“The Homeless Dialogues” opens Friday

FEBRUARY 23, 2012
by Mackenzie Fanaro ’14, Contributing Writer

When students visit Furman for the first time, they typically remember the beauty of the campus, the charm of downtown Greenville or a conversation they had with a student or faculty member.

However, for Cortney McEniry, her most vivid memory was the homeless people she saw clustered along Poinsett Highway.

“I wanted to know why it’s [homelessness] there and nobody is talking about it,” said McEniry, a senior theatre arts major.

Four years later, McEniry is doing exactly that. She is the director of the play “The Homeless Dialogues” that opens Friday in the Theatre Playhouse. The play is based on the conversations she had with nine Furman students in the fall about their views of the homelessness as well as their interactions with homeless individuals. The actors, photography, dance and music create a theatrical production that brings the students’ words to life.

McEniry hopes that the play will help the audience overcome the separation that exists between their lives and those of the homeless. McEniry faced a similar struggle before she became involved with homeless ministries last summer.

“We are all experiencing the same frustration. Preventing action because of that is worse than engaging in the tension,” said McEniry.

“The Homeless Dialogues” runs 8 p.m., Friday and 3 and 8 p.m., Saturday. The suggested $5 donation will go to the Frank Street House, transitional housing for homeless individuals. Call 864-294-2125 for additional information.