THE SCRIPT: October 2011

"Men must decide not to be rapists...then, there wouldn't be rape." -- "Jay," from The Script

THE SCRIPT is a one-man show that depicts JAY, NICK, JEREMY, and CHRIS, four young men, at the "edge of an incident"-- A female classmate has been involved in an episode of dating violence. The young men are suddenly confronted by the very real issues of rape and sexual assault. In the course of this 40 minute, eye-opening play, the four characters grapple with their attitudes and beliefs about men, women, and relationships, and they make dramatic choices which effect their friendships, and their lives.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

STANDING BY, STANDING UP, IN PERFORMANCE!

STANDING BY, STANDING UP, Tim's new solo show about Bullying Prevention, was on tour throughout October...

October 20th, three performances at Imagine Academy Middle School, St. Louis, MO

October 26th, one performance at Maplewood Richmond Heights Middle School, Maplewood, MO

& October 27th, a public performance at the Stone Spiral Coffee House, Maplewood, MO

Thanks to all the students, teachers, and agencies that helped make these shows possible!

Friday, October 21, 2011

STANDING BY, STANDING UP at IMAGINE ACADEMY of CAREERS MIDDLE SCHOOL!

Thursday, October 20th--

Three performances of STANDING BY, STANDING UP, one of Tim's newest one-man shows! Thanks to all the students and staff of this great St. Louis school... here's some comments from teachers in attendance...

"AMAZING!"
--Trish Iaiennaro, Spanish Teacher

"Great job! Convincing!"
-- Teacher

"Great lesson-- your message was very relative to the students."
-- Teacher

"I thought the show was very educational and informative. Also quite entertaining!"
--MOMOF2IL

"I thought it was really great! The students were very engaged. You showed all the different roles very well. Keep up the good work!"
--Teacher

"The show was good, and the kids were interested and involved the whole time. It was very relevant."
--Teacher

"Very good! Realistic, and the show induced problem-solving type-thinking. Entertaining! The students were attentive and engaged for the full 40 minutes!"
--Teacher

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

From the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services...

Adolescent Health Insider: Bullying and Adolescent Health

U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services sent this bulletin at 10/19/2011 08:16 AM EDT

October 19, 2011

National Bullying Prevention Month

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time to focus on an issue that was identified as a being a "big problem” among eight- to 15-year-olds in a national survey. Adolescents reported that bullying was a problem for them more often than racism, HIV/AIDS, or the pressure to have sex, and was as much of a problem as the pressure to use drugs or alcohol.¹

Photo: Girl in foreground, group talking in background

Bullying can interfere with the important interpersonal relationships that support an adolescent’s mental health and wellbeing. Bullying is defined as repeated interpersonal behavior that is intended to do physical or psychological harm.² Increasingly, schools, communities, parents, and adolescents are acknowledging that bullying is not a rite of passage, but rather a practice that can be extremely damaging to children and teens.³ To help address the issue in schools, the U.S. Department of Education has released best practices upon which states can model effective anti-bullying policies. Also, in March 2011, the White House held its first Conference on Bullying Prevention to discuss how we can all work together to end bullying’s status as an accepted practice, and create a safer environment for children and teens.

Bullying: Up Front and Virtual

Between 2001 and 2007, bullying was on the rise among adolescents and, in 2009, one in five high school students reported that they were bullied on school property in the past year.⁴,⁵ Approximately eight percent of high school students admit to having bullied others, and about 6.5 percent of high schoolers are both bullies and victims of bullying.⁶ The risk of cyberbullying has also increased along with the growth of technology in the lives of adolescents. Cyberbullying ranges from repeatedly making fun of another person through email or text messaging to posting something online about them that they don’t like.⁷ Of these, adolescents are most commonly cyberbullied via text message.⁸ In 2010, one in five adolescents said that they had been cyberbullied at some point in their lives, and about the same number admit to having been a cyberbully. One in ten adolescents had been both a cyberbully and a victim.⁹

Perhaps not surprisingly, there is often crossover between being cyberbullied and being bullied in person–victims of cyberbullying were more likely to get into a physical fight at school or to be the victim of a crime than were students who were not cyberbullied.¹⁰ Generally, boys are more at risk of being bullied physically while girls are more frequently the victims of Internet harassment and emotional bullying, such as social exclusion.¹¹

Did you know?

Adolescents who bully others are more likely to have been physically hurt by a family member and/or to have witnessed violence in their homes.¹² October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month—adolescents experiencing domestic violence in their home, their family members, and those that care about them can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE for help.

