Teen theater group puts on show at Kerckhoff Hall

  CATHERINE JUN Cynthia Luong and
Romeo Lu perform "Condom Bootcamp," a skit about
HIV and AIDS prevention, in Kerckhoff Grand Salon Thursday. The
actors are part of Teen Theater, a group from Chinatown Service
Center.

By My Yen La
Daily Bruin Contributor

Putting condoms on bananas was one way a teen theater group
educated a Kerckhoff Hall audience about AIDS prevention Thursday
night.

Invited by Concerned Asian Pacific Islander’s For Student
Action, the theater group, comprised mostly of Los Angeles high
school students, performed three skits about the risks and
consequences of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

Providing a forum for teen-agers through theater and art helps
break down the stereotype that Asians are shy and taciturn, said
Lung San Louie, a third-year undeclared student. Additionally, he
said bringing youth to UCLA serves as an outreach mechanism.

“We live inside this bubble,” he said. “This
is a chance for the UCLA campus and the community to
interact.”

The event, titled “Crying Out Loud,” is one of
several programs CAPSA is holding in April to celebrate the Asian
and Pacific Islander American community, particularly its
youth.

CAPSA began showcasing the art work of Asian Pacific Islander
youth in the Kerckhoff Art Gallery earlier this month.

“We’re trying to focus on youth empowerment,”
Louie said. “It’s a chance for us to put out our words
and art work.”

Teen theater gives 17-year-old Vivian Tran a chance to express
her feelings.

“We represent ourselves,” Tran said.
“There’s not a lot of Asian acting teaching about AIDS
and HIV. We feel kind of unique.”

The performers are part of a 20-member teen theater group at the
Chinatown Service Center. They learn about sexually transmitted
diseases through a program at the center, and aim to educate youth
about sex through various skits.

“It’s to teach them about the choices they
have,” said Kathy Wong, a youth advocate at CSC.
“Because it’s from the youths themselves, it
sticks.”

One of the skits performed was written by a student, while the
other two were written by the CSC staff.

Without a backdrop, the performers used only bananas, condoms
and a wastebasket as their props. Angel wings, soldier uniforms and
devils’ horns were the only costumes worn.

In the first skit, an army lieutenant lectured on the dangers of
not using condoms and the means by which AIDS is contracted. Using
a banana, his assistants demonstrated the proper way to put on a
condom.

In the second skit, a teen struggled to decide whether he should
have sex. His conscience and desire, represented by an angel and a
devil, debated what choice to make.

The last skit showed the consequences of having unprotected sex.
While in the rest room, the main character discovers the damage to
his sexual organs, and the organ laments the pain caused by
sexually transmitted diseases.

Kathy Chung, 15, was one of the performers surprised by the
audience response.

“When I perform, it’s no big deal,” Chung
said, “But from what I hear from people, it is a big
deal.”

The student volunteers rehearse for two hours every week and
perform their skits at various conferences, high schools and
colleges, such as UCLA and California State University at Long
Beach.

Fourth-year psychology student Keo Chao said he found the
performance valuable to both the audience and the performers.

“I love the fact they were conscious and presented a
contemporary health issue,” he said. “I think we need
more outreach like that. What they have to show us is as meaningful
as what we have to show them.”

“In order to show diversity, we need more forums like
this,” Chao said.

For more information on CAPSA’s remaining two events, go
to www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/capsa