The Kenai Performers next week will debut “The Bullying Collection” and “Girl in the Mirror,” a group of stage performances that tackle social issues like cyberbullying, suicide and loneliness. The shows are targeted for a high school audience.
The series runs two weekends, Sept. 12-15 and Sept. 19-22, with 7 p.m. showings on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and a matinee 2 p.m. showing on Sundays. Tickets are $20, with Thursday showings discounted to $10.
“The Bullying Collection” is a set of 10 plays that each run 10 minutes. The Kenai Performers will be putting on four of them in a sequence directed by Jen Brighton. Those are “I Was There” by Sam Guzman, “Gray Area” by Ian McWethy, “Say Nothing” by C.R. Wright and “Frosh in the Pit” by Alan Haehnel.
Brighton on Wednesday said that art is about telling the truth and truth isn’t always fun or easy. The stories her actors are putting on are heavy —“they tell the truth of the experiences of so many young people.” The show, she said, presents those stories alongside resources for hope and support.
“Our cast tells these stories beautifully, and we hope you will listen,” she said.
According to a listing on playscripts.com, “the plays range from the tragic to the comedic, but they all work to reveal a new perspective on a common problem.”
“Girl in the Mirror,” per a listing on Origin Theatrical, is “a play about depression and suicide but also about how easily people can misunderstand each other with tragic results.” Terri Zopf-Schoessler is directing.
Young people, Zopf-Schoessler said, are still growing and developing social skills to navigate their lives. Social media can drive connection, but it can also exacerbate feelings of loneliness and depression.
“We want teens and their families to know there are people and resources who care about them and are willing to share their strategies for healthy lives,” she said.
The Kenai Performers describe the combined show as “PG-13” in terms of its content, referring to the Motion Picture Association of America’s rating system for movies. PG-13 means parents are “strongly cautioned,” as some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Kenai Performers organizers said last month that they’re working with mental health professionals and partnered with Central Peninsula Hospital to tackle the tough topics with care for their actors and intention and nuance for the audience.
For more information or to purchase tickets, find “Kenai Performers” on Facebook or visit kenaiperformers.org.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
