Actors from 'The Wiz' at Center Stage add their voices to 'It Gets Better' campaign
Before the loss of promising violinist Tyler Clementi, whose recent suicide after a college roommate invaded his privacy caught the attention of the nation, a fresh effort was underway to provide encouragement to young gay people. The campaign, called "It Gets Better," was launched by columnist Dan Savage in the wake of another suicide, a 15-year-old who grew despondent over relentless bullying. Of course, that was but one such case of so many that occur every year. The toll from the hateful is vast.
This project, using a YouTube channel, features videos of men and women of all ages, places and backgrounds (celebreties are in the mix). They talk about their own experiences in the depths of teenage angst and their realization that it does, in fact, get better. One of these hope-filled message was just made here in Baltimore.
Last week, actors in the new production of "The Wiz" at Center Stage were given flip cameras and an invitation to film whatever they liked. Among the submissions this week was one by two members of that dynamic cast, Tym Byerz and MaShawn Morton, who decided to use the opportunity to create their own "It Gets Better" message. I thought you'd like to see it:
