GREENFIELD — A group of teens who have been rehearsing since November will share their work with an audience on Sunday, June 23, with “Mind Matters Most: A Mental Health Cabaret.”

The audience will be taken on a vaudeville-style journey through time with scenes addressing topics like healthy relationships, family dynamics and supporting loved ones in crisis. The performance, set for 7 p.m. at Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center, will be followed by a question-and-answer period with the cast and artistic mentors.

“We worked hard on it,” cast member Ren Waggenbeek said during rehearsals on Thursday evening. “I hope that [audience members] are entertained, and also more aware of issues related to how teens view the world and how teens view mental health and other issues that they might not think about.”

“Mind Matters Most” serves as a culmination of the work of teenagers involved in Valley Playwright Mentoring, a Piti Theatre Co. program where teens transform challenging experiences into theater productions and podcasts.

The show is co-directed by Piti Theatre Co-Artistic Director Jonathan Mirin, Teaching Artist Laura Josephs and the ensemble. Local podcast creator Vala Jenczyk, 16, joined the team this year as a scriptwriter.

“Teenagers these days are more and more savvy about mental health and wellness,” Mirin said. “This group is particularly savvy and  they’re also drawn to theater and expression, and it’s been  a joy seeing them take more and more control of the process.”

The performance is intended for ages 13 and up, given some mature themes. Admission is free, but reservations are recommended at ptco.org/vpm.

“Last year, the group decided to have gun violence be the focus after a number of them experienced a lockdown at Greenfield High,” Mirin said in a statement. “This year, they decided to dive into teen mental health and they’ve done a great job of making tough situations understandable, sympathetic and even finding lighter moments. Anyone who enjoys theater or wants a real-time snapshot of what young people are thinking about will get a lot from this production.”

Valley Playwright Mentoring is also accepting registrations from new participants for October 2024 for troupes in Greenfield, Holyoke and Shelburne Falls. The program, which offers stipends to actor-playwrights who complete the six-month mentorship, is made possible through the support of the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s YouthReach program, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, the Mount Pleasant Foundation, the Charles H. Hall Foundation, the Markham-Nathan Fund for Social Justice, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association and Swiss Harmony.

Anthony Cammmalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.