PDF Information Sheet
About the Show
Step Up a single gender play, challenges middle school boys to take a stand against abuse when they see it happen. The play and post show discussion sends a strong message that as individuals, they are responsible for their words and actions. STEP UP inspires the majority of boys who don’t abuse to build a positive peer culture to prevent bullying.
Major Learning Points:
- Exam how and why boys bully
- Discuss the important role that bystanders play in prevention and in establishing healthy cultural norms
- Establish empathy for targets
- Discuss how positive peer culture can help targets and bullies
About the play
Step Up (to the plate) features Mike, a popular athlete, and Nate and Ted, childhood friends who are beginning to move in different social circles. Mike targets Ted and continually harasses and taunts him in front of his other friends. Nate is caught in the middle, wanting to be popular yet not comfortable when he sees his old friend being abused. When the abuse escalates, Ted is forced to make a difficult choice.
Post Performance
The interactive after-show discussion features the trained actors/educators who reinforce the educational points in the play and facilitate a question and answer period. Actors prefer to work with all-male audiences including faculty for a man-to-man discussion.
Additional information
Deana’s Educational Theater offers several educational workshops and training options for students, parents and schoo/organization staff. The workshops are fun and engaging and can be tailored to your community. The STEP UP script is also available through our Limited Performance Rights and Artist in Residence program.
Step Up Video Clips
- Clip 1 - Performance
- Clip 2 - Performance
- Clip 3 - Performance
- Clip 4 - Discussion
- Clip 5 - Discussion
- Clip 6 - Discussion
