As Bright Star prepares to enter its 21st school year, we wanted to share a message from our company founder, David Ostergaard, about the big “Why” of our Bully Prevention programming. I thought the message was important to share early in the school year, and I think you will agree. – Josh Batenhorst, CEO

Dear friends,

When I reflect back on my time in school it’s fond memories of teachers that brought creativity and love to the classroom, it’s the iconic pizza slices, the school assemblies and the good friends. Unfortunately, like millions of others, these memories are sometimes tarnished by the darkest years of my life where I found myself being bullied on a near daily basis.

When I had the opportunity to create our first season with Bright Star—an anti-bullying show for the youngest grades was so important to me. I wanted our young audiences to hear these messages of hope, to understand that they weren’t alone and feel empowered to seek help to end it.

I am writing this appeal to express the deep importance of addressing and combating bullying in your community and beyond. Bullying is not just a trivial matter; it has profound and lasting effects on the lives of those who experience it. As someone who values compassion, understanding, and the well-being of others, I believe that taking a stand against bullying is a moral obligation that we all share.

Bright Star has long been a leader in our field providing a strong season of anti-bullying programming that seeks to serve audiences of all ages.

I have experienced firsthand how bullying can lead to emotional trauma, low self-esteem, anxiety, and even depression for the victims. These negative consequences extend beyond childhood and can continue to impact individuals throughout their lives. By promoting an environment that is free from bullying, we not only protect the mental and emotional health of our young people but also foster a sense of belonging and unity.

Furthermore, I firmly believe that promoting antibullying initiatives contributes to building a stronger, more empathetic society. When we actively work to prevent bullying, we send a clear message that kindness, respect, and inclusivity are our shared values. By educating ourselves and others about the effects of bullying, we empower individuals to become allies, standing up against harassment and discrimination in all forms.

As we strive for a more harmonious and compassionate world, let us remember that every person deserves to feel safe, valued, and accepted. By prioritizing antibullying efforts, we not only create a better present but also pave the way for a brighter future where every individual can thrive without the fear of mistreatment.

Thank you for considering my appeal. Together, we can make a meaningful difference and create a community where kindness prevails over cruelty.

We are living through uncertain times where bullies have been given megaphones in our daily lives through the media and politics of our age.

I hope sincerely you’ll join our mission in bringing light to the dark corners of our own lives and the young people that rely on us to be their voice.

Your commitment to the cause means so much. As I reflect back, I think most warmly of Dr. Tony Baldwin in my high school that helped to bring an end to four years of bullying and helped make my final two years of high school something full of sweet memories.

We each have this power to change the life of a young person today.

Sincerely,

David Ostergaard

Company Owner/Founder

If you would like to make some of Bright Star’s Bully Prevention programming a part of your school year, reach out to schedule a performance or purchase an online show. Email josh@brightstartheatre.com or give us a call at 336-558-7360.

Want to see spellbound students engaged and having fun while learning? Our Spring Tours will do the trick! For the Spring, we’re featuring shows about incredible women in American History, Earth Day and STEM, and classic literature!

+ Learn about Amelia Earhart, Sacajawea, Susan B. Anthony and more inspiring women from American history in We Can Do It: American Women in History. Available on Tours Spring 1 2023, Spring 1.5 2023, and Spring 1 2024.

+ Kids take the stage to engineer a device for gathering water, build a toy from recycled materials, and more in Gus Goes Green: Earth Day Edition. Available on Tours Spring 2 2023 and Spring 1 2024.

+ Creating an entire fairy tale from the janitor’s cart? Our hilarious and popular Upcycled Cinderella proves that a little creativity and ingenuity can go a long way! Available on Tours Spring 1 2023, Spring 1.5 2023, and Spring 1 2024.

And yes, we do still have a few openings for our 2023 Spring Tours!

If you’re ready to book for 2024, we’re ready, too! In fact, we’ve just announced our titles! We’re proud to announce a brand new show debuting in 2024: Dr. Bestlife’s Rx For Success: Healthy Choices for a Happy Life which gives audiences great ideas for navigating social media, building healthy friendships, and more!

