Sex Signals educates Gunfighters

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Neil Samson
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  Gunfighters lined up in front of Mountain Home Air Force Base Theater April 9 for Sexual Assault Prevention and Response training, with anticipation and wondering if it was another long uncomfortable brief on a very serious topic.

However, this year, the base Sexual Assault Response Coordinator brought something different to the base to educate Airmen on sexual assault prevention and awareness.

"Sex Signals" is a 90-minute two-person show blending a unique combination of improvisational comedy, education and audience participation. The show provides a provocative, in-your-face look at issues surrounding dating, sex and date rape.

Catharsis Productions has performed the show more than 1,600 times at over 400 colleges throughout the country and dozens of military installations around the world. The main objective is to confront and educate audiences on challenging social issues in innovative and unexpected ways.

"We wanted to bring something to start on a positive note, with some humor about a serious subject because sexual assault briefs are uncomfortable subjects," said Dr. Cindi Drake, Sexual Assault and Response Coordinator for the 366th Fighter Wing. "It's a difficult and uncomfortable topic, but if you can reach the high-risk group of 17 to 28 year-olds through common language and humor, it helps them think about it more."

The actors, Amber Kelly and Chris Sanders, performed entertaining, down-to-earth and educational skits about dating and rape to include scenarios selected by the audience. All of the skits included situations Airmen might experience on-and off-base.

The audience members were given red "Stop" signs they were asked to hold up if they felt theactors' behavior was inappropriate or would make them feel harassed if they were in the same situation being depicted on stage.

Staff Sgt. Julie Warden, 366th Communications Squadron communication focal point technician, expected to listen to a Powerpoint briefing, but quickly discovered it wasn't a typical military briefing.

"It was comedic," Sergeant Warden said. "There are people in the audience who walk away and talk about it. I like how it was improvised comedy and took the questions and concerns of the audience and improvised it into their skits."

Kelly attributed the positive responses from Airmen to the fact that the program is presented in a fresh and unusual manner.

"I get a sense of satisfaction and motivation when I know I make a difference," she said.

The satisfaction was also felt from the director's view point.

"We're happy to be here," said Brian Golden, Sex Signals director. "We feel all branches of the armed forces have given us an extraordinary opportunity to do a good thing, we enjoy ourselves performing, and we teach a message that you can have culture change in the direction of respect."

Editor's note: Information from this article was collected from the Catharsis Productions website. For more information, visit http://www.catharsisproductions.com/

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