Dallas Children's Theater Blog

Astonishing Kids And Families With The Fun of Broadway-Like Plays and A Lot More!

Same Teen Issue, Twelve Years Later

OUR TEENS: DCT shines a light on their issues, and the women who brought them to the stage…

Nancy Schaeffer, director of THE SECRET LIFE OF GIRLS and DCT’s Education Director, and Linda Daugherty, the playwright, are the DCT duo who have worked together for over a decade to bring teen issue theater to North Texas families. We sat down with Schaeffer (NS) and Daugherty (LD) to gain some insight into this specific production, and how these teen plays began.

Linda Daugherty, Resident Playwright at DCT and playwright of THE SECRET LIFE OF GIRLS.

What discoveries did you make while originally writing this show?

LD: Well, I guess the thing about it was that I was surprised by everybody having a bully story. It was a play about girls, but I would run into women in the grocery store, and they would all have a story. In the play, they refer to one girl as “bathtub.” That’s about my good friend in New York who grew up in Dallas. There were two girls down the street who would yell at her “Hey bathtub! There goes bathtub!” It still makes her stomach hurt to think about it. She wonders “Did they think I was round like a big bathtub? Was I dirty?” It would echo in her mind. Even when she would talk about it with me, it still hurt her. It sticks with you.

Nancy Schaeffer, Education Director
and Associate Artistic Director at DCT, director of THE SECRET LIFE OF GIRLS.

How do you think the introduction of new technology has changed bullying within the last 10 to 12 years?

NS: I’ll tell you what was probably true back then, but even more now…I just don’t know it all. Like back then I knew what emailing was, and instant messaging, but now there are these apps…I don’t know this stuff. And it’s going so fast that the kids are saying things to me, and I don’t know what they’re talking about. They think “Ha-ha funny, oh grown-ups, they don’t know,” but it’s terrifying because it’s so dangerous. I think the kids are probably a little more aware now of how long lasting it is. I think when they were first texting, they
maybe didn’t realize how far it goes, but I think they’re more aware now.

What does this show mean to you?

LD: It was the first show where I decided to jump into the teen world, and I happened to hear an interview about a book called Odd Girl Out about girl bullying. I guess I never really thought about writing for teens. I’ve also met so many incredible, amazing people who have dedicated their lives to working with young people. Every year we do these shows, and these therapists donate their time. That’s one of the most rewarding things about it. Then the parents and teens after the shows tell Nancy and me, “This happened to me. I’m not alone.” Just seeing pieces of things they’re experiencing, also performed by teenagers; it’s so important.

What are some important things that you have learned from working with these teens?

NS: It is true that the more they change, the more they stay the same. When we first started this show in 2006 as a reading, this idea of cyberbullying was very new. Some of the other issues in there, like cutting, were new as well. I feel like the girls, when I was first doing the play, seemed like they weren’t as familiar with all of this. Now they know exactly what all of these issues are. Still, having somebody say something mean is hurtful; it doesn’t matter how they do it, it’s really the same. Whether it was a person over the phone, via email, via text, or via social media. Now, it’s even easier and easier for it to get out there.

What advice do you have for parents or adults that are struggling to talk to teens about bullying?

LD: Come see the play. That will get you starting to talk. I remember in one run of the play, there was a girl sobbing in the lobby. The mom came up to me and told me that her daughter admitted that she had been cutting, and her mom had no idea. She wrote me a long email telling me about it, and how they eventually went to see a psychiatrist. Parents should really start at an early age. The phones should be out of the bedroom and docked in a public place in the house at night. On top of that, it’s so difficult for parents to keep up with the texts and things they read online that kids are talking about that are troublesome. The kids are all one step ahead of us. I think it’s a constant struggle, and the best thing you can do is to keep the dialogue open. If something feels off, it probably is.

Start the conversation with your child by joining us for THE SECRET LIFE OF GIRLS.