One of the most important things we do at Bright Star, is help students learn how to develop healthy relationships and comabat bullying. It has been a part of our mission from the very beginning and now we are in our 20th year of presenting shows that help students learn to identify and confront bullying wherever they find it.

A school assembly with Bright Star can be the perfect way to introduce important Social -Emotional Learning topics including bullying, online safety, positive attention, cultural awareness and so much more! If it is part of your mission to help students navigate a complicated world filled with difficult relationships and emotions, then Bright Star wants to bring one of our shows to YOU!

Bright Star has a number of shows and programs that can infuse your Social-Emotional Learning and Bully Prevention programming with the power of theatre! October is national Bully Prevention month. All of Bright Star’s shows have a strong character education component, helping students make sense of the larger world, understand other cultures, and learn to navigate tricky social situations. Check out our Fall Tours below!

Fall Tour 1

Turkey Trouble on Friendly Acres Farm

Everything has been so wonderful down on Friendly Acres Farm, that is, until a bullying turkey starts picking on the other farm animals and making life harder for everyone. Farmer Jim and his faithful dog must stop this bullying bird to save Friendly Acres.

Little Red and the Big Bully Wolf

The woods are scary enough without having to worry about a big bully howling in the shadows! Follow Little Red and meet her friends – the three little pigs, the Gingerbread Man, and more – as they learn to face their fears and stand up to the Big Bully Wolf! Learn to identify, report and resist bullying and develop healthy friendships as we follow Little Red on her journey to grandma’s house. Funny, dramatic, and highly entertaining!

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

One of the first true classics of American literature, this is an authentic retelling of Washington Irving’s story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman! When Ichabod Crane takes a new job as schoolmaster of Sleepy Hollow, he was expecting to have a simple life, but things get complicated very quickly! This tale is just spooky enough to delight any audience as the days get shorter, the air gets colder, and the nights turn long and dark. A perfect introduction to this literary classic.

Fall Tour 2

The Lady of Bullyburg

The Lady of Bullyburg is our longest running bully prevention production because it has been heralded by educators and librarians for its power to change lives through lessons of friendship and kindness. Join Lady Kindness as she saves her town from a visiting bully while learning a variety of empowering tools along the way. A fairy tale that helps young audiences learn that a world built on kindness is not just a fantasy!

Maximus Mars

In a world where technology and society are changing at the speed of light, our hero, Maximus Mars, stands ready to challenge bullies wherever they may be found – in real life, online, or out of this world! Maximus Mars: An Intergalactic Bully Prevention Adventure stretches the imagination while exploring the challenges that students in middle grades face in the modern world – cyberbullying, electronic media, texting and more. Students need practical strategies for dealing with today’s pressures and Maximus Mars addresses those challenges in a direct and creative way.

A Tell-Tale Tale: The Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe

No one tells a story quite like the Great Edgar Allan Poe! In A Tell-Tale Tale these spooky and clever stories and poems come to life before your very eyes. With a mastery of language that few can match, Edgar Allan Poe’s stories and poems are as impactful today as they were in the 19th century when they were written. This show blends rich language with expert storytelling to produce a rich language arts experience for middle grades. Stories include “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Raven,” “The Bells” and more!

Fall Tour 3

Captain Friendship

Captain Friendship is our super fun, super impactful, superhero themed bully prevention circus adventure! There’s trouble under the big top as the Bully Bandit has struck fear in the hearts of all the performers. It’s up to one superhero to stand up and make a difference – Captain Friendship! Audiences learn to stand up to the Bully Bandit and find that kindness is the ultimate super-power!

FrankenSTEM

Dr. Frank N. Stein is one of the world’s most famous scientists. Along with his trusty assistant, Igor, Dr. Stein has created some of the world’s most amazing inventions! But those inventions would be nothing without YOUR imagination. It will take Science, Technology, Engineering and Math to make his latest masterpiece come to life! This show helps students learn why STEM subjects are so important to the modern world while opening up an exciting world of STEM discovery. Back by popular demand, see why audiences made this our most popular STEM show ever!

Friend Request

A series of fun and informative vignettes, Friend Request explores the good and bad parts of social media and online culture. Technology can be great, but it also comes with some serious temptations and pitfalls. This quirky show gives your audience practical ways to address issues like cyberbullying, online safety, and understanding how to have positive relationships with friends both online and in real life.

