One-Man Show Gives Voice to Youth Issues

Actor, comedian, speaker and author John Morello performed his one-man, critically acclaimed show, “Dirt,” at Westminster Sept. 26 before students and faculty in Werner Centennial Center. The show explores the challenges and decisions that young people can face every day and gets at the heart of issues related to drugs, bullying and self esteem. Through portrayal of multiple characters, John gives “voice to those who sometimes feel as though they are not heard and reassurance to those who sometimes feel as though they are not understood.”

 

John introduced the show by saying: “I am going to tell you a simple tale through characters. I believe in the power of theater and live performance.” He went on to share the story through the journey of characters named Jason, David/Pi, Melissa and Hank.

 

“I hope this show connected with you,” he said at the end of the performance. “What we say and do matters. Some succeed in the amazing circumstances they are born into and others in spite of those circumstances.”

 

Born in Detroit and raised in Boston, John has been onstage for 15 years as an actor and comedian. A one-time high-school dropout, he earned a B.A. in theatre arts and has appeared in numerous productions throughout New England. Best known for creating “Dirt,” in 2012, he published its accompanying graphic novel. He says “Dirt” is not an acronym but just a provocative name he selected for the show in 2002. He has performed the show before audiences as large as 5,000 people and as small as 8 to 10 people. He lives in Worcester, Mass.