You are not alone.

A guest post by Brian Farrey, author of With or Without You.

By now, I hope you’ve heard about the suicide of Jamey Rodemeyer. I say “hope” because it’s a story that isn’t going to get a lot of mainstream attention and I think it’s a story that everyone needs to hear. It’s made the rounds on my RSS feed but then, I’m prone to subscribe to feeds that would naturally cover this. So often, I get bombarded with news stories that I feel everyone MUST know about just because I see them constantly, only to learn that many people don’t know what’s happening.

And maybe you’ve also heard the story that after Jamey’s funeral, his sister went to a dance at school where the bullies in Jamey’s life chanted that they were glad he’s dead. Remember when you were told to just ignore a bully and they’d go away? That’s a lie. It’s always been a lie. Today, they bully you even when you’re dead.

I’ve got my own stories of being bullied. In grade school, a wealthy classmate offered to buy a brand new BMX bike for anyone who would beat me up. In junior high, I got tossed around a bit. High school was more about psychological abuse. Let’s face it: when your last name is Farrey, you’ve pretty much got a bullseye on your forehead 24/7.

When I think of how prevalent bullying was in my life, it seems insurmountable. Like NOTHING could ever be done to stop it. And there are elements in this country who don’t think it’s possible to stop, or insist it’s a “natural part of growing up,” or have no interest in trying. (Yes, Representative Bachmann, I’m looking at you.) But it’s only in recent years that I’ve begun to believe we CAN do something. We SHOULD do something.

I’d like to suggest some fairly small/easy things you can do that could make all the difference to someone who’s being bullied:

• Donate to the Trevor Project. This is a great hotline dedicated to preventing suicide among LGBT youth. At our wedding last year, my husband and I did a dollar dance where we contributed the money to the Trevor Project. I say that not to boast but to show that I’m getting behind when I say “please donate to the Trevor Project.”

• If you’re in the Twin Cities, check out a performance of MEAN, an original drama about bullying and it’s increasingly tragic consequences. Produced by the Youth Performance Company, it traces the story of three students being tormented based on physical appearance, perceived sexual orientation, and religion.

• Donate a copy of the recently released Dear Bully to your local library. 70 authors recount stories of their own abuses growing up in an attempt to reach out to anyone in a similar predicament today.

• Follow Caleb Laieski on Twitter. He’s a 16-year-old guy from Arizona who is lobbying President Obama to to appoint a youth advisor to work with the administration on the everyday emotional and complex issues that LGBT youth face. You can sign Caleb’s petition here. I’ve got tons of respect for Caleb and what he’s trying to do.

I’ll be honest: I don’t know how I got through it. I know I had a close knit group of friends in high school who were a large part of helping me achieve some mental stability. But before that? I have no clue. I just know that as long as I can do SOMETHING to reach out, I’m going to.

I am, of course, not just talking about LGBT youth. But I can speak from experience that maybe the greatest moment in any gay man’s life is that moment of recognition, knowing conclusively that you’re not alone. It’s liberating. That’s what I want any teen considering suicide to realize.

Never pass up a chance to tell someone who’s being bullied that they’re not alone. Never stop reaching out. We can do something. And we will.

MEAN a second time around

This show is so close to my heart for so many different reasons. The first time I read the script, I beamed and flushed at the familiarity, and at times the script literally quoted me from an interview that happened randomly during YPC's Cattle Call in 2010, by Rita Cannon. On being teased and put down because of more than a few physical traits: "I had to learn to accept what people were saying about me and just deal with it. I turned them into truths about myself, like if they said your legs are crooked, or your hair is too long and ugly" I would apologize for my appearance, thinking that it was my fault that I looked the way I did. My first impression was Sweet! My story got in! Oh wow! This one did too? Huh, this scene too....Wow, this is the email I sent Rita, that one night...

Then I started to really pay attention to the actors involved in the scenes that came from my interview with the playwright, and the level of honesty that they put into their performance. I watched them play out my memories like some twisted little nightmare, and I couldn't put my finger on how I exactly felt about the situation. Sure this is "My" story, but then again......not really. It's everyone's story. It relates to so many people, to so many kids. I used to think that the 4th grade through 8th grade was absolute HELL for me...and now I know that it wasn't just me, it was (and is) something that relates to too many. One kid calls gives me a nickname in the 4th grade (for all I know he was the only one who actually called me the name), and it sticks with me at the age of 26. I'm now happily married to my amazing husband, who tells me I'm beautiful all the time.......and I still think of that nickname. Drool Face.

So why on earth would I want to return to a show like this? And so soon? Didn't we just perform this in February? Why on earth would I come back to a script as personal as this? Not to spoil anything, a particular scene (performed by the amazing Maren Carter) just kills me every time I see it, because I'm so embarrassed by what I allowed to happen to me, when i was a kid. Perhaps I even encouraged it, because I wanted attention. Some girl who was mean to me asked me to alter my appearance, and I did, just to see what would happen. Besides the fact that I'll never be able to let these stories go, being able to speak out through a dramatic musical this directly...Who would ever pass up that opportunity? I thank everyone who was interviewed for MEAN, for being brave enough to share your stories with people who either can't or won't.

