Damned Utopia Festival Show 2014 (AUDREY enters with boom box. Does GRAFFITI PETE dance routine.

As Rule !la"s out# E$%E&'(E cree!s )orward as i) to consume her. Instead PAPERGIR( emer*es )rom the )ra".) PAPERGIR E!t"a# E!t"a# Read all a$o%t it& Enti"e 'it( damned to hell& )hat*s "i+ht ,ol-s& .o%" 'it( $elon+s to Satan now& .o%*"e ,o"sa-en (o% hea" me/ AUDRE. 0ello/ E!'%se me& 1%t how 'an (o% stand the"e and sa( somethin+ li-e that/ )his is m( home& It*s whe"e I +"ew %p and went to s'hool& It*s whe"e m( ,amil( lives& I*ve neve" seen (o% $e,o"e& 2ho a"e (o% to damn %s/ PAPERGIR ittle +i"l3 I*m 4%st the messen+e"& A simple pape" +i"l& An inno'ent o$se"ve"& I 4%st "ead what*s on the pa+e& 5an (o% "ead hone(/ 1e'a%se I 67E "eadin+& And a''o"din+ to this (o% need to 'lean o%t (o%" ea"s $e'a%se (o%" 'it( is s'"eamin+# (The bac+ line one b" one writhes )orward. ,nce one demon starts hissin* their words# the" re!eat it o-er and o-er a*ain unless the" .oin a mini scene &) PA6 A 0opelessness& Illite"ate& A$%se& S)EF 7iolen'e& )hieves& Addi'ts& AS0 E. 8o pa"ents& Alone& Fail%"es& 9ESSE Dis"espe't,%l& Ille+al& 5o""%pt& R6SIE E Delin:%ent& )"ivial& ;ista-e& <ERE8 1

Animals& ia"s& 5"iminals& (The Un word demons come out as a trio.) S6FIA Uned%'ated& 9A08I SA Uns%''ess,%l& S)EP0A8IA Unemplo(ed& GE8ESIS D"opo%ts& Di"t(& Dimwits& .ESE8IA Ghetto& Poo"& Delin:%ents& <IA88A Immi+"ants& (Ends with a lon* hiss .) AS0 E. (%te!s )orward# onl" to be dra**ed bac+ b" the demons.) 2ith a d"opo%t "ate th"ee times the state ave"a+e and a hi+h s'hool +"ad%ation "ate o, less than =0 pe"'ent the state tooove" an enti"e dist"i't ,o" the ,i"st time in ;assa'h%setts histo"(3 essentiall( sa(in+ the 'it( isn*t 'ompetent to "%n its own s'hools& 9ESSE et %s p"a( ,o" those who se"ve in p%$li' sa,et(& And ,o" o%" ele'ted o,,i'ials3 that the( %nde"stand $ette" that the( m%st step awa( ,"om 'o""%ption& et %s p"a( to people who stand ,o" the t"%th3 who a"e not intimidated $( 'o""%ption& (%TEP/A$IA cree!s behind 0E%%E.) S)EP0A8IA 1oo# 9ESSE Ah#

(/e screams and is absorbed bac+ into the *rou!. The" lau*h h"stericall". ) <ERE8 2e have ,ailed the -ids& It*s not a sa,e 'it(& <ids 'an*t lea"n i, the( don*t ,eel sa,e& )ea'he"s 'an*t tea'h i, the( don*t ,eel sa,e& 9A08I SA .o%*"e tal-in+ shit "i+ht now& 2hat a"e (o% +onna do i, I let (o%" $lood ,low/ (0A/$I(%A shan+s the teacher 1ERE$# who is dra**ed bac+ into the *rou!. A)ter some demonic lau*hter# the demons slow to a )ree2e.) PAPERGIR .o% -now what I love most a$o%t "eadin+/ )he pi't%"es& oo- at (o%" 'it(& It $leeds& (The demons dis!erse into *rou!s o) three around the sta*e. Grou! 34 PA,(A# 1IA$$A# and YE%E$IA. Grou! 54 %TEP/A$IA# 1ERE$# GE$E%I%# %TEF Grou! 64 %,P/IA# A%/(EY# 0A7&I$E# Grou! 84 0A/$I(%A# R,%IE((E# 0E%%E (Grou! 3 rises# ta+es their )irst ima*e# and mo-es throu*h their real ima*es in slow motion# )ree2in* on the )inal ima*e. Grou! 5 rises and does the same. This !attern re!eats until all *rou!s ha-e mo-ed throu*h their ima*es. 9hen each *rou! is )ro2en in their )inal ima*e# the" all be*in to mo-e throu*h their se:uences at once until the ima*e ;machine< brea+s and each )alls exhausted on the *round. ) PAPERGIR See/ .o% aw"en'e -ids have it all w"on+& It*s s%pposed to loo- mo"e li-e this> (Demon 0A/$I(%A# %TEP/A$IA# %,P/IA# and 1IA$$A slither center sta*e. The" sna! into Girls Room =haracters.) A )he +i"ls "oom# 1E5<. 6h m( +od R%$(& )hat $"aid loo-s +ood on (o%" hai"# RU1. 3

