Quad City teens learn to "Stand Up!" - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Quad City teens learn to "Stand Up!"

By: Crispin Havener
chavener@cbs4qc.com

A new program is using music to help Quad City teens learn about bullying, drugs and other issues.

It's called "Stand Up! Change Teen Statistics". The theater show was put on for Bettendorf High School students on Thursday.

"It's breaking down barriers," says Danielle Nicholas, one of the actresses involved. "I don't think that this is something kids talk about very often. I think we're people that look their age, somebody that's not too high of an authority but somebody that's close to their age and knows what they're dealing with."

Using teen language and real life situations, actors say they're able to connect with students.

"We have kids come up to us after the show and break down in tears," says actor Cory Conner. "And tell us we haven't had somebody we can actually talk to."

The "Stand Up!" cast will put on 11 performances this week for nearly 3,400 high school students in the QCA.