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Listen Up Movie of Teen Musical to be Screened at NVU and VTC

February 24, 2022

Screenings Begin March 1, Followed by Talkback Session March 8

Northern Vermont University and Vermont Technical College invite the Vermont community to campus for screenings of Kingdom County Production’s Listen Up Movie in March. This is the filmed version of the original Listen Up musical based on the lives of Vermont teens that toured live across Vermont during summer 2021. NVU Professor Isaac Eddy co-directed the theater productions.

“I am thrilled that NVU and VTC are screening the Listen Up Movie on their campuses and giving teachers the opportunity to listen to what young people are thinking, feeling, and needing as they step into their college years,” said Listen Up Producer Bess O’Brien.

Three Vermont State College campuses will screen the film. The college communities and the public are invited to attend. COVID-19 health and safety protocols are in place.

  • Vermont Technical College: Tuesday, March 1, 7:15 p.m. in the Campus Center in Randolph
  • Northern Vermont University’s Johnson Campus: Thursday, March 3 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Dibden Theater
  • Northern Vermont University’s Lyndon Campus: Thursday, March 3 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Moore Community Room

Please see NorthernVermont.edu/ListenUp for more information.

NVU will also host a Talkback Session with producer Bess O’Brien, co-directors Eddy and Sarah Lowry, teenagers involved in the production, and NVU Education professor Hannah Miller, who is building high school curriculum around the themes presented in the film. This session will take place Tuesday, March 8 at 11:30 a.m. in the Dibden Theater on the Johnson campus and livestreamed in the Moore Community Room on the Lyndon campus. A Zoom link to participate virtually will be posted on NorthernVermont.edu/ListenUp closer to the event.

Listen Up is an original musical inspired, created, and performed by Vermont teens. The show goes to the heart of current youth issues, including mental health, resilience, racial justice, sexual identity, friendship, love, family, community, social justice, and current issues that young people are grappling with, including the global pandemic, climate change, and the future of Vermont for young people.

Listen Up Teen cast member Amar Vargas said, “We just want to inspire adults to learn more about the stuff that teens are going through that they might not think about. Listen Up brings these issues into the light.”

The Listen Up Project began its creative process in the winter of 2019. Throughout that year, producer Bess O’Brien and her team of artists and educators talked with more than 800 teens across the state about issues important to them. O’Brien then assembled a production team and engaged with teen writers and songwriters to produce a script based on true stories from young people living in Vermont. Auditions were scheduled and 16 Vermont teens were cast in the show, along with youth crew and band members.

All are welcome to attend the screenings and the Talkback session on the NVU Johnson and Lyndon campuses. However, please see NVU’s COVID guidelines at NorthernVermont.edu/COVID19 before coming to campus and Vermont Technical College’s at VTC.edu/covid.

For more information on the project as well as paid streaming options, see ListenUpVT.org.