TEEN SCENE PLAYERS PRESENT

THE SECRET LIFE OF GIRLS

By Linda Daugherty

February 15 – February 24, 2019

Bullying in every form – from open tactics like gossiping and keeping secrets, to using friendship as a weapon – can become the prelude to dangerous behaviors like depression, cutting, and eating disorders. This show takes an unflinching look into the world of mean girls and exposes the consequences that bullying creates. Because that girl everyone is spreading rumors about…the one who just can’t seem to fit in…chances are, you know who she is. This production by award-winning playwright Linda Daugherty generated massive buzz when it debuted in 2007 and subsequently launched DCT’s internationally-praised teen issue series. In DCT tradition, teens and those who love them are invited to see a performance, and then stay after for a conversation with local experts.

NOT suitable for children under 12.

Title Sponsors


The M.R. and Evelyn Hudson Foundation

The Hersh Foundation

Meet the Cast of THE SECRET LIFE OF GIRLS

No mean girls here…

BACK Row (Left to Right): Azalea Brown, Zoë Gameros, Mimi Simons, Ainsley Horan
FRONT Row (Left to Right): Kai McGhee, Hannah Moore, Ruby Long

Zoë Gameros
(Rebecca)
Previous DCT Roles: EAT (It’s Not About Food) (Young Girl).
Favorite Show and Why: That I’ve seen: Sweat at Dallas Theater Center because it was such an immersive show with an amazing incorporation of technology. That I’ve been in: The Revenge of the Space Pandas or Binky Rudich and the Two-Speed Clock because of the amazing cast and creativity in the script.
Favorite Thing About Acting: Developing a character and interacting with other actors.

Hannah Moore
(Abby)
Previous DCT Roles: Miracle on 34th Street (Elf), EAT (It’s Not About Food) (Teen Girl), A Wrinkle in Time (Meg Murry), and Next Stop Broadway in 2016.
Favorite Show and Why: That I’ve Seen: Hamilton because it’s such a visually and theatrically stunning show. That I’ve Been In: Anne of Green Gables because I’ve always loved Anne and her story, and playing her was a dream come true.
Favorite Thing About Acting: I love that I can step into someone else’s shoes and be someone else. I also love meeting people who share the love of theater.

Ainsley Horan
(Chandler)
Previous DCT Roles: The Seussification of a Midsummer Night’s Dream (Titania) and Peter and the Starcatcher (Ensemble).
Favorite Show and Why: Puffs, for the variety of characters and good comedy.
Favorite Thing About Acting: The community around it!

Azalea Brown
(Stephanie)
Favorite Show and Why: Waitress because of the heartwarming story and amazing music.
Favorite Thing About Acting: The creativity of acting and portraying a variety of characters.

Mimi Simons
(Kayla)
Previous DCT Roles: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, EAT (It’s Not About Food) (Amy), and Next Stop Broadway in 2016, 2017, and 2019.
Favorite Show and Why: EAT (It’s Not About Food) because it was my first teen production at DCT and I loved the storyline, the cast, and how it was all put together in the end.
Favorite Thing About Acting: It is lots of fun to act like a totally different person and meet different people in the process.

Ruby Long
(Sutton)
Previous DCT Roles: The Pied Piper’s Magic (Young Elvabol), Miracle on 34th Street (Elf J), EAT (It’s Not About Food) (Young Girl), Ghouls and Graveyards (Girlfriend 1), and Next Stop Broadway in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Favorite Show and Why: That I’ve been in: Miracle on 34th Street because it was really fun. In General: Spring Awakening because I love the music.
Favorite Thing About Acting: Getting to be people you wouldn’t know about otherwise.

Kai Mcghee 
(Anna Marie)
Previous DCT Roles: Alice and Wonderland (Mad Hatter), A Wrinkle in Time (Narrator) and Next Stop Broadway in 2019.
Favorite Thing About Acting: The acting itself and being friends with the cast.