Mean--Again

We are in rehearsals for Mean. No this is not a flashback--we are doing Mean again!!

Some might ask why--didn't you just do that show?! And the answer is yes we did just do that show--BUT we had such a tremendous response that we knew we needed to bring it back this season. Bullying is such a HUGE issue facing our schools and communities.

Over 160,000 kids are victims of being bullied each year and no longer feel safe in their own schools. And though we have sent the message that "it gets better"--I know this community can do so much more.

Its time for all of us to raise our voices...its time for all of us to push up our sleeve and get busy making a change...its time for all of us to stand up and demand that that all kids no matter who they are...no matter where they go to school have the RIGHT to be safe.

Be a part of making this change happen in your own school or community.

Hope to see you at Mean October 5-October 23 2011.

BE BOLD...Be Broadway!!

Congrats to Seth Numrich and Stephen Anthony-both YPC alums and both are in the Tony award winning "WarHorse". Wow!!! How amazing is that?!!! I can't imagine how fun this must be for both of these very talented and hard- working actors. I'm sure like many young people involved at YPC they probably joked around and talked what it would be like when they both would be on Broadway--but it really really did happen for them. But what makes this so AMAZING is that they both are in the same show.

I hope that I will have the opportunity to see them both. Either way--we salute this grand accomplishment!! We are here to "Shout- Out" to the universe all of your "wonder" and 'light'--"SHINE-ON!!" "SHINE-ON"!!!!!

We Are Blessed!

Written by Jill Jensen Coghlan, YPC Board Vice-President

Today, I watched the ceremony at Ground Zero and the Pentagon.  I reflected on the last 10 years of suffering and loss that many endured and cannot imagine the hole in many hearts that will never be filled.  In the midst of it all was the Survivor Tree.  It made me realized that We are Blessed!  We are blessed with freedom and opportunity to explore and challenge ourselves and each other.

We are Blessed at Youth Performance Company because we have a vision and a future that includes impacting young people and showing them their potential.  I am blessed because I had the tremendous opportunity to work with an awesome Co-chair and lead Cattle Call 2011.  People opened up their hearts and their wallets because they shared the vision of YPC.  YPC is a place where young artists can be bold, explore their strengths, try new things, challenge themselves, and express themselves without ridicule or shame.  It is a home to many, many kids where they can let the struggles of their days go and open their hearts, minds, and voices and create awesome, beautiful music, dance, and theatre.  We are blessed to have Jacie Knight and her vision to guide us in all that we do.  I am Blessed to be a part of an impactful board that can implement that vision and make it happen. 

Today, I looked at all that we are accomplishing at Youth Performance Company.  We are recognized in the community for providing quality theatre.  We have won Two Ivey Awards for the impactful work that we do.  We have had recognition from Mayor R.T. Rybak and from Rock the Cause.  We have some tremendous work yet to come.  With the premiere of The Boys Show on Monday, May 16^th at the Riverview Theatre FREE for all to attend at 5pm, the last in our series of plays this year-Schoolhouse Rock Live-May 5-22^nd, and all of the Summer Classes that provide us the opportunity to impact young lives.  Today, YPC announced the 23rd season for 2010-2011.  Twenty-three Seasons!!  We are bringing back “MEAN” by popular demand and continuing to take on challenging topics that impact today’s youth.  We are Blessed that we can be a part of this wonderful organization.

Remember:

     “Every great dream begins with a dreamer.  Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world” -Harriet Tubman

Raise your voice for YPC and join us!

Make it a Great Day!

     

Life Without a Garage by YPC Board Member, Kari Xiong

Life without a Garage

This morning, I was feeling rushed… frustrated that I couldn’t find car keys, frustrated trying to organize my work bag, frustrated thinking about the high volume of work waiting for me: planning committee meetings, phone messages, emails begging for thorough, intellectual responses, etc., etc. Finally, I’m ready, and set to go.

I stepped outside, truly pleased to hear birds chirping and feeling the sun rays pouring down. Oh, how quickly did I become frustrated again! I shook my head with irritation as I threw my material possessions from my hands into my car and began scrapping a thick layer of ice from the windshield, rear window, and all 4-door windows.  I am positive the neighbors heard every single scrape as I scrapped up and down with fierce aggression... I can't believe I am still scrapping ice off of my car in the month of April! At that moment, my thought: I wish I had a garage. I pretended as if having a garage for my car would solve all of my problems. If only had this, if only I had that…

It took only a minute or so to complete the scrapping process, and soon enough, I was on my way. As a matter of fact, I completely forgotten about my dramatic morning ordeal within minutes and just
recalled it as I began this blog post.

