Teens, adults discuss serious issues as play nears

An audience of about 20 parents and high school students discussed sex, depression, and acting at the Media Theatre's Teen Town Hall Meeting on Sunday afternoon.

The event, held in preparation of the theater's opening of the musical Spring Awakening, was intended to provide an understanding of the coming-of-age issues addressed in the musical show, artistic director Jesse Cline said.

His hope was that the discussion would allay adult anxiety and provide a forum in which teens could talk about some of the issues the show addresses.

Each audience member was given an index card on which to write anonymous questions and was encouraged to ask panelists questions directly.

The musical, which debuted in 2006, is based on an 1891 play of the same name. Both are coming-of-age stories. Many of the original topics, such as bullying, rebellion, and relationships, pertain to today's youth.

"Some of the material in the play is not revolutionary itself, but rather in how it's presented," Cline said.

"What happens in the American musical reflects what's happening in our country," Cline told the audience. "It's not a happy play . . . but it has a resolution that's not all darkness."

Several of the panelists, including Betsy Crane, director of human sexuality at Widener University, pointed out that topics such as homosexuality and suicide would never have been addressed years ago.

Crane said that when parents have input in their children's entertainment, it opens a forum for dialogue.

"We don't know when we have a baby who they'll turn out to be," so support and dialogue are crucial, she said.

The panelists also gave tips on how to speak to teenagers about weighty issues like sex. Crane, for instance, suggested explaining certain concepts, little by little, as children ask about them. "You can answer questions simply, one by one."

One of the main points the panelists stressed was that all teenagers need a support system, whether it comes from teachers, parents, or guidance counselors.

In the right circumstances, a school should be a haven in which people stand up for those who are bullied, Radnor High School principal Mark Schellenger said.

"You have to stand up for these things," Brian Bortnicker of the PRYSM Youth Center said, referring to treating people equally. "Could you imagine having to hide who you are every day? When kids can come out and be who they are . . . it's such a liberating and wonderful experience for them."

Radnor High student Kaleigh Link, an audience member, said it was interesting to hear what the adults had to say.

Charlie Biegloski, a student at the Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School Center for the Performing and Fine Arts, agreed it was useful to hear from those in different age groups.

Ultimately, Link said, it was "great that the community could get together to talk about it."

The musical runs April 18 to May 20.