'Illusive Images,' a performance for and about sick and grieving teens May 30, 2012

May 30, 2012, 7 p.m. and May 31, 2012, 11:30 a.m.

Providence Hospice of Seattle's Safe Crossings Program and The Northwest School are partnering to create, perform and offer "Illusive Images," a performance piece for and about sick and grieving children and teens.

The goal of the project is to bring awareness and education to the public and medical community about teens' experiences with illness, hospitalization and bereavement. Drama students from the Northwest School and director Laura Ferri created "Illusive Images" using written material gathered over the past few years from teens in hospitals in San Francisco and Boise, and from teens in grief support services in Seattle.

They have developed numerous vignettes based on these journal entries, poems, artwork, music and stories to turn into this 40-minute performance. For example one piece will be done from the perspective of the stuffed animals that accompany young patients to the hospital.

"The overall feel of the piece, especially in the hospital, is what it's like to be a teen in a hospital," said Northwest School director Laura Ferri. "Some of the writings are very angry. They're frustrated with how bored they are, longing for a life they don't have. Yet there is incredible hope.

You get the boredom, anger, frustration, hope and joy - along with the deep appreciation for families and what they'll do for the patients. And then there is a lot of humor. Initially people thought it would be so depressing, this dark, dark piece. But it's not that way."

The project was conceived by Jill Meyers, a counselor with the Safe Crossings child grief program at Providence Hospice of Seattle. Meyers, a former teacher at Northwest School, conceived of the project five years ago while working as a child life specialist at UCSF Children's Hospital in San Francisco and brought it to Seattle this year when she started working for Providence Hospice of Seattle.

The performance is free and open to the public, appropriate for ages 12 and above.

Official Website: http://www.providence.org/hospiceofseattle