Power to Pleasing: The Sex Lives of Teenage Girls. Conceived/Written/Performed by: Christa Ray, Liz Stanton, Bethany Jean Urban. Photo Credit: Pamela Traynor   Power to Pleasing is a theatrical performance/event staged in a ladies bathroom. Outrageous, real teen stories are performed in an intimate setting, with stunning light effects and a contemporary look at age-old issues that women as well as men, from teens to adults, can relate to. The audience not only watches the actors, but themselves and each other in the mirrors. That, and the crowded environment of audience members standing shoulder to shoulder and actors moving through them to and from the stalls, creates a visceral tension and excitement that intensifies the somatic experience of the raw, honest stories being shared. One audience member said, “It’s more of an event than theater.” The show first premiered at Naropa University, Boulder Colorado in February, 2005. Other performance runs include: August 21-27, 2005 Boulder International Fringe Festival April, 2006 University of Colorado for theater department and Farrand Hall August, 2006 Boulder International Fringe Festival September, 2006 and 2007 University of Colorado, Farrand Hall December, 2006 Dairy Center for the Arts, Boulder, CO May 10-20, 2007 Dairy Center for the Arts, Boulder, CO May 16-24, 2008 Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival August, 2008 Boulder International Fringe Festival September, 2008 University of Colorado, Farrand Hall February, 2009 Denison University, Theater Department and Shorney Hall January 29-30, 2010 Denison University “A true example of how performance art can be truly meaningful to society” Writers, actors and producers Christa Ray, Liz Stanton and Bethany Jean Urban are graduates of Naropa University’s 2006 MFA Class. Several works were developed during Tectonic Theater Project’s residency in the program. Under the guidance of Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Moisés Kaufman and Leigh Fondakowski, head writer of The Laramie Project, Power to Pleasing was one of the plays to emerge. “Edgy, brave, speaking what needs to be spoken” Power to Pleasing: The Sex Lives of Teenage Girls appeared as part of the 2005 and 2006 Boulder International Fringe Festival and was selected “Pick of the Fringe” both years. All shows are followed by a talk-back with the artists. Shows are often arranged for special audiences such as ‘All Teens,’ ‘All Male,’ ‘Parent/Child.’ “I was moved for days after the show” Post-show talk-backs for these audiences focus on issues and experiences pertaining to these special audiences. The talk-back circles involve community dialogue and the sharing of reactions to the show, as well as personal stories told by audience members. Because of the highly charged nature of the performance, the talk-back offers audience members a chance to process their emotional reactions and decompress, before leaving the theater.   A really necessary piece of theatre. I’m just glad that there are people out there prepared to tackle issues and do so with wit, insight and ingenuity. And even better, they openly encourage discussion about their...