Want to learn more about adolescent health?

The Office of Adolescent Health is proud to introduce our newly redesigned website, which features tips, facts and information on federal resources and initiatives related to adolescent mental health, physical health and nutrition, reproductive health, substance abuse, and healthy relationships. Stop by www.hhs.gov/ash/oah to find:

The latest news about teen health and federal adolescent health initiatives
Evidence-based programs to reduce teen pregnancy and other risky sexual behaviors
Outstanding federal resources on adolescent health
Information tailored for parents at Conversation Generation, with tips and strategies on how to talk to teens about sensitive topics like sex and relationships
A national and state map with the latest federal statistics on adolescent health listed by topic and state

Connect with OAH through Twitter (@teenhealthgov) or add a badge to your site to help promote the adolescent health resources on the OAH website!

Additional Federal Resources: Preventing Bullying and Building Healthy Adolescent Relationships

OAH has resources on healthy relationships in adolescence, including how adolescents and those who care about them can help prevent or stop bullying.
StopBullying.gov, a special initiative from the Department of Health and Human Services, provides information from government agencies on how kids, teens, young adults, parents, educators, and others in the community can prevent or stop bullying.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Striving To Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere (STRYVE) initiative provides communities with the knowledge and resources to prevent youth violence, including bullying.
GirlsHealth.gov, a site from the Office on Women’s Health, has bullying resources for adolescent girls, like “The different ways girls bully and the long-lasting hurt it can cause,” as well as resources on adolescent bullying for their parents and caregivers.
Watch video, download audio, or read the transcript from the White House’s Conference on Bullying Prevention here. Additional materials from the conference, including presentations like “Reducing the Effectiveness of Bullying Behavior in Schools” and “Effective Strategies in Combating Bullying” can be found here.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

THE SCRIPT at CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY SERVICES of GREATER ST. LOUIS!

Thursday, October 13th, Tim brings THE SCRIPT to Children's Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis.

From Children's Advocacy's website:

"The Mission of Children’s Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis is to reduce the effects of trauma experienced by children and adolescents through: trauma informed assessment and counseling, facilitation of multi-disciplinary investigative teams, child-sensitive forensic interviews, consistent victim advocacy, quality undergraduate and graduate training, utilization based research, responsive community outreach, and relevant advocacy to influence public policy."

We are thrilled to share THE SCRIPT with this important agency!

Catch a public performance of THE SCRIPT, a one-man show about Dating Violence Prevention!

December 1st, at the Regional Arts Commission. This will be part of a special evening-- Tim will also be performing Standing By, Standing Up, a one-man show about Bullying and Violence prevention. Check back soon for further details!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

THE SCRIPT at LUMINZ STUDIO!

September 28th, Brattleboro, VT--

A great and attentive audience turned out for a performance of THE SCRIPT... we were in the Luminz Studio, an amazing dance space, very intimate and appropriate for a solo show! Thanks to Luminz, and all who attended. We'll post more photos here, soon.

And don't forget! Thursday, October 27th, 7 p.m., STANDING BY, STANDING UP, Tim's one-man show about Bullying and Violence Prevention, at the Stone Spiral Coffee House in Maplewood, MO!
Here's what the great staff from Stone Spiral has to say:

"Tim Collins will delight us again with his thoughtful, timely, and comical spoken word. STANDING BY/STANDING UP depicts four young men challenged by bullying. This timely educational theater piece depicts various forms of Bullying, and follows the interwoven stories of the characters as they either work to further, or prevent, violence. STANDING BY/STANDING UP, aimed at 6th-12th grade students, takes a sober look at the dire consequences of bullying, cyber-bullying, and exclusion, but also identifies hopeful outcomes and ways that students can prevent violence in their schools and lives. Regardless of your age, social or relationship status this is not to be missed. Tim’s first show on dating violence filled the joint! Don’t miss out!"

THE SCRIPT-- A ONE MAN SHOW CONFRONTING RAPE AND DATING VIOLENCE

"I thought the show was awesome. Tim did such a great job of choosing the most relatable characters to get his message out there in the best way he could, in a way that would really get people to start thinking about the things they do and how they think about women. I think it takes a lot of courage to get up in front of a large crowd & act that out & I feel privileged to have seen the show. It made me want to respect myself more than I already do. Thank you so much."

