Strong is the New Pretty
Earlier this month my play SCHOONY’S HOME FOR GIRLS AND JOHN debuted at Florida Studio Theatre’s “Youth Perform-a-Play” Class. Christine Hopkins, the director of education at FST contacted me last fall regarding this “up-in-the-clouds” idea to adapt Kate T. Parker’s glorious book STRONG IS THE NEW PRETTY into a play for six girls between the ages of 8 and 11, while maintaining the spirit and personalities of these strong, witty, empathetic, wild, and, as they called themselves, “weird” young actresses.
Spending time with Christine and her class as they delved into Kate T. Parker’s “celebration of girls being themselves,” was a powerful and moving experience – one that gives me hope for the future. A future where women are unapologetic, where women are in charge, and where women come together to collaborate, to create, to inspire and to revel in individuality.
