A “must-see” for kids and parents navigating cyberbullying in the social media age, the anti-bullying play “Out of Bounds” makes its way to Lincoln on Nov. 6.
Developed at the University of Iowa, “Out of Bounds” is about a teen who finds courage to face a bullying situation and discovers new friendships along the way. Presented by the Lied Center for Performing Arts, the performance will be at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at North Star High School, 5801 N. 33rd. St.
Following the performance, “Out of Bounds” director Sean Lewis, playwright Jennifer Fawcett and UNL bullying expert Susan Swearer will lead a discussion with members of the community.
Tickets, at $18 for adults and $9 for students, are available at http://www.liedcenter.org, at the Lied Center Box Office, 301 N. 12th St., or by phone at 402-472-4747. Tickets to most Lied Center shows are available to students for 50 percent off.
“Out of Bounds” was developed in 2013 using several research methods, including interviews with students, administrators, teachers and parents; data and input from the Injury Prevention Research Center in the University of Iowa College of Public Health; and an analysis of relevant academic and news articles. The research was brought to life through a series of developmental workshops that focused on improvisation and imagination that helped to form the characters, stories and ideas that are in the play.
The play tells the story of Lea and Kailey, who have been friends for three years, and everything is fine until they meet the new girl, Amy. While Kailey likes her immediately, Lea thinks there is something strange about her. After a little online investigation, Lea discovers the real reason why Amy has switched schools mid-year and decides to tell everyone. Ultimately the bullying becomes so bad, Amy stops coming to class.
In addition to the Nov. 6 performance, the Lied Center has scheduled engagement opportunities for students and teachers to further facilitate a dialogue about cyberbullying and how to prevent and stop it. On Nov. 7, a special student matinee performance will take place at North Star for students and their teachers. On Nov. 8, a teacher workshop will be offered on the UNL campus where teachers can explore arts-based strategies for dealing with bullying in the classroom. Lewis and Fawcett will lead participants through drama exercises and games that can be adapted for different age groups and skill levels. The exercises offer opportunities to practice dealing with conflict, building empathy and engaging students in meaningful conversations about bullying that go beyond stereotypes and bullet points. Swearer, an internationally recognized bullying expert, will provide the keynote, “Creating Safe Spaces for Kids.” Teachers interested in participating in the workshop can contact Nancy Engen-Wedin at nengenwedin2@unl.edu.
These activities are made possible by a grant from the Woods Charitable Fund.