)han-s# It was 9essi'a*s idea# ove (o% +%"l# 9ESSI5A R%$(3 (o% have a $"othe" named ;a!/ RU1. ((au*hs and suddenl" sto!s.) .eah& 2h(/ 9ESSI5A 6h& ;(& God& 5an I date him/ RU1. ((on* !ause.) 6F 56URSE# SA . Do (o% +i"ls -now what that means/ I, 9essi'a ma""ies ;a! then (o% two? (o%*ll $e A SIS)ERS# (All lau*h&) SA . Di$s maid o, hono"& 1E5<. .o% wish& (All lau*h.) SA . 2e*"e +oin+ to $e ,"iends ,o"eve"# 1E5<.3 RU1.3 9ESSI5A )otall(# (All )ree2e in !lace & PA,(A and 1ERE$ stand o!!osite each other swin*in* a .um! ro!e. A%/(EY and YE%E$IA enter .um!in* in it. A)ter some time and lau*hter A%/(EY )alls and cries. Eve"(one "%shes to he"&) GE8ESIS 6h hone(# It*s +oin+ to $e o-a(& .o%" enti"e ,amil( is he"e to s%ppo"t (o%&

PA6 A .es hone(& .o% hea" that/ 2e all love (o% deepl( and hope ,o" a :%i'- and speed( "e'ove"(& <ERE8 Siste" its me& .o%" 'onside"ate and emotionall( awa"e si$lin+& I too want (o% to -now (o% a"e loved and that we3 as a 'ohesive ,amil( %nit3 will "all( the 'omm%nit( to (o%" side in this time o, need and mino" ph(si'al pain& AS0 E. )han-s eve"($od(& 0e(3 'an we +o +et@ GE8ESIS 1anana splits/# I tho%+ht (o%*d neve" as-& A et*s +o# (All )ree2e holdin* hands. 0E%%E# YE%E$IA# 0A7&I$E ente"& YE%E$IA and 0A7&I$E la" down on the *round&) 9AA;I8E I love (o%3 I*m ta-in+ m( last $"eath now& .ESE8IA And I (o% m( love& I too will ta-e m( last $"eath alon+ with (o%& (0A7&I$E dies&) .ESE8IA As 0o"atio said to 0amlet3 BGood ni+ht sweet p"in'e& And ,li+hts o, an+els sin+ thee to th( "est#C (YE%E$IA dies. %TEF and R,%IE((E enter&) S)EF Da"lin+& I am d(in+& I love (o% dea"l(& R6SIE 5 E

I love (o% too dea"& S)EF Good $(e m( love& I die now& (%TEF writhes on the *round aw+wardl".) R6SIE E ((a"in* down )ace )irst as she does so4) 2ait# I want to die with (o%& )a-e me with (o% S)EF 8o da"lin+# ive on# (Dies.) R6SIE I 'an*t# (Dies.) (0E%%E enters&) 9ESSE And th%s is how all t"%e love ends& )o+ethe"& 0e"e lie ,o%" devoted love"s& )he( attended a well "espe'ted li$e"al a"ts 'olle+e @whe"e the( met ea'h othe" d%"in+ a pa"ti'%la"l( to%+h ,inals wee-& )he( $%ilt stead( 'a"ee"s in a sa,e id(lli' s%$%"$& )he( lived lon+ lives& 5ont"i$%ted "e+%la"l( to thei" 401-*s and "eti"ed at the "easona$le a+e o, DE& And now3 thei" lovin+ $ond sees them passin+ to+ethe"& A Amen& (All )ree2e.) PAPERGIR et*s see3 what else? (readin* )rom !a!er# the *ood !arts.) Bpatte"n o, dis"espe't,%l and intimidatin+ $ehavio"C o%'h# BS(stemwide %nde"pe",o"man'eC (%'-# B5h"oni' a$senteeism/C So (o%*ve made not +oin+ to s'hool into a spo"t# 2ell done# 2hat else do we have he"e? B5o""%ption? ,o"$iddin+? ,elonies s-("o'-et?C AUDRE. 6-a(# Eno%+h# E!'%se me3 $%t what %topia do (o% 'ome ,"om/ It*s eas( to 4%d+e ,"om the o%tside& 2hat eve" happened to seein+ the +ood in people/ ( To the statues&) 2h( don*t we tell o%" own sto"ies/ (Increasin*l" )rantic.) )his is our home& E

