PLAY HELPS TEENS HANDLE PRESSURE

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- "Zoomer's Rap Band," a play focusing on ways to handle peer pressure, will be performed for several area schools.

A free performance, which is open to the public, will also be presented March 1 at Rose Theater on the Southeast Missouri State University campus. The show begins at 7 p.m.

The first performance will be held Friday at Altenburg public and parochial schools beginning at 1:30 p.m. Other performances are scheduled Feb. 15 at Cape Central Junior High and March 1 at Meadow Heights School.

M. Sean Carl, a senior at Southeast, directs the play. "The show starts out with three opening vignettes about different types of peer pressure," Carl said.

The story follows a girl named Zoomer, who is struggling with peer pressure.

"She keeps getting outside pressure from her best friend, from a guy she really likes, and from others. Her friends are also struggling with peer pressure."

Carl said the play deals with a wide variety of different pressures, including popularity and divorce.

The same play was presented last year at area schools. Carl directed that production also.

"We performed at four schools last year," Carl said. "The kids really seemed to enjoy it. They really understood it was about peer pressure.

"And the show brings it down to their level," he said. "It's not a bunch of adults preaching `Just say no;' it's a group of their peers relating experiences and showing them the right way to go."

University Theater students make up the cast.

Zoomer is played by Lori Prewitt; Renee is played by Tara R. Windeknecht; Mick is played by Matt Garner; and Colby is played by Scott L. Hamann.

The assistant director is Kelli A. McCune and the technical assistant is Miki McNeal.

All the performers and crew are also members of the University Players organization on campus.

The drama is a product of The Bridgework Theater of Goshen, Ind. The Cape Girardeau Teen Pregnancy and Responsibility Network is sponsoring the project.