The Allied Community Theatre Project in Madison helped residents of the Allied Drive neighborhood learn acting and scriptwriting. Their first play debuted in December 2010, addressing issues the community struggled with like evictions and drug use. The opening scene featured a woman facing eviction by her landlord who questioned her kids' behavior. The community gathered to help prevent her eviction, not wanting her to end up homeless. In the end, she was allowed to stay. The second act centered on a young African American girl who felt only white people were successful. It featured scenes of historic successful African Americans like Jackie Robinson, Condoleezza Rice, and Marian Anderson to show her black people's achievements. The final message was "We're

1. Sponsored by the city of Madison, the Allied Community Theatre Project has helped Allied Drive residents learn how to be actors, actresses and scriptwriters.

2. This play debuted on Saturday, December 4. 2010 at the Boys and Girls Club on Jenewein Road. The play addressed several issues Allied Drive has struggled with in the past, including high eviction rates and drug use.

3. The play also addressed issues young adults tend to struggle with including the cruel natures of gossiping.

4. The opening scene of the play featured a woman who was facing eviction. Her landlord questioned the behavior of her kids.

5. The whole community gathers to help prevent a fellow Allied Drive resident from being evicted.

6. The almost evictee claims she and her kids will have nowhere to go if they are evicted.

7. The almost evictee is at a loss and doesn’t want to end up on the streets.

8. The community sticks together and doesn’t back down.

9. One angry landlord claims the neighborhood is filled with too many drugs and pushes to have the family evicted.

10. In the end, the family is allowed to stay. The cast members shared this piece of advice with the audience: “Remember where you come from.”

11. The second acts of the play centered on a young African American girl who felt the only successful people she recognized in her life were white.

12. Several scenes were dedicated to showcasing the strong nature of successful African Americans.

13. The young girl dreamt she was a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Winfrey introduced the girl to some of the most successful African Americans in history, including Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play Major League Baseball.

14. Condoleezza Rice, the first African American woman to become Secretary of State, was another featured guest on the Winfrey show.

15. Marian Anderson was one of the most celebrated opera singers of the 20 th century.

16. “Marian Anderson” tells the young girl that believing is achieving.

17. President Barack Obama was also featured. The final words said to the audience were, “We’re going to move forward, not out.”