(YE%E$IA ste!s )orward ri*idl"&) .ESE8IA A ho%se is a st"%'t%"e $%ilt on solid +"o%nd& It p"ovides a "oo, ove" one*s head3 and i, (o%*"e l%'-(3 it ma( also p"ovide wa"mth and othe" ne'essities needed in o"de" to live 'om,o"ta$l(& A home is a pla'e that (o% 'on,ide in& .o% ta-e 'om,o"t in a""ivin+ and (o% a'he to "et%"n when (o% leave& A home s%pplies (o% with man( emotional atta'hments as well as sta$ilit( within (o%"sel,& S6FIA Passion is o%" d"ivin+ ,o"'e& 2e a"e passionate a$o%t o%" identit(3 o%" loved ones3 o%" "ep%tation3 o%" ed%'ation3 o%" 'it(3 and the man( talents we possess& 2e a"e passionate to see 'han+e& aw"en'e is a 'it( ,illed with wonde",%l people3 most o, them atinos3 $%t when othe" people hea" atinosFhispani's $ad ima+e"( 'omes %p> tho%+hts o, +%ns3 +hetto3 s%i'ide3 thieves& People li-e to hi+hli+ht the $ad in people3 $%t neve" the +ood thin+s3 I -now o, man( +ood people and +ood thin+s we do that othe" pla'es don*t& AS0 E. aw"en'e is ,%ll o, people who a"e so talented and have the potential to +et ,a" in li,e $%t a"en*t "e'o+niGed3 as the( sho%ld $e $e'a%se the ,o'%s is on all the ne+ative thin+s instead o, the positive& 2ithin o%" 'omm%nit( we a"e a'to"s3 and painte"s as well as dan'e"s3 and s'hola"s& 8ot mindin+ what othe"s thin-3 and doin+ eve"(thin+ in o%" powe" to do $ette" ,o" $oth o%"selves and ,o" o%" 'omm%nit(& S)EP0A8IA And ,o" o%" ,amilies> wo"-in+ to p%t ,ood on the ta$le& 2o"-in+ to p%t a "oo, ove" thei" heads& 2o"-in+ to have a pla'e in so'iet(& 2o"-in+ ,o" o%" ed%'ation& 2o"-in+ to ma-e a di,,e"en'e& 2o"-in+ ,o" s%''ess& 2o"-in+ to s%"vive& 6%" st"%++les have en'o%"a+ed %s all to st"ive ,o" mo"e and to not settle ,o" less& 2e a"e $lessed $e'a%se we +"ow %p -nowin+ how to $e ha"d wo"-e"s and we -now what it is to app"e'iate oppo"t%nities& 2e need to show eve"(one who said that we 'an*t3 that we 'an $e'a%se we have the powe" to 'han+e the wo"ld i, we t"ied& <nowled+e is powe" and -nowled+e is what we have& 9ESSE aw"en'e is the 'it( o, the mis%nde"stood& 2e a"e 4%d+ed $ased on no "eal "eason and those that a"e 4%d+in+ o%" 'it( a"e $asin+ it o,, o, spe'%lation and what the( thin- is t"%e& 1%t the"e is so m%'h mo"e to o%" 'it( than '"ime3 d"%+s3 and +ood@,o"@nothin+ -ids& 2e*"e ha"d wo"-e"s3 a"tists3 and sto"(telle"s& 2e*"e ima+inative& 2e have talent and pe"sonalit( waitin+ to $e e!p"essed& 1%t it*s ha"d to do this when no one is willin+ to ta-e the time to see what we have to o,,e"& I, the"e was an o%n'e o, hope ,"om the spe'tato"s3 the( 'o%ld see o%" potential& S6FIA 7

