Financial Slavery: The College Debt Sentence (FringeNYC) NYC Reviews and Tickets

90%

(12 Reviews)

Positive

92%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Thought-provoking, Absorbing, Resonant, Relevant, Ambitious

About the Show

Part of FringeNYC: What would you sell for a college education? Follow Deric, Sandra and Emilia striving for the American Dream - from trading meal swipes for textbooks to sugardaddy.com. With tuition rising 428%, college students are drowning. Is our nation throwing us overboard?

Categories: Spoken Word/Poetry, FringeHIGH, Drama, Local. From Strength out of Shadows. Written by Alyea Pierce. Directed by Jennifer Little. Choreographed by Jennifer Little.

FROM THE ARTIST:
College students in America are drowning? With an average debt of $35,000 post bachelor degree, the question is -- is our country throwing our future overboard? "Financial Slavery" asks us, what are you willing to sacrifice for your higher education? Is $35,000 a manageable amount of money to owe when just starting life at 21?

Follow our students, as they share real stories from around the country; trading meal swipes for text book copies; contemplating sugar daddy.com as a tuition option; and hiding from debt collectors as their debt rises.

In this pivotal political time, when both the populace and the politicians are debating about how to fix an education system that leaves our young people $30,000 or more in debt; this piece's time is now. And the New York Fringe Festival's 20th Anniversay event recognizes that Today Is The Day!

This show utilizes live interaction with the audience through camera and media. In addition, there is a 40 minute post show workshop (including in the running time), during which the audience participates with the actors around the issue of student loan debt.

Member Reviews (12)

Agitprop, Must see, Thought-provoking, Resonant, Absorbing

See it if you are at all affected by student debt, want to hear the story from the mouths of those experiencing it, or know nothing about debt slavery

Don't see it if you are in the 1 to 3% of those having no problems paying for education or not concerned by possible debt crisis taking economy down again

Intelligent, Relevant, Thought-provoking, Original, Heartfelt

See it if enjoy relevant political and economic truth telling with heartfelt stories of debt slavery.

Don't see it if political theater that combines multimedia, acting, dance and extemporaneous speeches.

Ambitious, Edgy, Great writing, Great staging, Profound

See it if You enjoy theatre for social change. SOS is exploring the truth behind college debt in an enthralling and captivating performance.

Don't see it if ** Everyone should see this show ** It has a powerful message that everyone should hear

Absorbing, Great writing, Must see, Relevant, Thought-provoking

See it if You are in college or know anyone in college. Or if you are in debt or know anyone in debt. This show is for everyone and anyone.

Don't see it if You are sensitive when it comes to politics and talking about financial hardships.

Disappointing

See it if If you like spoken word.

Don't see it if You don't like amateur theatre.

Clever, Thought-provoking, Original, Entertaining, Great writing

See it if you're looking for a production that discusses important current issues in a serious but entertaining way.

Don't see it if you don't care about issues concerning the youth.

100

Ambitious, Absorbing, Clever, Entertaining, Funny

See it if Highly educating and humbling experience as a college student going into my own years of debt.

Don't see it if You are 100% sold on the idea that all you need to do is go to college and get a degree and everything will be alright.

100

Absorbing, Ambitious, Relevant, Resonant, Thought-provoking

See it if You have student debt, you don't have student debt, you know everything about student debt, you know nothing about student debt.

Don't see it if you don't care about the issues affecting millions of people in this country. JK. You should definitely see it.

Critic Reviews (1)

For a previous production

"Rarely do more straightforward, traditional forms of storytelling hit on such urgent issues with such acute honesty and unfettered personal insight as. The writer, Alyea Pierce, and the cast of vibrant young actors are the steel spinal cord of the show…Directors Jennifer Little and Michael Pinnix have managed to balance the story with an ample dose of statistics and facts, told to the audience directly by the players. At no time does the piece feel too fact-heavy or theatrically thin."
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