Y.
The event is open to the public and admission is free. In lieu of admission, guests who are able can donate a canned good, which will be collected at the door for a Tioga County food pantry.
Families are encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be served.
Participating organizations at the drug prevention forum include CASA-Trinity and the Addiction Center of Broome County.
Trinity-CASA of Tioga County is a non-profit substance abuse prevention agency that delivers programs and provides education which is geared toward prevention and/or reducing substance abuse in our county.
The Addiction Center of Broome County, the first substance abuse agency in this area provides outpatient treatment to individuals over 18 years of age suffering from chemical dependency, and in addition, supports families who are affected by alcoholism and addiction.
NARCAN® (naloxone HCl) training will be offered free at the Nov. 18 event.
The play, “Keys to the Castle,” was written by Tioga County resident Veronica Shedden, and features eight characters in seven brief scenes. Accompanied by music, the approximate thirty minute play tells the story of a young high school student named Melanie, who has a promising future, but is led astray by drug addiction. Play scenes focus on the struggles associated with Melanie’s drug addiction and ultimate overdose, and concludes with messages of hope and encouragement.
Featured in the play are lead actresses, Samantha Shedden and Rachel Klug. Amy Emmett-Vangorden, Anna Erickson and Veronica Shedden also take on roles, among others.
Inspired to write the play after a Tioga County teen lost her life in July from a drug overdose, Veronica shared, “This is a grassroots effort to spread awareness,” and further explained that the goal of the play is to break down the barriers of drug addiction.
The cast is reaching out to the public to share names of friends or family members who are battling addiction or who have lost their life to addiction, to be honored during a special tribute / memorial at the conclusion of the play.
A basket raffle will also be held, and tickets are $1 each and will be available for purchase through Nov. 11, with a drawing tentatively slated for Nov. 13. Proceeds will be used toward costs associated with the play.
For additional information, contact Veronica Shedden at (607) 223-4211 or find the group page, Keys to the Castle, on Facebook.
Be the first to comment on "Public invited to drug prevention forum and play in Owego"