The latter two shows are award-winning educational theater pieces developed by the highly acclaimed Illusion Theater of Minneapolis. Like all Imagination vehicles, the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program is easily accessible and entertaining. Each show provides students with valuable skills to help them distinguish between normal, appropriate affection and abuse. The idea is to throw out the myths about sexual abuse and to give children and adolescents the means to protect themselves and seek help should abuse occur. Ensemble member Heather Graff has seen the effect of her roll in helping children come forward.
Kids really identify with the actors.
In one of our shows, I play a little girl whose grandfather touches her in a sexual way. Sometimes they tell me that the same thing happened to them. This pivotal part of the Imagination program has resulted in over 250 first-time disclosures of child sexual abuse. It's all about feeling good about creative choices and choosing your imagination to solve problems in your life. We believe that if you exercise that imagination muscle, you will be able to use it to solve problems for yourself and not make the traditional choices that might get you into trouble.