The Secret Life of Girls

In this honest and unflinching dramatization of teen-girl angst, a window is opened into the tumultuous and destructive world of girls' bullying

Abby seeks to gain acceptance as the newest member of the school championship volleyball team

As she and her team-mates struggle to find a friend, a place in the group and themselves, their jockeying for position is sometimes humorous and often heartbreaking

Invitations are extended or withheld, individual friendships sacrificed to collective judgments, and alliances formed and changed daily as they careen from exclusion to isolation to acceptance and back again

Bullying in the form of gossiping, keeping secrets, using friendship as a weapon, name-calling, exclusion, spreading rumors, backbiting, clinging to cliques and manipulation become a prelude to dangerous behaviors such as depression, cutting, eating disorders, and premature sexuality

The adults in the girls' lives are either unable or unwilling to change their behaviors

Though desperately concerned, Abby's mother is unable to make contact with her daughter, while the volleyball coach and team mom enable rather than work to effect change

When faced with the consequences of their actions, the girls ultimately resolve - one by one - to change their behaviors

Based upon interviews with girls on the giving and receiving end of bullying, the play highlights the impact of "cyberbullying," the facilitation of mean-spirited behaviors through the use of cell phones, text and instant messaging, e-mail and chat rooms

The portrayal of the sobering reality of these girls' lives can start a conversation in homes, schools and communities, providing the opportunity to reveal the secrets and address the complexities which dominate the lives of many young women

"This brave study of teen girl angst presents an unfortunately realistic and sobering view of what our kids are facing. Hopefully, the conversation Daugherty starts will be continued in homes, schools, and communities, giving all of us a chance to respond and offer solutions to the difficulties that many of our young women face" ~ Susan Sugerman, MD, MPH Girls to Women Health and Wellness, PA, Dallas, Texas

All-female teenage cast - runs about 60 minutes