AUGUSTA — The UMA Interactive Theater Project will showcase its original theater piece, “ART,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 24, at the Michael Klahr Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine.

The program, designed to perform in middle school classrooms to explore the themes of respect and accountability, will reach more than 700 middle school students this semester, according to a news release from the University of Maine at Augusta. Beginning with a 20-minute performance of the original play, the program will feature UMA students Kayla Bates, Talan Davis, Dray Emerson, Justin Hodgeman and Mars Shafer, and was created in partnership with both Cony and Gardiner middle schools.

The program becomes interactive as the main character turns to the audience and asks, “If you were in my shoes, what would you do?” Audience members then brainstorm solutions to the situations presented in the play as the actors stay in character. A discussion will follow the performance and actors will be on hand to share their experiences performing and interacting with the local school communities on the topics presented in the play.

UMA Interactive Theater is made possible by grants from the Maine Arts Commission, the Oak Grove School Foundation, and the UMA Presidential Mini Grant program. UMA Interactive Theater is under the direction of Adjunct Theater Professor Jeri Pitcher.

For more information, email Jeri Pitcher at jeri.pitcher@maine.edu.