Being a kid is hard! Dealing with bullying and disrespect makes it even harder. Using principles from the Committee for Children’s “Second Step” bullying prevention programs, Taproot Theatre Company’s touring shows equip students with the skills they need to recognize, report, and refuse bullying, manage their emotions, solve problems, and form lasting friendships.
Bullying Prevention Changes Lives. Road Company provides emotionally engaging, story-based teaching that the entire student body can experience together as a common reference point. Students are moved to empathize with all the characters, recognize the motivations behind bullying behavior, and cheer when characters step forward and refuse bullying behavior.
Bullying is one of the most pressing issues schools face today. When an entire student body is taught to have compassion for others and learn the specific strategies to “recognize, report and refuse” bullying behavior, students and staff work together to stop a culture of bullying from taking root within their school.
Taproot Theatre Company has toured educational plays to students since 1985, reaching more than 100,000 students annually. How do we do this? By forming a talented company of actors who travel throughout the state of Washington and beyond in our very own Road Company Sprinter Van!
Taproot’s current van, nicknamed Vincent Van Go, is ready for retirement after traveling for 13 years and 160,000 miles to 2,608 schools serving over 1,297,000 students.
That means that Road Company actors are on the road day in and day out. Having safe and reliable transportation is key to their ability to serve students all over the state. We need to keep this team on the road … and off the side of the road. We want them out of harm’s way and directly in the path of thousands of young people who need to experience this life-changing curriculum. So, it’s time!
There was something different about this performance. We have had Taproot come to our school many times over the years, but this performance has stuck. My students are being upstanders and sticking up for things. I have students reporting problems to me more now than after any other performance. So appreciative of your company and the work they do to make sure it is all kid friendly and connects to the things kids are working through in school. LOVE IT!
– Teacher, Olympic View Elementary,
