DEATH IN A DUMPSTER: THE MUSICAL.

Youth Project seeks to augment the role of art in the development of youth agency and decision-making.

November 2015- The Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island will play host to Death in a Dumpster: The Musical. This is a world premiere of an original musical based on a short play by noted Vancouver-based, anti-poverty activist and social historian Sheila Baxter that explores and contextualizes the root causes of homelessness.

Your generous support will go toward production costs, food & honourariums for our youth actors.

Vancouver has the highest rate of youth homelessness in Western Canada; it is estimated (Vancouver Foundation) that 700 street-involved youth are living in Vancouver at any one time, not including the hidden homeless who couch surf, live in unsafe conditions or bounce from home to home. Although every story is unique, there is a common theme of abuse, marginalization and/or ageing out of the foster-care system, disproportionally represented by aboriginal youth.

The script for Death in A Dumpster carries with it an air of authenticity that seeks to inform about some of these causes; for over a year the script has been in development through a collaborative process that has seen professional mentors assist street-involved youth, many of them First Nation, with dramaturgical guidance. Many of the characters and occurrences in Death in a Dumpster have been informed and at times lifted verbatim from the youths’ own experiences of street-involvement.

The theme of guidance is a heavy one; Access to Music Foundation, whose mandate is to provide BC’s youth with the tools to thrive through music education and creation, want Death in a Dumpster to be part of a long-range project to inspire positive choices in youth through art. The foundation’s CEO, Elka Yarlowe has seen the youth involved unilaterally express greater courage and direction since joining the production and believes “that is in part due to presenting creativity in a therapeutic context which will allow youth to transition away from the streets and thrive. Ourexpanded role places us firmly at a crucial intersection of arts education and social services”.

Access to Music Foundation is proud to present Death In a Dumpster: The Musical. The show will open on November 7th 2015. There will be performances on November 11th and 14th (8pm).