But Ayala, 16, who is in her third year with the group, was wrong.
“Chain Reaction,” which opens Thursday at the Fulton Opera House and runs through Sunday, is very much about the present day.
“A lot of people don’t realize slavery still exists,” says Ayala. “But there are 27 million people all across the world who are enslaved. We want to bring awareness to that.”
“And there are anywhere from 100,000 to 500,000 enslaved people right here in the United States,” adds Adele Ulrich, who wrote, co-directed and choreographed “Chain Reaction,” and will be appearing with the ensemble of 41 actors. “People have become disposable.”
Slavery encompasses everything from kids forced to work in rug shops in India or Pakistan, to girls who are kidnapped and forced into the sex trade, to men and women working in sweat shops who owe their employers so much money, they can’t leave.
In past years, Youtheatre, which draws teens from a wide variety of backgrounds, has focused on subjects more closely related to kids’ lives, like classroom bullies and the risks of HIV.
But this year, one of the members of the group saw a television show about slavery featuring a girl about her age. It struck a chord and she suggested that be the topic of this year’s production.
The production is being done with the support of Free The Slaves (www.freetheslaves.net), a national organization that focuses on slavery throughout the world. The group gave Youtheatre access to all its research materials.
While the show is free, donations will be accepted. The cast chose Free the Slaves as the recipient of the proceeds.
“Chain Reaction” features a number of narratives by enslaved people from a variety of countries. It also includes several songs, filled with both sadness and hope.
Eric Umble, 15, a sophomore at Lancaster Mennonite High School, wrote much of the music.
“You have to think about who you are writing it for and the pain and suffering they go through,” he says. “While it’s harder to connect to their experiences, the music came naturally for me.”
The actors went through some pretty intense theater exercises to help them better understand the experience of a slave.
“I was locked in a closet and it was hot and dark and I started to freak out,” Ayala recalls. “I got weak and I started to cry, But it made me put my whole heart into the play.”
While Youtheatre’s goal is to shine a light on an issue like slavery, it serves a deeper purpose as well.
It gives kids who are often written off by society or see too many limitations in their lives, a chance to shine.
“It brought me out of my shyness. It’s given me freedom of expression,” says Nina Boyer, 17, who is in her fifth year with Youtheatre. “I’m more in touch with my human feelings. I can enjoy life more.
“It’s something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.”
Many of the teens involved in this year’s Youtheatre are living in tough situations, according to co-director Barry Kornhauser. Some have abusive parents, some have severe emotional problems, some have been in trouble with the law.
One boy, who Kornhauser says has amazing acting talents, is on his own and homeless. Another girl was going to be kicked out for breaking the rules but begged to be let back in.
“She said that this was the only thing keeping her alive,” Kornhauser says. “Some of these kids have horrible stories, but they are great support for each other.“
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“Chain Reaction” will be performed Thursday at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; Friday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m. For more information, call the Fulton box office at 397-7425. 