Bright Star Touring Theatre is one of the nation’s largest providers of Bully Prevention programming and we are heading out this fall with eight incredible bully prevention titles!

Choose from:
The Pirate of Bully Bay
Maximus Mars: An Intergalactic Antibullying Adventure
Bullysaurus Rex
Friend Request: An Online Safety Show
Little Red and the Big Bully Wolf
Bullied
Captain Friendship and the Bully Bandit
The Story of Anne Frank

We know that there is no magic pill for ending bullying in schools. However, we do know that school climate and culture plays into the mix, and we also know that quality arts experiences can help with school climate. A bully prevention show from Bright Star can be a valuable part of your efforts to help students take a stand against bullying.

In addition to Bully Prevention we also have shows on topics like Black History, STEM, Women’s History, and Classic Literature.

All of our 45 minute shows come with study guides and are aligned with state/national standards. They fit perfectly into a school class period, and we have shows that are appropriate for early elementary all the way through high school. We also offer residencies and workshops to give students a hands-on, arts enriched experience.

Pricing is straightforward: $895 all-inclusive for a single show – $250 for each additional show from the same tour and on the same day, back-to-back. You can save $200 off the price of your show by booking with another area school for the same day!

Educators know that bullying has dire consequences. It leads to poor emotional, mental and physical health, poor performance in school, attendance issues and often violence. We know that students who are bullied are more than twice as likely to struggle with one of these issues, and also be more likely to perpetuate the cycle by bullying others as well.

The good news is, bullying doesn’t have to be a part of every child’s school experience. While there’s no magic answer that ends it, a comprehensive school education plan that engages students and the community can help. That’s where Bright Star Touring Theatre comes in.

Our Bully Prevention shows serve as a great kickoff event or regular part of your community’s efforts to reduce violence, end bullying and teach empathy. In addition to directly addressing Bullying, all Bright Star shows have relevant social/emotional learning components and strong character education lessons.

We would love to have the opportunity to work with you this fall to help end bullying and teach students to be compassionate and caring friends. We have eight different shows to choose from.

Choose from:
The Pirate of Bully Bay
Maximus Mars: An Intergalactic Antibullying Adventure
Bullysaurus Rex
Friend Request: An Online Safety Show
Little Red and the Big Bully Wolf
Bullied
Captain Friendship and the Bully Bandit
The Story of Anne Frank

Bright Star has eight incredible Antibullying shows heading out next fall. These shows focus on the power of positive friendships and give great lessons about how to include everyone in a school community.

You can double the impact of these shows by coupling it with our amazing whole-school program – “Operation Friendship” – where schools get extended Q&A with our talented actors, pledge cards where students can pledge to be good friends, and an “Operation Friendship” banner to display proudly in the school. Check out all of our Antibullying titles for 2019-20 below and click the links to read descriptions.

Choose from:
The Pirate of Bully Bay
Maximus Mars: An Intergalactic Antibullying Adventure
Bullysaurus Rex
Friend Request: An Online Safety Show
Little Red and the Big Bully Wolf
Bullied
Captain Friendship and the Bully Bandit
The Story of Anne Frank

Help make your school a safe and fun place through the power of theatre!

Here at Bright Star we are so excited about National Arts in Education Week!!

Studies show that the arts are an essential part of a complete education… Bring education and learning through the arts to your students by booking a Bright Star assembly today!
#BecauseOfArtsEd

www.brightstartheatre.com
336-558-7360

There is still time to bring in an amazing assembly for your students this fall… call 336-558-7360 now and get your school year started off right. From Anti-bullying to STEM, Holidays to Black History (and more!), Bright Star has all of your assembly needs covered!

We’re pleased to announce that, for the first time ever, we will be attending the Virginia PTA  Leadership Training and Annual Conference.  In fact, I’ll be packing up my vehicle and preparing for tomorrow’s trip as soon as this blog is complete! The 2016 Conference will be held at the Richmond Marriott Downtown and will take place July 14th through the 16th.