The truth is drama can be funny; having a garage can make morning routines run more smoothly, and wishing for it all is not uncommon. We all do, well maybe, most of us.

YPC can use more volunteers, a bigger space, more Facebook friends, more money, a GARAGE! We’re open to improvements, but, what we have now is still pretty, darn good when we have staff who cares, board members who give, and talent that leaves the audience sitting in amazement.

Sometimes, when we don’t have the luxury of a garage, we learn to live without one. We learn to think differently, to be creative… to be resilient.  Our flaws, our weakness, and our “lack of” become our
strength, our skills, and our gift.

It’s true…I’ll be okay without a garage.

How did you spend "Rock the Cause for Youth Performance Company" Day??

by Kris Nugent, Board President

It was a very special day  with Mayor Rybak declaring, April 8th, "Rock the Cause for YPC" day in Minneapolis.  So how did you spend it?? 

Here are some ideas:

Glamming up for Glitterball Tonight at the Grainbelt Brewery - watching amazing bands, DJ's, and some of our very own young artists singing 60's favorites, ALL TO BENEFIT YPC!!!  We are so grateful to RTC for this amazing event!!

Taking a moment to pause, step back, and remember what makes YPC special:  brave, bold, original work that gives young artists a voice in our community that we don't often hear. 

Inviting friends and colleagues, who haven't seen a show yet and been hooked on all things YPC, to:
watch us on TPT Minnesota Originals, April 21st
come to our Spring Show SchoolHouse Rock Live where you can sing along on May 14th!!!
come to our film premier for The Boy Show on Monday, May 16th at the Riverview Theater FREE, 5pm Doors

Thinking back to your favorite YPC production moment...whether it be a song, a young artist, or a moment of a show that filled you with a feeling of pride, awe, and amazement at the clever/smart productions YPC does.   A couple of mine are:  Shelby and Sydney singing "Mama Didn't Raise No Fool" from But My Soul is Rested.  And watching the cast of The Boy Show perform the "Feelings" skit with the stuffed monkeys (you HAVE to see this!!!).  I could go on and on, there are sooooo many!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
No one else does work like this!!!  We need to celebrate it, appreciate it and do whatever we can to spread the word about it!!  So what will you do today and everyday, to celebrate all that Youth Performance Company provides to you, young artists, and to our community??  I ask all parents, board, staff, YAC and friends of YPC to engage others today who may not know who we are, and help us spread the word about this amazing place.  Thank you!

The Whole Picture

Yesterday we had a spring clean at YPC.

We sent out e-mails to encourage people to come in and help. And I know some folks were not available--because they were not on Spring Break or they were out of town, or had plans. But for those who responded and came in and rolled up their sleeves --I have a tremendous amount of gratitude for their willingness to give their time to help YPC.

They have demonstrated by their actions that they really understand the "whole " picture.

And what I mean by that is an organization like YPC cannot exist without the help of their community. We are a small but very BIG theatre. We do great things--but those great things cannot happen without the support of those who are involved in our community. Everybody wants to be in a show--but that amazing show cannot happen unless certain--sometimes mundane...sometime stuff that nobody really wants to do... happens.

We need our space to be clean and organized so we know where stuff is when we need it. We need thank you's written to people who have given time or finicial support, so they know how grateful we are for their support. We need people to usher, do box office, stuff envelopes, give rides, be in shows like Cattle Call or other Corporate shows, iron customes, paint sets, transport stuff to and fro, take out garbage, clean out the refridgerator, bring in food to share, volunteer to help facilitate our fundraising events, serve on our Board of Directors . And that is only a partial list of the help we need-- to be who and what we are!

It takes a villiage , a tribe of folks who believe in what we do enough that they will pull up their sleeves and do what they can, when they can so that YPC can thrive and continue to serve young artists and young audiences.

Sooo--for every person who has heeded the calls of help --I thank you!! I thank you for seeing the "whole picture"! I thank you for understanding how important ALL tasks at hand help create the amazing company we are!

A special "shout-out" to Harry, Sadie, Maren, Stephanie, Sulia, Tobias, Lizzie (hopefully I did not forget anybody) who came in and rolled up their sleeves and did a terrific job of getting stuff cleaned up, put back, put away, smelly laundry...clean.

It was a necessary job--not as fun as coming in and doing a rehearsal--but equally if not more important. I have much gratitude for their helping hands.

At the end of a very long and productive day--we got done all that we needed to do.

And the "whole picture" --looks a whole lot better!

Stand up, speak out, be free

Politics aside, I can’t help but think about all of the recent news coverage of young people across the globe passionately speaking up for freedom and their rights. Visions of youth in Egypt and Libya fill my mind. When I think about what their realm of experience must be like in a place where all are not treated equally or where one can’t dress as they choose, support the political movement of their choice and express their opinions and views without fear I think young people in the United States are so fortunate.

