The Forty Hour Club continues to develop its Arts & Advocacy model "Chasing The New White Whale—Harpooning Addiction" by offering outreach programs, presentations, and performances aimed at bringing awareness to the issues of opiate addiction within the commercial fishing industry and other working communities.
Through direct engagement with communities hardest-hit by the opioid epidemic, we use theater and performance to engender a greater awareness of the epidemic and the underlying disease of addiction; create connection and engage the audience and community in a creative dialogue that propels constructive change; emphasize the need for more understanding and compassion; help reduce the stigma associated with addiction; and help initiate healing.
We often present performances in non-traditional “venues”, such as locations in and around working waterfronts, and often collaborate with and include members from local addiction & recovery groups and re-entry/restorative justice programs in the performances.
Our outreach programs can be presented in schools, community centers, libraries, outdoors on working waterfronts, and in and around other non-traditional venues in the community. We are always looking for partners to collaborate with, and would love to talk to you about the possibility of bringing a program to your community.
Through direct engagement with communities hardest-hit by the opioid epidemic, we use theater and performance to engender a greater awareness of the epidemic and the underlying disease of addiction; create connection and engage the audience and community in a creative dialogue that propels constructive change; emphasize the need for more understanding and compassion; help reduce the stigma associated with addiction; and help initiate healing.
We often present performances in non-traditional “venues”, such as locations in and around working waterfronts, and often collaborate with and include members from local addiction & recovery groups and re-entry/restorative justice programs in the performances.
Our outreach programs can be presented in schools, community centers, libraries, outdoors on working waterfronts, and in and around other non-traditional venues in the community. We are always looking for partners to collaborate with, and would love to talk to you about the possibility of bringing a program to your community.
Our Art & Advocacy Model In Action:
Watch a short documentary about a recent collaborative performance/outreach event in Belfast, Maine.
"Phantoms" Tell Their Stories On Stage in a Performance of "In Ahab's Head—Chasing Phantoms"
(Watch the video below).
Watch a short documentary about a recent collaborative performance/outreach event in Belfast, Maine.
"Phantoms" Tell Their Stories On Stage in a Performance of "In Ahab's Head—Chasing Phantoms"
(Watch the video below).
Past Outreach Events
"THE AHAB INSIDE ME"
(Sept. 2, 3, 4, 2022 — Augusta, Maine
Created by Michael Gorman and the Forty Hour Club
For this production, we worked closely with the Augusta Addiction/Recovery community, and cast members from the LINC Wellness & Recovery Center in the roles of "The Phantoms". This event also included community talk-backs with leaders from the Maine Recovery Community.
More...
(Sept. 2, 3, 4, 2022 — Augusta, Maine
Created by Michael Gorman and the Forty Hour Club
For this production, we worked closely with the Augusta Addiction/Recovery community, and cast members from the LINC Wellness & Recovery Center in the roles of "The Phantoms". This event also included community talk-backs with leaders from the Maine Recovery Community.
More...
"IN AHAB'S HEAD—CHASING PHANTOMS"
(Nov 1, 2019) — Belfast, Maine
Created by Michael Gorman and the Forty Hour Club
A performance in association with "What’s Art Got To Do With It?"— A 3-day conference on Art, Activism, and The Opioid Epidemic. Featuring R.A.W. Players (Restorative Art Works) & members of the Maine Coastal Regional Re-Entry Center/Restorative Justice Program. More...
(Nov 1, 2019) — Belfast, Maine
Created by Michael Gorman and the Forty Hour Club
A performance in association with "What’s Art Got To Do With It?"— A 3-day conference on Art, Activism, and The Opioid Epidemic. Featuring R.A.W. Players (Restorative Art Works) & members of the Maine Coastal Regional Re-Entry Center/Restorative Justice Program. More...
"THE HUNGRY GHOST"
(April 1, 2019) — Island of North Haven, Maine
Created by Michael Gorman and the Forty Hour Club
A community outreach event and performance/presentation at North Haven Community School & Waterman's Community Center. Island of North Haven, Maine. More...
(April 1, 2019) — Island of North Haven, Maine
Created by Michael Gorman and the Forty Hour Club
A community outreach event and performance/presentation at North Haven Community School & Waterman's Community Center. Island of North Haven, Maine. More...
"AMBERGRIS"— Mining the Net Yard for the Roots of Addiction And New Models of Sustainable Fishing. An Environmental Installation and Performance
(October 20, 2018) -- Portland, Maine
This installation & performance took place on the working waterfront at Portland's Fish Exchange/Net Yard, and explored the roots of the disease of addiction and the economic devastation being caused by the ongoing opiate epidemic within the commercial fishing community. More...
(October 20, 2018) -- Portland, Maine
This installation & performance took place on the working waterfront at Portland's Fish Exchange/Net Yard, and explored the roots of the disease of addiction and the economic devastation being caused by the ongoing opiate epidemic within the commercial fishing community. More...
For an event near you, please check our events page, sign up to receive our newsletter (below),
or contact us for more information.
We hope you can join us on The Chase!
or contact us for more information.
We hope you can join us on The Chase!