For several years, Bright Star has had a great relationship with Virginia schools, visiting the state dozens of times each year and often returning to the same schools year after year. In fact, yesterday I had an opportunity to talk with one of our PTA sponsors in Northern Virginia who has booked us every year since I started working with Bright Star four years ago. They will be bringing us back this year for one of our Black History Programs.  It is always such a pleasure to have a continuing relationship with PTA members who are seeking great programs for their local schools.

I hope to meet many more wonderful PTA members at this week’s conference and find more great schools that we can visit year after year!  If you will be attending the Virginia PTA Conference this week, please stop by and see me at Booth 49.  I’ll be there with lots of great information about all of our 2016-2017 shows which include Anti-bullying Adventures, Science Shows, Black History Programs, Literary Classics, Holiday Celebrations and more (even a show that I am incredibly excited about which covers the founding of the U.S. and how elections work–with a game show format)!

Richmond, Virginia here I come!

Erin Schmidt, Director of Development

Bright Star’s Fall Tours are often full of spectacularly colorful and adventure filled anti-bullying programs. Well, this year is no different! Invite your students to learn the importance of treating everyone with respect and kindness all while laughing with dinosaurs or defending a kingdom with knights and wizards! This year Bright Star has developed two brand new plays for different age groups that portray the serious effects of bullying while equipping students with tools to defeat bullying at your school.

Bullysaurus Rex (best for grades PreK-5th). Our play focuses around Terri Dactyl, the new dinosaur on the block and her struggle to be accepted by Bullysaurus Rex, the biggest and most powerful dinosaur. While Bullysaurus Rex combats her with everything he’s got, she does meet some friendly faces such as Treyceratops, a friendly dino who happens to get bullied too, and for no reason at all! Then there is Gregosaurus, a hilarious salesman who’s got the cure for just about everything, including some terrific ways to deal with bullies. This show also empowers those who see bullying happening to say something and put a stop to it altogether!

One Noble Knight (best for grades 3rd-8th). In a distant kingdom ruled by the cruel Queen Edda, one noble knight must unexpectedly rise to the task of defeating her bullying ways. With the help of the wise wizard, Waldermar, and the Queen’s comedic servant, Bumbleworth, Sir Sterling, our knight, will learn to overcome all obstacles in order to save the kingdom and all its people. Sterling will use the tools he learns along his epic journey in order to handle this bully and stay kind and loyal to his Queen. This more serious and fantastical look at bullying will teach your older grades the importance of respect and leadership!

We are certain that these two new anti-bullying shows are bound to amaze your young audience while teaching them one of the most important lessons, respect for one another.

This is an exciting time of year at Bright Star.  We’re gearing up for our 2016-2017 season of professional, touring productions and this year we have 50 amazing plays to plan for, including 7 brand new shows: Alice in Wonderland, Bullysaurus Rex, One Noble Night, USA to Z,  Holiday Songs: Music Around the World, Building Stories and Gus Goes Green: A STEM Adventure! That’s a lot of costumes, props and sets!  We cannot wait to finish up our T-Rex Costume, our Cheshire cat and our Patriotic Prizes for USA to Z, which is a game-show-themed program about our government and elections (just in time for the big election in 2016)!

With the school year wrapping up, administrators and teachers have a chance to plan their assemblies for the following year. This means that we have a chance to reconnect with some of our favorite sponsors from all across the country–and beyond. Just today, we’ve had the joyful opportunity of speaking with school sponsors in North and South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Tennessee and even Germany! There have been many smiles and great conversations about which of our 45-minute plays will best suit their school’s needs. Some of the sponsors we’ve spoken to today have been choosing Bright Star shows every year for several years and we’ve received so much positive feedback about the quality of our performances and how their students excitedly await another visit from Bright Star actors. Some have even been taking advantage of our special rate for bringing in 4 different assemblies throughout the year for $2500 ($625 per assembly). It is truly a joy to help schools find the perfect program for every occasion; whether it’s an anti-bullying show to kick off the school year, a holiday celebration, a Black History program, a literary classic or a STEM show.

We look forward to hearing from even more of our loyal sponsors and, of course, from schools who are bringing in their first Bright Star play. It’s going to be another great year of bringing professional theatre to young audiences everywhere!

Erin Schmidt, Director of Development