Would young people in the US agree? Well hopefully they do but I think they would tell us it isn’t as simple as we would like to think. Certainly on the more macro level teens living in a city like ours in Minneapolis don’t have to face the challenges like their peers in Cairo or Tripoli today but they face the universal challenge of growing up, figuring out who they are going to be while navigating the complex route of friendships, peer pressures and changes that come with coming of age. As I watched YPC’s recent performance of Mean I thought about the young characters that were not free from criticism, bullying and attack for expressing their freedoms. If we can’t let our teens express their choice of religion, sexuality or just accept each other for who we are regardless of our shape, size or fashion sense then maybe there are more similarities between those in Cairo and Libya and those down the street.

Why do teens come to YPC? They come to YPC to raise their voices. They come to find a place where they can express themselves and are free to stand up for what they believe in. They come to share their lessons with others. They come to find others who regardless of background, religion or race share something with them.

Why should you come to YPC? You should come to YPC to recognize the talents and stories of these young people who are speaking up. You should come to YPC to support a place that gives young people the stage to express themselves.

So whether you attend the performances of Mean this weekend, attend the Glitterball Rock the Cause event on April 8th, come to a fun filled evening at the annual Cattle Call event April 10th, or the Creating the Future fundraising breakfast, I hope you raise your voice in support of YPC, in support of young people in our community, in support of the right for each of us to be who we are and to enjoy the freedoms we have.

I hope to see you at YPC!

-Jodi Lebow, YPC Board Member

Empowerment? by board member Joan

Last summer, I had the honor of interviewing Rita Cannon, the YPC alum who wrote the screenplay for MEAN (Watch Video). At the time she had no idea what she was going to write, and was very nervous about the challenge ahead of her. Jacie Knight (Founder/Artistic Director) had recently asked her to help out with the development of the play. Jacie had some ideas, but she specifically sought out Rita because she wanted someone younger and closer to the realities of bullying. To Rita, “help out” meant, you know, give her opinion, brainstorm, co-write some scenes maybe. But after their first meeting, Rita said she realized that “help” really meant “write the play.” Before she knew it, her name was on the season’s brochure: MEAN. Written by Rita Cannon. She knew she couldn’t back out now. But the cool thing was that even though Rita had never taken on such an enormous, important project before, she knew she could do it… because Jacie knew she could do it.

That is the magic of YPC: Empowering youth to reach farther than they ever thought they could go. I am proud to serve on the board of an organization that truly makes a difference, not just for the audience, but for the kids who are involved in YPC who grow into confident, talented, creative leaders in our community.

Appreciating Your Own Voice

Recently, I lost my voice due to laryngitis and have not been able to verbally communicate with anyone unless absolutely necessary for the past three days. I've grown accustomed to always having notecards or little notebooks at my side with a pen, so that I don't have to talk too much. I keep a page saved that says "Sorry! I have laryngitis and am not supposed to talk too much :( " at the register. It's been interesting at work, because for the most part people just look at me (and my oh-so-special made-up sign language) and smile kindly. They make sure to keep their eyes up at me the whole transaction, so that they can read my facial expressions and I'm so appreciative of that. Then there are people who don't bother to look up, so unless I absolutely have to talk in order to get a customer through the checkout, they take my silence as being rude and unfriendly, and leave in a bad mood. I wasn't even aware until now, but did you know that it's possible to shop for items, check out at the counter and then leave without ever making eye contact with the cashier? If those people had looked up, they would see me waving goodbye or mouthing the word 'sorry'. One customer was especially rude to me, so I had to talk a little and that made him even angrier. When he left, the customer behind him had a look on his face. I thought that he was upset with me too, but instead he said "You didn't deserve to be treated like that. You know that, right? Thank you for working today, even though you aren't well." If he had kept that thought to himself, I probably would've felt awful and useless and sad for the rest of the day. I loved him so much for talking and then felt bad right away, because I've witnessed situations like the one I had just been in, and made the decision to be quiet so that I wouldn't make the person feel even worse. Because the latter customer decided to say just a few simple words to me, I was in a good mood all day. Don't ever doubt the thought's going on in your head, if they involve worry, concern, love, or goodwill for your fellow man.

Comparing the past to present ....

The other day I was thinking back to my good old grade school, junior high and high school days. Really they were not that good but I made it through and moved on like everyone else did! I am now asking YOU to go back to those days, 12 years, 15, 22,28,35,40,54 and even 60 years. It was a journey to say the least. I did not only learn and become educated but I mastered the challenge of being social. Learning to work with many unique social situations. I was overweight, had horrid buck teeth, didn't like to take showers and had greasy hair until my 10th grade. Then I did that blossom thing but at that point the damage was done. It took me … oh lets say another 15 years to gain the confidence. I would love to tell you that what only hurts us makes us stronger, it can but at what price. I still feel unattractive, damage done.