Lisa Fairchild*
(Sutton’s Mom/Coach)
Lisa is delighted to reprise the roles she originated in this amazing play. Other DCT credits include EAT (It’s Not About Food) (Calorie Woman and Others) and Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse (Mom Mouse). She has appeared in theaters throughout the D-FW area, most recently in the critically-acclaimed Luna Gale (Caroline) at Circle Theatre. Represented by the Kim Dawson Agency, she has appeared in numerous commercial, industrial, and feature film roles. www.lisafairchild.net

Julie K. Rhodes**
(Abby’s Mom)
Julie is thrilled to be making her DCT debut! Favorite work includes Peter Pan, Frosty the Snowman, and Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story at Casa Mañana; Who Am I This Time? at Circle Theatre; Into The Woods, A Doll’s House, Tartuffe, and Persuasion at Stolen Shakespeare Guild; and Camelot and The Golden Apple at Lyric Stage. Love to Gordon, Drew, and Maddie. Visit juliekrhodes.com

*Indicates member of Actors’ Equity Association. **Indicates Equity Membership Candidate.

Artist at Work: Bringing Fashion to the Land of Frell

A Spotlight on DCT’s Resident Designer and Costume Shop Manager…

Lyle Huchton (Pictured back, center) working with students in a costume design class.

Lyle Huchton is the Costume Designer for ELLA ENCHANTED: THE MUSICAL. He is the person responsible for every petticoat, sash, and sequin that adorns these classic characters. We sat down with Huchton to discuss how he began conceptualizing and designing original costumes that – much like the show – feature traditional storybook elements with a modern twist.

 

What was your inspiration for these costumes? Did you get inspiration from any other fairy tales, or any classic stories?

I couldn’t really, because of the time constraint, make it a complete, full-blown fairy tale. So I came up with the idea that the stepmom and the stepsisters

would be some kind of modern interpretation. I took the 1980s and started there with Madonna. With lots of petticoats, and the bright colors, and the leg warmers. Then, I just sprinkled fairy tale in with everybody else. The prince’s [costumes] really start out kind of modern, because his doublet (a 14th to 17th century style jacket) is made out of a blue jean jacket, and he’s wearing plaid flannel. Kind of grungy. Then he goes complete fairy tale. Then Ella’s wedding dress is a 1980s wedding dress, at the very end that she wears, and we just put on a little sash. I also researched elements of the Cinderella movie from a couple of years ago…the Disney one. I took inspiration from that where the stepsisters matched. Of course I made her [Olive] green, because her name is Olive, and I took a complementary color for Hattie, which would be purple.

What was one of the most difficult costume pieces that you had to create for the show?

It had to be the big swing coat that the stepmother wears at the ball. It’s based on a 1960s coat, but we had to somehow figure out the tiers, and how they would get bigger. They were smaller at the top and then got bigger. And how much that would take to make the ruffle around. It took some engineering and some looking at. We just did a mockup of the little center panels, and actually, that costume coat is like the cheapest thing in the show. It was about $4 a yard of fabric and it took 10 yards, so it was about $40, and it’s the most awesome thing.

What do you hope that families who see the show will take away from this production?

Well, I think they’ll take away that Ella chooses to break the spell on her own; she doesn’t have to have the prince, and she doesn’t have to fall into the line that she thinks she’s supposed to. I think that’s refreshing. I also think they will see that people can change. One of the stepsisters, she changes. Her environment is what made her who she is, and at the end she really likes Ella, and she admits it.

See all of Lyle’s beautiful costumes and enjoy a wonderful modern-day story about how Ella finds her voice when you plan your family day for ELLA ENCHANTED: THE MUSICAL at DCT!

 

ELLA ENCHANTED: THE MUSICAL is onstage at DCT now through Feb. 24, 2019. Recommended for ages 6 and up. Tickets available at dct.org.


