Keep It Like a Secret

After a staged reading of The Secret Life of Girls received raves from teen audiences (hard to get if you’re not Fall Out Boy), their parents (yes, teens and adults sometimes agree) and mental health pros (go with us on this), the Dallas Children’s Theater has launched a full-blown production for audiences 13 and older. Now, TSLoG isn’t about primping, L.A.M.B. bags and rhinestone-crusted whatever. It’s about hard-core bullying—the shit that turns perfectly happy tweens into depressed, “she-just-doesn’t-apply-herself-anymore” angsteens. Without harping on emo or other cop-outs, playwright Linda Daugherty turned to experts to find out why girls are bullies and victims. That is to say, she interviewed actual local girls. She found new millenium techniques such as cyberbullying, peer isolation and abuse via text message, as well as old-school rumor spreading and clique formation. It’s harsh stuff, just like we remember, but it just might shed some much needed light. And parents too, have just a $16 ticket ($14 for kids, seniors and students) to gettin’ a clue. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 1:30 p.m. Saturdays and 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sundays through May 13. A special Saturday night performance ($75) at 7:30 p.m. benefits Girls in Motion and ends with a panel discussion with a noted pediatrician. Dallas Children’s Theater is located at 5938 Skillman St. Call 214-740-0051 or visit dct.org.

Fridays, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 1:30 p.m.; Sundays, 1:30 & 4:30 p.m. Starts: April 13. Continues through May 13