"The Bully Plays" Makes Front Page News!

   Well, not exactly - but for the first time in my memory, a First Stage Theatre production is getting front-page coverage in the Herald-Dispatch.

   That should be a good indication of how important this topic is and how seriously it's being taken.

   Here's an excerpt from today's story by Dave Lavender about The Bully Plays:

   When Mary Smirl overheard the kids in her acting summer camp class talking about bullying, the long-time theater mom knew First Stage Theatre Company couldn't be a bystander. 

   She knew they needed to take action from the stage. 

   With a cast of some two dozen mostly middle- and high-school-aged students and four adults, regional children's theater company First Stage is performing The Bully Plays, a series of 24 short plays exploring bullying and cyber-bullying. 

   First Stage will perform school shows on Wednesday and Thursday, and will then offer public performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, as well as 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Jeslyn Performing Arts Center, 1030 4th Ave., Huntington. 

   Tickets are $10 and $8 for children (12 and under). Group rates are available.

   You can read the rest of the story right here.