ELLA ENCHANTED: THE MUSICAL
By Karen Zacarías

Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma
Adapted from the book by Gail Carson Levine
By special arrangement with Miramax

Jan. 25 – Feb. 24
Ages 6 and up

Ella of Frell is turning the traditional Cinderella story upside down! At birth, she was given the “gift” of obedience which forces her to do anything people command: whether that’s hopping on one foot all day or telling her best friend to just go away! As a teenager, strong-willed Ella chooses to reject this lifestyle as her fate and embarks on a quest to break the curse forever. Along the way, feisty Ella must outwit her evil stepsisters, escape hungry ogres, and save the prince before she can claim her real voice. In this fun and spirited musical extravaganza that stays true to the Newbery Honor book, children will discover the power of words while laughing, singing, and dancing out loud.

Life is good. Good Life Family Magazine makes it better!

Live. Laugh. Learn. Repeat. This mantra is a window into the foundation of the content that can be found on the pages of Good Life Family Magazine (GLF), a Dallas-based publication for parents of kids tweens to twenties.

GLF, which is in its 5th year of publication as a free, glossy print magazine, is published every other month and distributed primarily across Collin, Dallas, and Denton counties. GLF, GLF Weekly, the print magazine’s digital sister, and the website, goodLIFEfamilymag.com, are resources for “sandwich generation” parents – those who are sandwiched between raising their kids (and often grandkids) and navigating life alongside their aging parents. Often a challenging period in their lives, parents can’t be expected to have all the answers all the time—which is where GLF comes in. Extensive and insightful content addresses the daily joys and struggles of finding a balance between kids and parents…all while trying to keep ourselves sane.

GLF’s content makes for an easy segue to its connection to and support for Dallas Children’s Theater. DCT’s upcoming show, THE SECRET LIFE OF GIRLS by Linda Daugherty, takes a close look at just how mean girls can be, especially in their transformative teenage years. Bullying, an issue that hits close to home for so many families, can lead to dangerous behaviors such as depression, cutting, and eating disorders. The National Voices for Equality Education and Enlightenment shares a staggering statistic that a child is bullied every 7 minutes.

The difficult-to-hear, yet essential information that THE SECRET LIFE OF GIRLS focuses on is precisely the type of content GLF shares with its 75,000+ readers. Maintaining open lines of communication on this topic will help educate parents and teens and decrease the bullying epidemic.

Though Good Life Family does dive into the not-so-pretty realities of parenthood, there is also a wealth of articles about lighter, more relaxed, material including home & gardening tips, recipes,fashion trends,health advice, legal tips, family entertainment, dining.

GLF and DCT work together as a resource to families for issues that are not always the easiest to discuss, but are nonetheless important to keep prevalent in the minds of parents and children alike. Dallas Children’s Theater productions promote social values, moral integrity, and reflect cultural diversity of the community through casting and themes—details which Good Life Family is only too proud to support and echo through its articles. Grab tickets to DCT’s production of THE SECRET LIFE OF GIRLS beginning February 15 and lasting through the 24th, and don’t forget to snag a copy of GLF found on local newsstands at local retailers, restaurants, grocery stores, doctors’ offices, schools, sports complexes, and community centers. Additionally, GLF gives its digital subscribers a flip book version of the magazine plus GLF Weekly offers subscribers current news and feature articles every Thursday.

Sound like your cup of tea? Subscribe at goodlifefamilymag.com and join the Family!

TEEN SCENE PLAYERS PRESENT

THE SECRET LIFE OF GIRLS

By Linda Daugherty

February 15 – February 24, 2019

Bullying in every form – from open tactics like gossiping and keeping secrets, to using friendship as a weapon – can become the prelude to dangerous behaviors like depression, cutting, and eating disorders. This show takes an unflinching look into the world of mean girls and exposes the consequences that bullying creates. Because that girl everyone is spreading rumors about…the one who just can’t seem to fit in…chances are, you know who she is. This production by award-winning playwright Linda Daugherty generated massive buzz when it debuted in 2007 and subsequently launched DCT’s internationally-praised teen issue series. In DCT tradition, teens and those who love them are invited to see a performance, and then stay after for a conversation with local experts.