I am in a musical called "Mean" with a theater group called Youth Performance Company. The show follows 3 story lines that are currently at the forefront of todays media. There is one story about a slightly overweight girl (slightly meaning MAYBE 20-30 pounds over the BMI!) She is consistently being belittled for her weight, despite her kind heart and natural beauty. She soon learns about a web page with her name and cropped photos of herself and she wants to give up. Next is a group of 3 boys, one of them feels threatened by the others "perceived" sexuality. We watch as they banter back and forth trying to prove who each other is or is not. The last story is about a Muslim girl, innocent and just trying to fit in but still believe and respect her religion and choices. She hears questions like "Is that really a dog food sandwich?" We watch her ultimate frustration of just trying to be herself. At the end of each story that intertwine between each other we are shown ways, outlets and abilities to solve the bullying they are dealing with. As we view the set we see names. some you may know, others just a name that died from the pain. This is a powerful show that will leave you with so much thought and remembrance. If you go back to those years, you will remember things you may have wanted to forget. I dealt with bullying but watching this real story, written from real accounts, I see it is so much more intense. Most of us did not have cell phones to spread slam, FB was not around, the hate was more innocent … or was it? In my HS years there were 3 suicides, do we really know why they did that? Kids left schools all the times, rumors would go around like, I heard she was pregnant or he wanted a better school for sports. Why did so many alumni go missing? Put these puzzle pieces together, maybe some or for a real reason but I suspect many are simply from bullying. The difference today? This generation is more egotistical and tells us everything via media because we all know it is easier to write something then to say it to their face.

I am currently in this show with 3 of my teens. I have been in the mix of intense conversation about this issue and feel blessed. I am the proud parent of a son that is gay, a daughter dealing with acne and another son who is bullied for appearing gay. They are empowered by the one's that love them and they walk forward everyday with their head held high because they are who they are.

Christina

How to change lives

The title of this post is what I put in the subject line of all the emails, notes, and messages I sent to people like Ellen DeGeneres, Oprah, and many news companies. I'm hoping that everyone will do everything in their power to get this show out there. It is truly going to be amazing. I attached the letter that I have been sending out to people so everyone has a chance to read it and kind of see my point of view.

My name is Scarlett Thompson, and I wanted to tell you about something that should be broad-casted as far as possible. I am currently in a play called "Mean". It is all about the kind of bullying that's going on right now and the hardships of it in high school. The show is with a theater company called "Youth Performance Company". This theater is probably the only place that people should be in February. The performance follows the story lines of three different kids. One who is tormented about her appearance, one who is bullied about her religion and another who is tormented daily about his perceived sexual preference. This show is not just another 'oh, bullying is bad, try to stop it, goodbye' performance. Absolutely not. The actors in this show have ALL been through some kind of bullying in their life. Some are being teased every day, right now. Almost every night at rehearsal someone is crying because they just have to relive or watch this HORRIBLE stuff that happens in everyone’s lives!

I KNOW that this show could change lives. It already has. For me, as the youngest person in the cast (most of them are in high school, and I’m 12), I am just shocked at the kind of stuff that’s been going on that I didn't even know about! These actors are opening up part of their lives to us, and I think EVERYONE deserves to see this. So PLEASE help us spread the word about this. Thank you.

Scarlett

Making Progress? - Thoughts from Shauna, a board member

I was watching Oprah today, and the show was about all ages of people and their "coming out" stories.  Oprah was checking in with where these people were today in their lives with their parents (or others who didn’t accept them being gay).  I didn't see the show in its entirety, but the parts that I did see moved me to tears because it helped me realize that we are making progress with civil rights for gay people.  Maybe an even more powerful thought is that we are making progress in the area of removing our visions for people's  lives (including our children's) and allowing everyone to live into their full potential without judgment.

The best part of the show for me was the follow up from a prince who lives in India.  His mother stopped speaking to him after he told her that he was gay.  The last time that he was on Oprah (a few years ago), it was illegal to commit homosexual acts in India.  These acts were punishable by up to 10 years in prison.  Due to Oprah's power and ability to spotlight important issues around the world, combined with the prince being true to himself and not compromising who he is as a human being, the prince updated that today homosexual acts are no longer illegal in India.  This was an awe filled moment for me because it helped me remember that we are getting better every day as a worldwide family unit and allowing each other to live as we are truly intended to live.

This Oprah episode made me think about the upcoming “Mean” performance at YPC.  "Mean" has the courage to deal with tough emotional issues that need attention in our community.  I applaud what the actors are personally giving and experiencing as this production comes to its final days of rehearsal.  I know that this show will changes lives, and I am grateful to be in a place to see it happen.  One day at a time, one country at a time, one person at a time, we will remove behaviors of persecution and ill-will and live in a space of understanding and equality for everyone.  We are making progress every minute…can you feel it?