2e a"e poets3 painte"s3 s-et'h a"tists3 +"a,,iti a"tists3 sin+e"s3 dan'e"s3 a'to"s3 ed%'ato"s3 s'hola"s3 m%si'ians3 photo+"aphe"s3 $elieve"s3 d"eame"s3 people# 2e a"e "esilient& AUDRE. )he"e*s no s%'h thin+ as pe",e't we li-e to '"eate an ima+e o, what a pe",e't 'omm%nit( o" 'it( wo%ld $e li-e $%t that*s Bpe",e'tC pla'e doesn*t e!ist& Shake it Out Dance 9esse3 Ste,3 A%d"e( AS0 E. I am dete"mined S)EP0A8IA I am st"on+& S6FIA I am an a't"ess 9AA;I8E I am a siste" GE8ESIS I am a ,"iend <IA88A I am a da%+hte" .ESE8IA I am ,"om a pla'e li-e man( othe"s& 9A08I SA I am atina# 9ESSE I am p"o%d& <EIR. I am lost PA6 A RI5<. I am someone S)EF I am s'a""ed 8

<ERE8 I am m( own dive"sit( ADA 5I8D. I am wo"th it 50A8)A E I am "e$o"n S0AE8A ;A.E I8 I am a ,i+hte" A8A I am an a"tist PA6 A I am ,"om aw"en'e S)EF Eve"( ,law3 '%"ve3 o" pe",e'tion on m( $od( has a sto"( $ehind it )hese $attle wo%nds we"e he"e ,o" a "eason and the(*ve onl( made me st"on+e" )hese s'a"s sha"e a sto"( that*s hidden deep in m( s-in& .ESE8IA I am an open $oo-3 An open $oo- that (o% mi+ht ,ind Di,,i'%lt to head )he p"int is too small3 the ed+es A"e $ent3 and the spine is wo"n 6%t3 $%t that*s o-a(& I am some$od(3 not some $od(& <ERE8 ;( $od(3 m( 'anvas3 the onl( thin+ that has a sto"( $ehind it 1%t still3 no$od( %nde"stands& Pe",e'tion3 what eve"(one e!pe'ts3 $%t little do the( -now that the(*ve $een $linded& I am not pe",e't& 8o" will I eve" $e& I am 4%st li-e one o, (o%&

GE8ESIS I am lost3 ost in m( own mind3 the pla'e I 'all m( wo"ld& ;( wo"ld3 whe"e onl( I %nde"stand what*s +oin+ on ;is%nde"stood $( the del%sional h%man $ein+s that s%""o%nd me& 9A08I SA I am latina A woman ,%ll o, '%lt%"e And with an am$ition Fo" li,e %nli-e no othe" atinas wal- with A swin+ o, thei" hips An %n t%m$ao sweete" than aG%'a" <IA88A I am me GE8ESIS I am me .ESE8IA I am me AS0 E. I am me PA6 A I am me S)EF I am me 9ESSE I am me R6SIE E I am me <ERE8 I am me 9AA;I8E I am me <EIR.

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I am me S6FIA I am me S)EP0A8IA I am me 9A08I SA I am me S0AE8A I am me 5I8D. I am me 50A8)A I am me A8A I am me ;A.E I8 I am me AUDRE. .o% don*t -now me& Audrey Dance: BInte"l%de> All o, the i+htsC RICKY Equality. What does this word truly mean? Is it simply that we are the same? Or, does the word transform according to our preferences and societal norms? Over the years, this word has been redefined and expanded. Who should be included in its protection? Fifty years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke about this topic. One hundred years previous to him, an equally great man, President Abraham Lincoln, sought expansion of it. These men understood that the word equality should include ALL PEOPLE, and not just a select few. President Abraham Lincoln boldly opened the doors for redefining what had been a corrupt definition of the word equality when he issued the Emancipation Proclamation and he reminded us of the goals set forth in the Declaration of Independence in his famous Gettysburg Address: Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. These words rung in the ears of those living at that time, not as a simple lecture, but as a promise. A promise that the world they 11 E

