STUDY GUIDE

WHAT IS THE GRAY?

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Ready to read The GRAY? Contact us for a script!

The GRAY is a 20-minute theater script that tackles the issues of sexual assault, consent, bystander intervention, rape myths, trauma, and the road to justice. The script was inspired by interviews with college students, professors, Title IX coordinators, advocates, lawyers, police officers, psychologists, athletes, and health professionals. The goal of THE GRAY is to spark a dialogue about the topic of sexual violence and empower community members to affect change.

This play is designed to fit into any college environment, from a casual script reading in a classroom setting to a fully mounted production on a stage. We encourage schools to personalize elements of it in order to suit the needs and character of their unique community.

An important element of this project is the pairing of the script with a discussion about the content of the play. This digital toolkit offers ideas for leading a productive dialogue, with the goal of educating and brainstorming actionable solutions.

Please take a moment to check out our study guide slide deck, which includes terminology, a scene and character breakdown, and information about options for seeking justice, trauma-informed care, the history of Title IX and bystander intervention.

HOW DO I USE THIS SCRIPT?

READ IT ALOUD

This can be as simple as distributing the script to a group or class, assigning roles, and casually reading it aloud with no rehearsal.

STAGED READING

This lightly rehearsed option, with scripts in hand, can offer a bit more presentation value. Whether you incorporate movement or not is up to you. Feel free to mount a reading in a theatre, dorm lobby, quad, locker room. Be creative and accessible!

FULL PRODUCTION

If you have the resources, you might consider mounting a full-fledged production. When it comes to sets, props, costumes, and technological elements, the play can be produced simply or elaborately.

DISCUSS IT

The action within this play intentionally touches upon several questions that require additional unpacking, and because of this, we strongly encourage any reading or production to be paired with a discussion, a Q&A, or a moderated panel of experts.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE GRAY?

Bianca, a freshman dance major, wakes up naked in the dorm room of a friend - with no memory of the night before. With the help of her two best friends, Bianca struggles to navigate her trauma-affected memories, the biased expectations of her community, and imperfect options for justice, and ultimately finds strength and hope in an unexpected place.