In an interview with Franklin HS Junior Aiden Sheppard, who plays Benjamin Saar, he details The Yellow Boat as a heartfelt play. He describes being able to tell Benjamin’s story as a privilege because, “[they] get to keep Benjamin’s spirit alive, through this show.” 

Sheppard also relates the story to modern events regarding the Trump Administration putting restrictions on global access to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), which is described by HIV.org as “medicine people at risk for HIV take to prevent getting HIV from sex or injection drug use.” Sheppard describes how people in the LGBTQ+ community, specifically gay/bisexual men, are at a higher risk of contracting HIV, and how taking away easy access to PrEP will end up disproportionately affecting LGBTQ+ people. He wants this show to serve as a reminder that HIV is still deadly, especially without preventative measures. 

While the show serves as a tragic reminder of the history of HIV, The METG High School Festival provides an amazing opportunity for young individuals to experience a unique form of theatre. “METG is important because it lets us communicate with other people from other schools and bond over our love for theatre,” said Sheppard. The METG High School festival also allows students to see many different types of theatre in a short amount of time. 

At Framingham High School (one of seven semifinal sites), six schools competed for two spots in the final round. Other schools at Framingham include Brookline HS, Masconomet HS, Tyngsborough HS, Quabbin Regional HS, and Framingham HS.