NOT suitable for children under 12. Buy tickets now.

Mission, Possible: Using Your Voice

Some girls vanquish ogres, some girls fly to space…

Not every girl dreams of being a princess. For example, Ella of Frell, featured in DCT’s ELLA ENCHANTED: THE MUSICAL, isn’t the best student at charm school. She is an independent thinker even as she suffers under the curse of obedience bestowed upon her by her fairy godmother.

Let’s face it, you can’t pigeonhole girls. We have wide and varied goals and dreams; just like our counterparts. Take Sally Ride…She was 32 when she boarded the Challenger STS-7 that would launch her into space, and propel her name into history.

Sally Ride pictured in Challenger in 1983.

Ride grew up a hard-working California girl whose favorite activities were reading books and playing tennis. She spent her childhood learning and adventuring as much as she possibly could. She graduated from college with two science degrees and one English degree (unfortunately, they don’t teach Gnomic or Elfian at Stanford so Ella would have been disappointed). At the age of 26, Ride embarked on her next adventure, applying to NASA’s Astronaut Candidate Program. Out of almost 8,000 applicants– most of which were men –she was one of 35 people who were accepted into the program. Even more shocking, she was one of only six accepted women!

“Young girls need to see role models in whatever career they may choose, just so they can picture themselves doing those jobs someday. You can’t be what you can’t see,” said Ride.

After training, training, and more training, she finally began living her dream. At least, she thought she was. Being a woman at NASA meant first serving as a ground communicator, and hoping to fly. Giving up never seemed easier, but for Ride, giving up was not an option. After working on the ground for two shuttle flights, she secured her place in history books in 1983 by becoming the first American woman to travel into space. However, one journey into space wasn’t enough for her. One year later Ride shattered records again by being the first woman to go into space not only once, but twice.

Sally Ride pictured in Challenger in 1983.

Throughout the years, she faced constant questions and critiques from everyone around her. “What kind of makeup will you bring to space with you?” “Will you cry if something goes wrong in the shuttle?” “Don’t you want to start a family instead of going to space?” Not once did these comments steer Ride away from her purpose. By refusing to listen to the world’s commands (like Ella), and pressing forward with her goals, she found her own voice and refused to let society choose how women and girls can and cannot succeed.

According to Ride, “All adventures, especially into new territory, are scary.” Every girl is capable of accomplishing greatness that will inevitably prompt questions and criticisms, but allowing fear to discourage your achievements is only accepting defeat. Some girls will travel into space, some will vanquish ogres, and some will simply use their voice for what they believe in. What can seem like one small step for women, can be one giant leap for humankind.

Want to learn more about Sally Ride, space, and our solar system? Check out these photo books co-written by Ride!

Browse Book Selection


 

 

Written by Christine Bartkowski, DCT’s PR and Marketing Intern

 

 

 


ELLA ENCHANTED: THE MUSICAL
By Karen Zacarías

Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma
Adapted from the book by Gail Carson Levine
By special arrangement with Miramax

Jan. 25 – Feb. 24
Ages 6 and up

Ella of Frell is turning the traditional Cinderella story upside down! At birth, she was given the “gift” of obedience which forces her to do anything people command: whether that’s hopping on one foot all day or telling her best friend to just go away! As a teenager, strong-willed Ella chooses to reject this lifestyle as her fate and embarks on a quest to break the curse forever. Along the way, feisty Ella must outwit her evil stepsisters, escape hungry ogres, and save the prince before she can claim her real voice. In this fun and spirited musical extravaganza that stays true to the Newbery Honor book, children will discover the power of words while laughing, singing, and dancing out loud.