MOORESVILLE, N.C.,None — Karen Abercrombie, artistic director and founder of Angels Take Flight Children's Theatre in Mooresville, has decided to take on the bullying epidemic that is sweeping schools locally and around the country on through an anti-bullying program she created.
"This is something I have wanted to do for many years," said Abercrombie. "When some of my students started sharing their own personal stories this just made it clearer to me to start working on a program."
The program, "Angels Take Flight Against Bullying," consists of a theatre company of 18 children ages 9-16 that will travel to area schools to present its anti-bullying drama. Some of the actors themselves have been victims of bullying.
"The kids are feeling pretty passionate about doing something like this," said Abercrombie. "I believe art can heal and this will be a release and empowering for them, as quite a few have gone through it."
The four-year-old children's theatre company has already gained a reputation for itself within the community and throughout North Carolina for using the art of drama to bring various children's issues to the forefront.
"Bullying is at an all time high," said Abercrombie. "Our children are suffering and something needs to be done now. This program is certainly a step in the right direction."
This year, instead of its regular main stage performances, the company will be traveling to different schools, churches and other organizations, performing powerful anti-bullying programs.
"This needs to be done right now," said Abercrombie. "We're going to put off spring performances and just focus on this. The entertainment can wait."
Bullying is any form of physical, verbal, or psychological behavior by one person or a group where the intention is to hurt another person. Bullying includes threats, assault, malicious gossip, teasing, exclusion and property damage.
"There are so many types of bullying, cyber, pushing and shoving, name calling even just invading someone's space," said Abercrombie. "Words penetrate deeper than a knife and can forever become a life changing situation for some."
She added, "Bullies go on and don't remember the names of the people they've bullied, but for their victims it shapes who they are and they'll always remember it."
The "Angels Take Flight Against Bullying" program addresses all of the above, through a series of short dramatic presentations. "Countless numbers of children and teens have committed suicide and countless numbers suffer in silence and live in fear because of bullying, and this is unacceptable," she said.
Abercrombie and her students have worked together to create well orchestrated, powerful and dramatic anti-bullying skits in her home studio off Brawley School Road.
"The skits are very realistic, there's real tears, and shouting," she said. "They are excellent actors and they get emotions and message across very clearly."
Abercrombie said they may work on the skits, short scenes, and reenactments for several weeks building on different bullying issues and all the things that go into making a bully.
"I feel this helps them prepare for bullies in their own schools," she said. Not only will the audience get to experience numerous bullying situations, but they will also get to participate in the skits portraying the bully or the victim. A question and answer period will immediately following the program.
Programs will be offered for elementary, middle and high schools.
"I feel it's stronger to have the student perform for their peers and that the message will be stronger," said Abercrombie. "If we can save one life or melt one bullies heart then we've done something."
For more information about the program or bringing it to a school, call Angels Take Flight Children's Theatre at 704-658-9293 or visit www.atfchildrenstheater.com.