Bully No More!

Conversation with Creator Elaine Davida Sklar 

The musical Bully No More! (US/UK/CA) explores the repercussions of bullying and celebrates the power of individuals to band together and stand up for what is right. With compelling characters and lively songs, the show empowers and inspires its audience to look out for one another, treat each other with kindness and respect, and “Hold onto Hope” in an imperfect world.

What is unusual about your bullying prevention show that would make it of interest to schools, camps, clubs, and theaters?

Flexibility. Bully No More! stands apart from other shows for children because of the many ways it can be cast, performed, produced and included in curricula for schools, theater camps, and community theaters.

Can you elaborate?

When a school or theater licenses a show, the agreement often requires that it cannot be modified. In contrast, we encourage producers, directors, teachers, and performers to take creative license with scenes, songs, lines, number of actors, and costumes, to fit their needs and goals. Why? Because the purpose of this show is to empower performers and audiences around the topic of bullying in a way that is not only entertaining but is also meaningful to them!

Bully No More! is set in “The Land Between.” What’s the reasoning behind that?

Children love going on adventures, at least in their imaginations. Bullying is everywhere, and kids don’t have to look far to see it in their homes, schools, playgrounds and on their devices. So, I chose a neutral locale where the bullies and the targets interact and work out their differences.

Are the bullies and targets all animals?

Yes. I chose animals over humans so that no child would be stereotyped or stigmatized. I did not want to have an awkward or clumsy child playing a target, or an academically strong child playing a bully; I didn’t want to imply that clumsy children are targets and smart kids are bullies. I wanted to personify behaviors that reflect bullying and its opposite, kindness and compassion, using animals that kids love.

What kinds of bullying do you depict with animal characters?

The intellectually superior Owl chides Duck, who has learning disabilities. The speedy Rabbit ridicules Elephant, who is slow and uncoordinated. Lion belittles Tiger, who is a nerdy scientist with gender identity issues. Prankster Monkey teases multi-colored Unicorn who symbolizes a racially diverse character, and feels invisible. Dinosaur is a quiet mediator who allows the others to work out their differences on their own.

Why is Bully No More! so important for all children to see?

Every day, children are exposed to cyberbullying on social media and attacks in school, causing them to feel terrified and alone.

What would be unthinkable for youngsters to see and say in 2010 is now omnipresent on their TVs, devices and in classrooms. Kids need a hero: a Neil Armstrong, Martin Luther King, Jr. or an Abraham Lincoln. Instead, traditional role models are being toppled, and few new ones are to be found.

On top of that, the pandemic has brought about debilitating isolation across society. Depression, anxiety and suicide in our youth are at epidemic levels. Horrific mass shootings are commonplace. We all need a break!  So, I wrote Bully No More! to give adults and children inspiration and hope.

What inspired you to write a children’s show about bullying?

My motivation stems from my own painful experiences. As a child, I was physically and emotionally bullied, so I empathize with the suffering that kids endure every day. Theatre sends powerful messages. I wanted to impress children in a positive way. That’s how Bully No More! came to be.

How did you get interested in theater?

I was born into a theatrical family. My dad was an actor on Broadway, performing in Pins and Needles and other Labor Stage plays. My mom was a New York City ballerina. I wanted to be a writer and performer. In school, I danced and acted. As an adult, I was the producer and director of The Greenwich Repertory Theatre and the director for The Children’s Theatre Workshops in Greenwich, CT. When I moved to Stowe, Vermont, I became a founder of The Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center and a member of their Board of Directors. I ran after school theater programs in a dozen elementary schools, and I have a master’s in education.

Do you have a favorite song in the show?

My favorite song is “I Feel Strong!” (Listen to it here.)

You are a strong proponent of education and have been recognized by many organizations and leaders in your home state of Vermont. Can you elaborate on ways that your show can be a long-lasting educational tool?

Schools, camps, clubs, and theaters can use scenes and songs from BullyNo More! as standalone performance opportunities to share anti-bullying themes. School children can present portions of the show for their peers in class, at assemblies, variety shows, festivals or fairs, as well as an entire school-wide production. In this way, Bully No More! is a tool to encourage bullying prevention as part of the values and missions of schools and child-centered performance organizations.

Bullying is in schools, summer camps, the workplace, at home, in stores… everywhere. Most people have been affected by bullying. And that is why the musical is relevant. Teaching youngsters about bullying will influence them as they mature and navigate the wider world. It is an essential tool in a country where troubled youth have access to handguns and semi-automatic weapons. If we can alleviate their pain, we have a better chance of preventing a tragedy.

What message do you hope audiences take from your show?

Bullying is not okay. Parents are not always aware of their children being bullied or acting as bullies. This is why bringing an entertaining musical about bullying prevention to children is a powerful teaching tool.

I hope children leave Bully No More! singing the songs that resonate with them and identifying with the characters who learn to be kind and accepting in a diverse world.