A play, a love letter, a prevention tool.
We want to tackle the opioid crisis where it so often begins: with school-age youth.
Since 1999, the number of opioid related deaths in 15- to 24-year-olds has increased by 500%.
The opioid epidemic is a nationwide public health emergency.
We see the consequences of this crisis seeping into the lives of our students and our communities, and we are doing something about it.
Love Over Dose, an original play, is our response to the rise of the opioid crisis.
Watch the trailer ›
The Synopsis
Alex’s morning started the same as most mornings do: copying chemistry homework in the minutes leading up to first period. Alex’s afternoon? Not so much. Alex's sister, Riley, has just been hospitalized after an accidental opiate overdose.
Now, Alex is alone in the hospital bathroom with a bottle of Riley’s pills. Will she take them— numb the pain and follow in Riley’s footsteps, despite the fact that she knows better? Or, will she find a new path, one informed by memory of the past and hope for the future?
Real high school setting.
Real high school scenarios.
Developed by youth, for youth over the course of two years.
We spent months researching and investigating this problem, and how it affects Midwestern youth— from learning all the data, to interviewing folks with personal and professional experience with the crisis, and everything in between.
We have devised this story together with these youth, so they can be empowered to educate their peers about the realities of opiate addiction. They have brought these characters to life in order to help keep each other alive.
I learned more about drugs in that one hour than all the times we talked about it at school.
Student Audience Member
While we were thrilled to see this feedback from one of our first student audience members back in 2020, we can’t say that we were surprised by it. Why? Because we believe so strongly in the power of art and storytelling in educational settings, and because this show is by youth, for youth.
Alex and Riley’s story unfolds through flashbacks and vignettes, all set in real high school scenarios that resonate with our audiences because they were created by real high school students.
Upcoming Public
Performances
Bring Love Over Dose to your school.
Whether you come to us, or we come to you, performances of LOD are available for school audiences all year round.
While each show is accompanied by a Q&A session with our cast, staff, and partnering organizations, the discussion can continue in the classroom with the activities, discussion questions, and resources we provide in our education guide.
Are you a parent or educator interested in this show coming to your school?
Connect us with your school’s administrative team by emailing alethea@reactclasses.org.
Why do we care so much?
React has been producing theater with the youth of Indianapolis since 1976, but we began to focus on making theater for social change in 2009.
Since then, we have produced 30+ social issues shows, dealing with topics such as bullying, homophobia, and violence.
While LOD is one of many such shows React has produced over the years, it is particularly meaningful to us as an organization: read more about the personal story behind this play, and our Executive Director, Justin Wade, in the IndyStar.
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