--Rachel Edmonds, Saint Louis University student

"What I liked most about THE SCRIPT was the way it engaged both adolescents and parents on a range of important topics that are not discussed often enough. The play was dynamic, and the various characters connected with the audience. It was a gift to be able to see it and share it with adolescents and parents in our community. We can spend hours talking about issues, but, in forty minutes, THE SCRIPT showed a huge range of issues, deepening discussion in unique ways. I count it a privilege to have seen it."

---Dorothy Denny, MSW, LCSW, Children's Advocacy Services

"Wonderful, effective, powerful performance!"

--Donna MacomberCo-Executive DirectorWomen's Freedom Center

"I've been working with Men's issues for over twenty years, both personally and professionally. In the course of just forty minutes, Tim has managed to address nearly all of them with compassion, and candor."

--Craig McIntosh, MSW, LCSW, Provident, Inc. Domestic Violence Program Coordinator

"In THE SCRIPT, Tim captures the complex thoughts and feelings experienced by male teens as they navigate dating and peer relationships. He clearly lays a path for steps young men can take to address rape and violence in our communities. This entertaining performance is sure to motivate young adults to challenge their thoughts about sexual and dating violence. This important piece of work should be a regular part of high school and college orientation presentations."

--Amanda C. Antenucci, MSW, LCSW Adolescent Therapist, Safe Connections

"I was absolutely enthralled by Tim Collins' "The Script". Not only did he provide well-researched, accurate information on rape, he created and portrayed four very different males who each had sympathetic components. Tim gets correct messages out without alienating anyone. His poignant portrayal of the situation managed to utilize humor as well as keep everyone engaged to see 'who did it.' "

--Allison Hile, Executive Director, Teen Pregnancy & Prevention Partnership

"The Script is a compelling look at the impact of sexual violence in our communities, viewed through the eyes of young men. Tim’s sensitive use of comic relief and intense drama will keep adolescents and adults alike actively engaged in the show from start to finish."

--Cindy Malott, Crisis Intervention Supervisor of the YWCA St. Louis Regional Sexual Assault Center

"This may be the most important one-person show you'll ever see. Tim Collins is a superlative performer, and his cagey, taut, forty-minute performance was both mesmerizing and profound."

--The Arts Advocate

"I thought the show was absolutely awesome! It was engaging, insightful, and I could really relate to it. It helped me understand male perspectives and thoughts in a new, unique way. This show is a great advocate for awareness and change."

--St. Louis University Student

"I was very interested in hearing more about the skit presented to the students. As a staff member of the Clayton Family Courts Juvenile Unit female unit, this kind of real presentation of people the girls encounter will help them think about relationships and friendship. Based on group talks I have had with the students, they need more exposure to information about relationship conflict and to how boys think. Please continue and come back and provide this service. It really created an unexpected response-- smiles, frowns, excitement, and a greater interest."

--Patt Adjarety, Juvenile Officer at Clayton Family Courts

"I loved the show-- perfect blend of humor, drama, and presentation of facts! This show is a real eye opener and provides a unique perspective on the movement to end sexual violence."

--Lori Holtmener, Sexual Assault Response Team advocate

"TERRIFIC! POWERFUL!
I'm at a loss for words. This performance is a must-see."

--Tami P., Nursing Student, Goldfarb School of Nursing

"The presentation actually impacted me-- I never really thought about rape and it makes me realize how damaging rape can be...I also thought that the characters you played were very real."

--Bluett High School Student, Age 17

"It was great. Really, The Script is a personal, true testimony to the commonality of violence against women and the great need for advocacy, especially from the young men and women to whom these stories belong....each character in the show was unique, yet entirely relateable and recognizable...I have a great interest in youth in the criminal justice system and I see this show as a great source of hope for their rehabilitation and reintegration into society."

--Laura Childs, SLU Student

"Much luv to the show. I loved the show, it actually touched my heart. Today you helped me actually to find myself. Everyday I try to fit myself into a social box but today your show and your talent have just made me find a part of myself. You should tell the world about what you have to say. You're funny, talented, and educational. Thanks so much for that amazin' show! Much luv. I like how you switched characters, and much emotion."

--St. Louis High School Student, Age 16

"The Script is a riveting and compelling play about the complex social issues associated with date rape. Playwright and actor Tim Collins masterfully portrays the tale of four young men, struggling with long-standing beliefs and attitudes about masculinity, women, and rape. The Script is a highly effective experiential learning activity that engages the audience/students on a deep and personal level and invites both men and women to be part of the solution to end the violence--a must see for all."

--Dorcas McLaughlin, PhD, APRN, CP

For more information, please email:

info@timcollinsonline.com