Damian Torres-Botello, S.J., and Creighton juniors Haley Warren and Colleen Kilcoyne delivered a powerful and personal look at homelessness in the drama “Whispers from the Streets” on Tuesday night.
In collaboration with Creighton Students Union, the Creighton Center for Service and Justice (CCSJ), the Cortina Community, Campus Ministry and many students on campus, Torres-Botello performed his co-written play with the help of Warren and Kilcoyne.
According to Student News, “Whispers from the Streets” is a presentational play promoting social awareness on the issue of severe poverty and homelessness in America. The play is a culmination of a yearlong research project with subsequent research over a decade to capture the routine, trials and conflicts of the marginalized poor.
Student News goes on to report that with the help of CCSJ and Campus Ministry members, medical students and former and current homeless citizens of Omaha, this play has been revised to capture the lives of the local men and women combating lives of struggle and survival.
“This play started about 11 years ago in Kansas City through a Catholic Worker House,” Torres-Botello said. “Myself and a co-worker began interviewing homeless people and sharing their stories. This is the 32nd year of performance, and the play raises money for charities that help men and women experiencing homelessness or severe poverty.”
The play used a series of monologues, brief songs and even a game show to share stereotypes, real stories and facts about homelessness and poverty. Although it originated in Kansas City, about one half of the play featured stories unique to Omaha.
Torres-Botello enlisted the help of Creighton students who, through the CCSJ, volunteered at Siena/Francis House, a local homeless shelter, to get personal stories and quotes from men and women experiencing homelessness.
Following the play, students had time to reflect on important questions raised
about homelessness.
“I thought the play had a good balance of typical responses you get from people towards those experiencing homelessness, as well as from the homeless,” Arts & Sciences senior Kelly Sullivan said.
“I kept thinking about policy and what your options are when you’re homeless,” Arts & Sciences junior Michelle Villegas said. “There’s no concrete policy or government agency dedicated to eradicating poverty and homelessness. Nothing seems to address the root causes or issues. Once you’re there, there’s nothing for you, no solution, just charity.”
Colleen Kilcoyne holds a sign and reads testimony from a local homeless man