lived in would be changed forever for the better. America was embroiled in civil war, and President Lincoln knew that looking at African Americans as lower than human was in violation of the key principles upon which this country was initially founded. I have a dream. These words continue to carry the same powerful impact it had when Dr. King repeated them to the throngs of people hanging on to his every word on the Washington mall. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a brilliant man not only because he was a college graduate but because he applied his hard sought education to that which he was passionate. He understood what living as a second class citizen felt like. He suffered first-hand the pain of racism, prejudice, and pre-judgment. Yet, bitterness was not an option. To Dr. King, the fight for equality is peaceful. You cannot fight for it with violence, because then the message of equality is obscured. Dr. King stood up for those who wanted an opportunity, skin and race aside, but he did it with a grace and patience that only God himself could have given him. But why are we here? Why am I a good candidate to speak on the topic of equality? Living in Lawrence, I have been shut down many times myself. I have experienced what it feels like to be underestimated because I came from The City of the Damned. City of the Damned? I prefer to look at it as the City of the damn proud! City of the damned determined! Yes, I am Latino. Soy Latino. And yes, I am part of the minority that will likely become the majority in the next presidential election. But I dont deserve anything but an equal chance to make it in this world. I have been offered drugs, I have been offered alcohol, but I choose to push those things aside because I know that those things bring me artificial happiness and will keep me from defending my opportunity. The word Equality has continued to change throughout history. More and more groups of people are being included in this definition. First was race. Then, women were given equal rights. But those things have nothing to do with what Hispanics can offer the world, and how we can contribute to make the world better. I look forward to the day that we are celebrated for our differences and the ways in which we can contribute. I am not Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I am not President Abraham Lincoln. I am solely an admirer and a listener of their teachings. What they worked for should not have died with them and their impact should continue to resonate. Hopefully this impact is powerful enough to touch you. Ricky steps back to Up Center, the rest of the ensemble joins him in a line Audrey Enters

AUDRE. Ima+ine& Ra(s o, s%n so $"i+ht the( wa"m (o%" so%l& Palm t"ees so tall the( ti'-le the s-(& A $"eeGe eve" so +entle it nea"l( 'a"esses (o% into a sl%m$e"& )he island o, m( o"i+in is $ea%t( %nmat'hed& i-e the +"eenest o, "ollin+ hills that st"et'h as ,a" as (o%" e(es 'an wande"& A s-( so $l%e it is a $lessin+ to $as- in its +lo"(& )his island is wh( I -new the"e m%st $e a God and he m%st $e a painte" $e'a%se man isn*t pe",e't $%t somehow pe",e'tion is eve"( o'ean "ipple that li'-s he" pe",e't sho"e& Still3 this was not eno%+h to -eep %s ,"om leavin+& 1o"n to dedi'ated pa"ents in a +"owin+l( %nsta$le Domini'an Rep%$li'3 m( ,i"st home was onl( a home ,o" a$o%t H and a hal, (ea"s $e,o"e the in'entive to immi+"ate to the land o, p"omise $e'ame too +"eat to 12

i+no"e& Destin( was 'allin+ and3 li-e othe" mem$e"s o, the Domini'an Diaspo"a who 'ame $e,o"e %s3 we answe"ed and we ,ollowed and we settled in none othe" than aw"en'e3 ;assa'h%setts& 0e"e we have lived eve" sin'e& 0e"e we have st"%++led3 end%"ed3 lea"ned3 ,ailed3 th"ived eve" sin'e& )his 'it( has wat'hed me +"ow and wat'hed me shine and ,oste"ed in me what it means to a'hieve despite 'i"'%mstan'es3 despite e!pe'tations3 and despite "ep%tation& And altho%+h we have moved3 we ,eel at home& )his means salons3 $a"$e"shops3 and $ode+as $om$a"din+ eve"( st"eet 'o"ne"& )his means a me"en+%e that $lasts ,"om an open window hits (o%" ea"d"%ms3 'o%"ses th"o%+h (o%" veins3 and t"avels to (o%" hips ,aste" than an( ,eve"& )his means a ,"iendl( B:%e lo :%eC ,"om (o%" +"eetin+ nei+h$o"s 4%st $e'a%se li,e is too sho"t not to tal- to st"an+e"s& )his means that the"e*ll $e a sho"ta+e o, "esta%"ants se"vin+ "i'e3 meat3 and $eans a$o%t when hell ,"eeGes ove"& )his means that altho%+h I am ete"nall( +"ate,%l ,o" the p"ivile+e to $e an Ame"i'an and the endless oppo"t%nities that 'ome with it3 I am still in'"edi$l( p"o%d o, m( he"ita+e& I am "eminded $( m( 'it( eve"( da( that I 'ame ,"om ,a" awa( as well as a lon+ wa(3 whi'h is wh( I 'an sa( we a"e not damned& St%'- $etween two '%lt%"es3 (es3 $%t not damned& 2ith a ,%t%"e this $"i+htI $"ea-in+ news> aw"en'e 8othin+ Sho"t o, 1lessed&

13