Bag Lady project to use skits to spread message

By Trisha Marczak (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, June 14, 2008

The Bag Lady Project is at it again. Its campaign to eliminate the use of plastic bags within the next two years is slowly catching on, but it still has a ways to go. In an effort to raise awareness, bag lady volunteers will be performing guerrilla theater acts at local businesses and outdoor venues.

“Forever, we (humans) have communicated and expressed ourselves through art and theater,” said project volunteer, Bert Whitcombe. “It’s a natural tradition.”

The unexpected performances will have a very simple message: Ditch the plastic.

But before the group launches its theatrical campaign, volunteers are hosting workshops to share ideas and create scripts.

The group will host three theater and social change workshops from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday, and June 17 and 19, at The Hotel Kaddatz in downtown Fergus Falls.

Bag ladies are encouraging community members to get in on the action — even if it’s not in the acting department.

“There are a lot of opportunities for a lot of different people,” said Haley Honeman, the workshop’s host.

Honeman, originally from Fergus Falls, will be traveling from the Twin Cities to host the events. All three sessions will give volunteers an opportunity to explore their acting skills and share ideas about the Bag Lady Project, Honeman said.

The group is also looking for individuals willing to pitch in with costume making and publicity.

Since June, community volunteers have been sewing shopping bags at various community locations, including churches and schools.

In keeping with the goal of eliminating grocery shopping bags in Fergus Falls by 2010, the Bag Lady Project has been looking into grants and communicating with local manufacturing and printing businesses about the possibility of producing and selling 150,000 cloth shopping bags.