Media Advisory: Hear the ardent words of adult learners through the voices of professional actors

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The autobiographic writing of the University at Buffalo’s Educational Opportunity Center students comes to life through the voices of professional actors at a staged reading of their stories and poetry this week in Buffalo’s Theater District.

When and Where: 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, in 710 Main Theatre, 710 Main St.

What: The human triumphs and challenges of adult students without access to traditional education will take on dramatic presentation through performances by professional Western New York actors reading from actual work done by the EOC students. The stories and poems were written by EOC students while taking part in the All Write! Adult Literacy Program.

Who: The actors take on the roles of actual EOC students, most of whom are 25 years or older. Students in the EOC academic programs, including many from the English as a Second Language program, have written about their struggles and successes as they earn high school equivalency diplomas and postsecondary certificates on their way to overcoming what for many have been serious disadvantages, either locally or after coming to Buffalo as refugees. EOC students are adults taking a second chance to reconnect to the education pipeline.  Many are parents juggling school, work and relationships.  

The performance is free and open to the public.

“We are excited to partner with our wonderful Western New York theater community to offer an event in which the life journeys of UB’s Educational Opportunity Center students are told in their own words,” says Julius Gregg Adams, EOC executive director. “Their persistence to create a better life for themselves and their families through education and training is truly inspirational.”

All Write! was created by Symphony Space Inc. in New York City to harness the power of creative writing to improve literacy and writing skills in adult learners. The All Write! Program unites professional staged readings of published and student-generated prose or poetry with teacher-guided reading and writing to build skills essential to achieving high school equivalency, and career and postsecondary readiness.

Examples of All Write! performances in other cities are available at http://www.symphonyspace.org/all-write.

The EOC introduced the All Write! Program to Western New York as part of its year-long 40th anniversary celebration providing education and training to Buffalo area adult learners.

Serving more than 1,900 students each year, UB’s Educational Opportunity Center has provided tuition-free education and training programs (e.g. High School Equivalency Examination, English as a Second Language, College Preparation, Allied Health and Computer Training) since 1973.