Students in Elon University’s Department of Performing Arts are taking a stand against homophobia and bullying with the third annual It Gets Better benefit concert.
It Gets Better is a national project seeking to remind young members of the LGBTQ community that life improves despite the heavy weight bullies put on their shoulders when they’re young.
According to this year’s director, senior acting major Emily Guernsey, the show began two years ago with Claire Manship (class of 2013), who was passionate for the cause and drafted Guernsey and junior Rebecca O’Krent to help her make the show happen.
Now, Guernsey and O’Krent are in charge and while they are following in Manship’s footsteps, Gruensey said she and O’Krent have led this year’s show in a more intimate direction.
“[Manship] created incredible, big, bold and vibrant shows,” Guernsey said. “We loved them. Becky and I, who have taken the reins this year, are equally as passionate, but look at the show differently. This year, there will be fewer big numbers and it may look a little more like a sharing of emotions and ideas through art.”
With the show still in the early stages of production, Guernsey said she and O’Krent depend on their dedicated crew – sophomores Hunter McCormick, the assistant director, Meagan Schrock, the stage manager, and Ryan Monroe, the music director.
Each member’s passion for the show and willingness to do what they can derives from their personal experience. Schrock said she connects with the show because of her past with bullying and her desire to make others in our community feel included.
“This show means so much to me because I have witnessed bullying towards LGBTQ individuals and have been bullied myself,” Schrock said. “I have felt the pain of feeling like I didn't belong and have shared that pain with my LGBTQ friends. I want to let people know that it really does get better. There's always hope.”
Read about the 2011 It Gets Better show here.
Guernsey said she believes this isn’t just another Performing Arts production. While some performers hail from the department, there are students outside the department of performing arts who have hidden talents they want to share. Furthermore, Schrock said this performance is set apart from the department’s many others because it can be personally connected to many members of Elon’s community.
“This show differs from other performing arts shows in that I feel It Gets Better is much more personal,” Schrock said. “Other Performing Arts shows feature characters telling a story. It Gets Better is a cast of students sharing their stories and encouraging others through their talents in the performing arts.”
For those who don’t usually attend performance events, the crew behind It Gets Better recommends making this show the exception. Ryan Monroe said both majors and non-majors benefit from seeing a show with such a current and relatable purpose behind it.
“People need to come see this show so they understand how they can help make a change,” Monroe said. “Performing with majors and non-majors alike is an awesome experience because it opens it up to a whole new network of people. We have different skill sets that contribute to the production and we help each other with our personal messages.”
It Gets Better will be performed in Yeager Auditorium on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. All proceeds go to the It Gets Better Project.