For Megan Becker, art is more than just … well, art.
Becker is artistic director of Drybones Artist Collective, a non-profit with the mission to inspire hope and engage audiences through art to make positive changes within their communities. Becker also teaches musical theater at Shoreline Community College and the confluence of the two jobs is creating an opportunity to bring a strong message to the campus and the community.
“’Costly Desires’ is a touring show about human trafficking that we are currently producing,” Becker said. The show is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Jan. 10-11, at the Shoreline Community College Theater, 16101 Greenwood Ave. N. Shoreline, WA, 98133. Tickets are $15 general admission, $12 for groups of six or more and $10 for students and faculty. Tickets are available at the door or at costlydesiresplay.brownpapertickets.com.
“Drybones donates 25 percent of all the money we make off of the show’s ticket sales to organizations that are helping to end human trafficking here in Seattle,” Becker said.
The multimedia performance piece incorporates theater, dance and original music. “Costly Desires” tells the story of Maria and Yen, two young women pulled into the world of sex trafficking through circumstances beyond their control, and John, a married man whose sexual addiction threatens his family, his career, and his way of life.
“I am very excited at the prospect of sharing this show with the students and faculty here at Shoreline,” Becker said. “I really love this school and community and think there would be an interest in this topic and in this show. This is a very important issue and educating people about it is a step toward ending the problem.”
In addition to the performance, Becker is working with a group called REST that works to assist victims of sex trafficking and support people who are involved in the sex trade in the Seattle area in finding ways out. “At our very first show we produced last November here in Seattle, we featured two organizations who work with victims,” Becker said. “After each of the shows at Shoreline, we’ll have panel discussions about human trafficking.”