Close to Heart

It really wasn't until I started to work on promoting this show that I realized truely how much this show means to me. Talking to people at school, some interested and some scoffing at the idea of a musical about bullying, it has shown me that people really don't understand the severety and seriousness that bullying creates. Teenagers are oblivious to their surroundings, their actions, their friends. I want them to see the truth, the harsh effects that simple words can create. Everything is taken very lightly in high school, things are thrown out, words are spoken without any thought of the repercussions of their actions. I want them to start to care.
Passion. To stop bullying. To think before you act. To let people be knowledgable about bullying and it's deadly effects.
This show has the power to change lives, the power to give new perspective. We need to take the chance we have with MEAN to try and change lives. I am going to use my story, my character, my own life to change even one persons life. I never want anyone to have to go through what I experienced with bullying. This show is dear to my heart. Close to my heart, my story and my life. This is my passion and I am going to use it to change a life.

Who Forgets and Who Holds On?

There are things from my childhood that I'll always remember, like when my Mom was waiting for me at the door in our yellow kitchen and I was deciding whether or not to take another slice of a pear that was on the counter. I remember that I was the height of the counter and the pear was green and yellow. When I told her that story, she said she didn't remember that ever happening. There are some things that I know I'll always remember (for whatever reason) while others will forget, because they didn't see the memory from my angle. I'm sure that if I were to approach the actual person that part of the "Hannah" character is based off of (from MEAN) and told her I didn't appreciate her trying to yank off my nails in junior high, she would sincerely believe that I made up the story. The memory for me is so vivid that I actually remember what color nail polish I had on (lavender Sally Hanson Maximum Growth). I can only hope that "Hannah" has changed for the better, and has matured since then. If she's a respectable person now, why would I ever burden her with a memory that would make her feel bad about herself? In fact, she probably didn't think anything of it at the time. It wasn't like she planned on pulling my nails back that day, it just happened, and that was it. Whenever my siblings and I would fight, I'd always run to my parents hoping they'd punish my brother and sister. I'd tattle so much that my parents would eventually say "just let it go." The same thing with my teachers. I'd tell them that my bullies were teasing me, and for awhile the teachers would assist. But they eventually turned to the "let it go" attitude because I had something to report to them every day. My parents would say "if something's wrong, tell a teacher." Then all of a sudden, that wasn't an option anymore. At the time, I thought that it meant that I would be bullied for the rest of junior high, and no one would care. But now I'm thinking that maybe it was because the adult figures from my childhood thought that bullying is something that kids grow out of? That they don't really mean it? Bullies are bullies and then they grow up? So, they get to move on and become "better people"...As for me? After being cast in MEAN, it would appear that I never got to leave Junior High. I'm still there.

Relive and Relieve.

I stood there shaking. I was crying and I couldn't stop. The memories were too strong to forget and the words spoken too real.

Rehearsal on Friday was our first rough run through. And for being the first, it went fairly well. We ended the night on my hardest scene. The scene where my character, Taylor, is cyber-bullied. It's one of two scenes that's completely true to what I've been through.

In eighth grade I became really frustrated with my weight; I didn't look like the other girls. My friends were all smalls and I was a large. I started to starve myself because dieting wasn't working. It never was enough for me. The rate of weight loss. The size I was. Who I was. The biggest bully in my life became myself. There were still whispers and messages, posts and rumors, but I was the one who kept it going when others weren't around. I stopped looking in the mirror at myself; I started looking in the mirror at flaws. I wanted the pain to be over. To stop the crying and the tears. End the pure hell I had to go through every single day. With pills in hand, ready to end my life, I texted my friend "I can't do this anymore."

The last part of my story, the last quote. Purely that is the essence of the scene. That moment, that memory. It's so vivid to me that I can barely make it through the scene. But the truth of it is, this time I know I won't be alone. This time I know that there will be many hugs for me when I make it through. This time it isn't real.

I never thought reliving these events would be quite as emotional as they are. I knew it'd be hard, but not to this extreme. But I also never thought this show would be so relieving. So freeing. So cleansing.

We live and we love, we forgive and forget, we relive and we relieve.

Think Before You Speak

I don't think people realize how ruthless we are as human beings. The things people say to eachother, especialy teens, is really kind of insane. As a part of the Mean cast, I've started to look at what I say to others, and I've realized that I'm just the same as everyone else. Just as sarcastic, just as rude, just as thoughtless, just as mean. Honestly, I think of myself as a nice person. I'm compassionate, I care about my friends and I work towards doing service for others. But I don't think about the people in my daily life just as much as I do the starving children in Africa or simply the homeless people on the streets. My ideas are broad, but the truth is simply this: We need to focus on the people in our lives, our friends and our family, because they're the ones we hurt subconciously. Throwing things out like 'gay' and 'stupid' especially 'I hate you' to the person saying it, most of the time it's not meant to hurt. As people, we really need to start to think before we speak. There have been too many people hurt from words that are just thrown out, it needs to stop. We need to start to think. And speak kindly.

From the eyes of a mother ....

