On Friday afternoon, a young boy named Benjamin embarked on a journey of love and heartbreak in the Gordon Wilson Lab Theatre. He repeated this journey on Saturday and Sunday, each time sailing to the sun in a yellow boat.

The department of theatre and dance presented a production of the play “The Yellow Boat” as part of its Children’s Theatre Series.

The play, written by David Saar, is based on the life of his son, Benjamin, and his struggle with hemophilia and AIDS.

Benjamin was born with hemophilia and died in 1987 at age eight of AIDS-related complications from a blood transfusion.

Bowling Green senior and director Jordan Gottke brought “The Yellow Boat” to Western.

“I read it four years ago when I was in the Governor’s Scholars Program and it reminded me of what’s important,” Gottke said.

When Bowling Green senior Emily Cooper heard the play was being produced, she wanted to be involved for a special reason.

“This project is really close to my heart because I had the experience of working at a camp for sick children and creating special bonds with the people there,” Cooper said.

Cooper played the role of Joy in the production and was in charge of publicity.

She also initiated the idea to donate part of the proceeds to the camp where she volunteered. The Center for Courageous Kids is a Scottsville camping facility for children with serious illnesses.

“I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to create a relationship between the camp and the theatre department,” Cooper said.

Gottke agreed.

“Emily asked how I would feel about a benefit and I immediately said ‘yes,’” Gottke said.

Despite the subject matter and some faculty apprehension, most of the audience and cast seemed to agree the play was appropriate for children including Winchester sophomore Jay Thomas, who played Benjamin.

“I think hope is the main theme, along with the love and the joy that every kid will find in this play,” Thomas said.