WSU's Signpost article

Abby Payne wrote an article in Weber State's newspaper The Signpost about Wit. Here is a link to check it out. "Wit" to teach empathy through cancer patient's journey

The Experiment.

Sally Shigley and Dr. Lauren Fowler are conducting an experiment about Empathy and are using Wit. I contacted them to learn more about the study to inform the audience and the readers of the blog.

Shigley wrote: "Dr. Fowler and I met two years ago to talk about the relationship between empathy and literature.  We were specifically interested in whether or not reading literature affected the way pre medical students and pre health professional students in general viewed the caregiver/patient relationship.  We used both self report and physiological measures to determine whether their perceptions of empathy matched their bodies' response.  We are continuing our research by looking at data from practicing physicians and comparing the reactions of people seeing a live show to those of people watching the movie adaptation or reading the play."

Dr. Fowler didn't want to give too much away about their research in case anyone participating were to read the blog, she didn't want it to affect the data. Dr. Fowler did want me to mention that they are currently seeking doctors, nurses, and physician assistants to participate in the study. If people participate, they will purchase their ticket to the show, and then their name is also entered in a drawing for an ipad mini (about a 1 in 15 chance of getting one!).  If you can and would like to participate in this study contact Dr. Lauren Fowler at  lfowler@weber.edu and she can get you set up with tickets, etc.

I want to thank both Sally Shigley and Lauren Fowler for getting back to me about their study. Fowler also remarked that after their study was done she would share more information about their research and findings. Their study ends on November 13th, keep your eyes peeled!

The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown

"Look at that. A little allegory of the soul. No matter where it hides, God will find it." -E.M. Ashford (Wit)

Publicity Photo Sneak Peek!

Watch a preview.

Bald.

Here is a sneak peek picture of Shawnee Johnson (Vivian Bearing) after she shaved her head!

Come see Wit!

The Jargon

We got a visit from Merilee Rohan, who works at the on campus doctor's office. She has experience is medical oncology, and taught us about the logistics of the medical side of things. She told us many things ranging from how a code blue would work to the organization of an oncology branch. The actors learned how to properly perform CPR.

How Cells Divide and How Chemotherapy Works

Welcome!

I am Kaylee Orr, the dramaturg for Weber State University's production of W;t by Margaret Edson. I will be posting about the process as well as posting more information and videos about the subjects in the play. More is to come!