As the six-cast ensemble of “Dreamland,” a play put on by the React theater group, rehearsed on March 25, it was clear the teens were having fun. As their characters discussed the threat of climate change, however, it was also evident they are concerned. 

When 13-year-old lead actress Rain Briscoe delivers the line, “I don’t want to be afraid,” the scene will likely strike a chord with many young viewers.  According to a 2021 study published in The Lancet, 59% of youth worldwide report being worried about the effects of climate change. 

Many of Briscoe’s peers are reported to experience “eco-anxiety,” a new term from the American Psychological Association that describes the emotions that come with “the seemingly irrevocable impact of climate change.”  

“Dreamland,” which opens April 5 at the Basile Theater at the Athenaeum, was written by React’s Artistic Director Georgeanna Smith Wade. But to help the story feel true, React’s team of middle and high school students helped research and provide input over a two-year process. The team also heard from climate scientists and activists. 

Playing Logan, the protagonist in “Dreamland,” has helped Briscoe find hope. In the play, Logan struggles with their mental health and anxiety-fueled dreams about the climate crisis. 

Throughout the two years they’ve worked to develop and produce the play, Briscoe and actor Lucy Ansell, 14, have used what they’ve learned to make changes in their own lives. Briscoe said she’s become more conscious about recycling; she’s also started composting and her family has stopped using cow’s milk, one gallon of which requires 144 gallons of water to produce. Ansell has spoken at the Statehouse to advocate for environmentalism. 

[If you’re looking for recycling locations for specific items, we know just the place.]

“It’s little steps, but it all helps,” Briscoe said.

Theater, React has found, is a good way to address tough issues. Beyond the climate crisis, they’ve explored the opioid crisis from the perspective of a high school student with “Love Over Dose,” first produced in February 2020. Another play, “The Bullying Show,” has been performed in several schools and the Children’s Museum since 2016. 

“Take a step into my classroom any day of the week,” Ansell said. “Any of those kids will offer deep perspectives on any issues.” 

Jim Poyser, a writer and the director of advancement at Earth Charter Indiana, was one of the community members who shared his experiences with the young actors of React. He has also used humor to approach serious issues through his collection of short plays titled “Climate Follies.” 

[Crispus Attucks High School theater program made the ultimate comeback.]

On March 20, Poyser presented “Climate Follies” to a sustainability class at Indiana University Indianapolis. In one play, “Pearly Recycled Gates,” St. Peter questions a man at the gates of heaven about his sustainability practices.

“I tend to be a goofy person and trying to fashion comedies seemed to be confluent with my personality,” Poyser said. “That’s one way to loosen up the response to it, because personally, I can be very frozen by my fear of the climate crisis.”

While learning about the impacts of climate change can be overwhelming, Wade said she’s seen the kids she works with become more hopeful about their future and the future of the planet. 

“One of the calls of our play is that even if you’re moving one grain of sand at a time, it’s making the pile smaller,” Wade said. “Even though it’s still bleak, we have choices in how we use our 24 hours in a day to use our gifts and passions to do what we can.”

Mirror Indy reporter Breanna Cooper covers arts and culture. Contact her at breanna.cooper@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X at @BreannaNCooper.