I am a mother of 4 wonderful children whom all enjoy performing. In the fall of 09 three of my children and myself auditioned for "Seussical" through "Southwest Theater Project." We all had a part and aside from missing one of my children who was in a show at "Stages" we had an amazing adventure. I learned a few things from this experience. The best lesson was that I found a connection with my children ranging from 7-16. Next, I learned how much effort it took to be a part of a show and how it made every aspect of my life become more clear. I am a stay at home mother and a PT nanny. Life seemed to have more adventure, more meaning and it seemed to find a nice flow aside from running like crazy ... in other words, I found a good challenge. Over the summer I saw an audition post for "SemiDarkness" with YPC for their fringe. I could tell the story line had a twisted humor and I wanted to learn more. We tried to get to the auditions but the timing never worked so I was able to get my older three in for callbacks. I am the type of (what some may call "annoying") parent that wants to stay involved in what the children are doing. At the time my twins were 12 and I wanted to make sure it was a "safe" environment as we had never worked with YPC. All I can tell you is that my children have 21 shows and at least 6 theaters under our belts .... in the last 3 years I have learned so much! So in the end, if you asked me what show was I most proud of, that is easy, "SemiDarkness" with YPC. The beautiful thing about working with a variety of theatre groups is that you always take something away from each new director or theatre. I am becoming a bit bias about YPC, I just can't help it! I had the honor to work with Jacie Knight in "Afternoon of the elves" last fall, I was very impressed with her connection to a show, her passion, her love for each child that passes through her door for an audition or in a show. She is honest with a kind heart and in the end, she trusts, believes and respects each child simply for who they are. I am far from looking for brownie points, I do not need any, like I stated before ... there are many theatres, we live in a city with more live theater per ca pita then NYC, this is just a wonderful theater.

There is a reason they have a following, why they are popular, why when one can leave they keep coming back. YPC is an addiction for the average theater kid! With that said, my children had their eyes on auditioning for "Mean." They asked to go to the script readings and if I only had a recorder in the car after these you would understand why this show was on their radar. Really, who has not had to deal with a bully! The week of the auditions was going to be hard. We all closed in the show "Honk" that me and the four children were in, we had a 19 yr old move in and the stress was at the top. That Monday after school I had the older 3 and our new border working on songs and monologues. Our youngest felt left out but was ready for the break, being a duckling for 4 weeks and doing 4 shows in one weekend had that 8 yr old worn out! The house rang with excitement as I was read monologue after monologue and heard pop songs ranging from the Beatles to Katy Perry. There is something to be said about watching them focus in so hard on something they want to achieve, and knowing that in the end it could be a disappointment. When we got there my children pushed me into auditioning. I did not mind but needed to think about the commitment. So here I was, me, my three older babies and our new boarder! In the end, we all made it in. I am the Principle with about 8 lines! My twins are ensemble, my son ... after a few issues with his school ... is Josh and our boarder is Austin. At dinner last night we were talking about the show and I was giggling about my 8 lines and the twins then had to top that off with their 1 lines. Funny, it has nothing to do about the lines, it does not matter, it is only about the show, about being a part of history, making an impact, sending a message and simply teaching or reaching out to a few people. There was a chance to walk away knowing you have a small role or little lines but then who would make up that village to walk with others? To witness hate or love? One line or one hundred lines, the message is sent via being present.

I am now proud, yet again, to be a part of this adventure. To stamp a spot in this world. To walk with my children while working together, to talk and connect over an issue that is on the front burner. We are all learning to love and respect a little more thanks to YPC (and mostly Rita!)

New to the Board

As a general rule, the performing arts aim to draw in the audience and keep them captivated. As an avid play-goer I seek this captivation and strive to find the secret gem in each city in which I live or visit. In Indiana the gem was a small town theater in a historic small town, in South Dakota it was the local university and in Minneapolis I have found that gem at YPC.

My first experience at YPC was a play that exceeded my expectations, kept me engaged, and left me thinking about the content for weeks after the show. During a month when I attended several shows including some at Minneapolis’ most famous theatres, the only show I wanted to talk about was YPC’s.

A friend on the Board increasingly peaked my interest with conversations about activities and exciting upcoming shows. Eventually I was introduced to the Board and quickly learned that the positive energy and dedication to the company was something I had to be a part of. From the first moment I watched a YPC play to my recent interactions with the Board I have felt energized and motivated to support their cause. I couldn’t be happier to start the New Year with this talented group and I look forward to seeing future audiences walk away as impressed as I did after my initial YPC experience.

Annie - "New" YPC Board Member

Confronting the Past

In relating my stories from grade school and junior high to YPC, I thought that I was able to because I'm over the teasing, the name calling, etc. I'd casually say "Oh yeah, and this one boy came with a nickname for me, because of my birthmark on my chin. He called me droolface 4th through 8th grade. It caught on quickly, and soon he wasn't the only one." No big deal. I'm over it. I've "moved on." Well, in the opening number for MEAN there's a soloist who sings about that same story, which ends with a bystander shouting out "Droolface" over her shoulder. For the shows that I'm in the ensemble, I just happen to be standing inches away from that isolated moment. The first time we ran it, I cringed, covered my ears with my hands at DROOLFACE. The room changed. Droolface. Why should I care? I'll never see this boy again. It's not real anymore. Droolface. I don't care. This was what, 13 years ago? 15? It's not my name anymore. I'm overly sensitive and always want attention. That's what this post is about. I'm making this about me when it actually applies (unfortunately) to many people who have been bullied for a birthmark or a scar, at some point in their life. I need to grow up and be able to hold onto this memory without caring about what people think of me when they look at me. I'm better than this. People say they can't even see it anymore.

