FARMINGTON – The Foothills Arts Center has invited the community to a presentation of its eighth annual Theater for Peace program at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, at the Old South Congregational Church, Main Street.

A group of 11 area high school student actors will perform their original piece, “Crazy for Oil.” They will then lead the audience in a discussion of the issues raised.

Theater for Peace is coordinated by Foothills Arts Center Director Anne Geller and directed by actor and playwright Jeri Pitcher of Readfield. Pitcher guides the actors in after-school workshops to develop the scenes through discussions, essay-writing and theater improvisation exercises.

The goal of the program is to engage the actors and their audiences in a search for concrete and proactive solutions to political and social issues.

“Crazy for Oil” is a thought-provoking piece presented with a judicious use of comedy and wit. The actors will explore how greed and the abuse of planet Earth have caused environmental problems in the seemingly pristine Western Maine woods and waters.

In addition to the community performance, the Theater for Peace troupe will present the piece and discussions in classrooms at area middle schools. Following the presentations, classroom teachers will tie the material to elements of their curriculum through writing exercises and other assignments.

Admission to the Jan. 27 performance is by donation, which is suggested at $6 a person.

This year’s Theater for Peace is part of a yearlong Foothills project called “Hurricane of Change: What’s Happening to Our Planet?” Adults and children of all ages are welcome to join in “Hurricane” workshops in music, theater and art and to perform in the spring multi-media show. The project is funded in part by the Maine Community Foundation, Horizon Foundation and the Maine Arts Commission.

The Foothills Arts Center is a community organization that brings together children and adults, artists and audiences of Western Maine to share the arts in an atmosphere that encourages learning, exploration and collaboration.

For more information about FAC or Theater for Peace, contact Anne Geller at 778-0448 or info@foothillsarts.org or visit www.foothillsarts.org.