Makes Us Stronger

The theatre is like a family. Competitive, loving, unorganized, but most of all...supportive.

I think I've managed to cry every day at rehearsal. Jacie says I'm a good crier and a talented actress, but for me it's truely just hard for me to relive these moments.The good thing now is I know that it will stop. I know the scene will end and someone will be ready to comfort me, say they love me, just purely being there for me. We came into the project of putting on this show very vulnerable. We put ourselves out there. Beginning with the very first rehearsal. Sharing our mongologues bonded us in more ways than one. This show has already brought a cleansing to most of our lives. And if no one in the audience is affected by this show, at least we know our own lives will have changed. I knew from the start that doing this show would be a struggle, but I've also known that YPC automatically comes with the support of a family. And that support will only bring us closer together. Make us stronger.

Six degrees of Separation from YPC

A few years ago I was out with some YPC alums that were home for the holidays. They were living in LA at the time. And they were joking about how they would play "Six Degrees of Separation from YPC." They said it was easy to pick any famous TV or Film star and draw a connection to YPC. And then they threw out a couple of names to prove the point and make the YPC connection.
At the time I thought that was crazy. But as we get older as a company; and more and more alums are working professionally -- I have found that YPC is well represented.

I just saw a promo for Devin Kelley's  T.V. show "Chicago Code" on Fox TV -- it begins airing in early February.
I am always so thrilled when I see a YPC alum doing so well professionally. And really amazed at how many YPC alums are working professionally in Film, TV, Theatre...
The list is quite impressive...
 Nick Swardson--T.V. Film and Stand -up,
 Paris Remillard, Seth Numrich, Stephen Anthony all are currently doing shows on Broadway,
 Matt Koskenmaki composes music for T.V.--(Survivor, The Apprentice, American Choppper, Big Brother) and film--'The Fighter"
 Tim Hedberg is the story editor for Project Runway and Real World,
 Suzy Michaelson created and developed the T.V. show "Food Budda"
 Myles Bender-VP at Focus Features,
 Josh Hartnett--Film.

And that is only a partial list!! Wow!!!

Next time you go to see a play or watch T.V. or see a film--there's a great chance you'll be seeing a YPC alum!

Mean Rehearsals Begin!!

Rehearsals began for "Mean". Its always exciting for me to start a project--but especially a project like this. I know that this show will be life changing for everyone involved --YIKES!! That is a huge responsibility!!! But that is what really pumps me up--knowing that we will be creating a peice of theatre that will provoke conversation and action.

What has already been so impressive is the willingness of the cast to surrender their whole selves to the process. That takes tremedous courage. To be willing to let go of oneselves to discover and create in a honest and authentic process.

2011--A WHOLE NEW ADVENTURE!!!

Happy Joyful-Adventurous-New Year!!!

I love the beginning of the year. It's an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start AGAIN!!

I'm especially excited about what this year will bring to YPC. We will be creating and producing a new original show "MEAN"-- I know this will be a a production that will be ground-breaking for us as an organization. We are cracking open the difficult subject of "bullying."
Though I know we will not be solving this enormous problem--I do know the show will definitely get people thinking and talking about this. Rita Cannon has written an incredible, thought-provoking script. I am so proud and impressed with what she has created. Rita is a YPC alum; and a brilliant and smart writer!

We are also going to be premiering our third educational film-"The BoyShow" -- sometime in late January. We filmed this project this past July. The guys that were involved did an outstanding job. I'm excited to see the final cut--and get people's reaction and feedback.
When its all said and done we will have produced three films that focus on teen health. These films have been sold all over the country. I am truly proud of this accomplishment.

We have also been selected by the folks at Rock the Cause to be the nonprofit organization that will be featured for their Glitter Ball. We will be able to promote YPC to a whole new audience--as well as receive the proceeds from this event--which is on Friday April 8th. Look for updates on this event.
Time to get your dancing shoes out of the closet and ready to rock and roll!!!

There's lots more that will be happening--I'm just scratching the surface. That's why I love my job. Every day there is something new and different. I feel so lucky and blessed to have such an amazing job. I get to do so many different kinds of things...and meet so many interesting people. And best of all I get to imagine possibilities. And that is my favorite thing to do--professionally and personally. To dream and think ...what if?! And then to actually make it happen---nothing more magical than that!!

Imagine what your possibilities will be in 2011!!