MEDIA & TESTIMONIALS
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Listen to author Jonathan Dorf talk about the play on The Michael Dresser Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio program. The interview takes place between 1:42 and 24:20.
Check out the amazing music video created by the students of Foley High School (Foley, MN) for their production. Directed by Varrick Bruno. "You're Not Alone" used with permission of Saosin.
"In my 17 years of teaching, I have rarely found a script that has touched the cast, crew, student and adult audience in such a profound way. Upon our first reading of the play, our company stated that it was a play that we had to produce. My students felt like they needed to do this for their school."
—Troy Herbort, head of the Fine Arts Department, Socorro High School (El Paso, TX) Read the wonderful feature article in the Metro West Daily News about the Framingham High School (Framingham, MA) production of the play for middle school students. 
"When you've worked with teenagers as long as I have, you can sense the mood...and I would say that they were completely enthralled from start to finish. The play speaks their language...and it delivers its message with full force...there's no holding back. The Bluebird monologue is a prime example...you could feel the shock and discomfort rippling through the theatre...not to mention the dead silence. I love those moments."
—Shane MacMillan, Director of Drama, Hampton High School (Hampton, NB, Canada), which performed at the New Brunswick Provincial Drama Festival and Conference 
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"At the festival our group won an award for 'Outstanding Achievement in Social Activism,' which was a credit to both the script and the sincerity with which the students delivered it."
--Helen Payette, Drama Teacher, Pine Grove Middle School (Edson, AB, Canada) "I just wanted to send you a thank you for the play you wrote. We performed it this past weekend at a one act play festival, and...I so appreciate that there are others out there who realize that middle school actors can handle plays that have a message." --Leslie McKibben, Theatre Director, Hildebrandt Intermediate School (Spring, Texas) 
"My students really enjoyed producing Thank You for Flushing... They found the use of humor in the script surprising and effective. The show helped them understand that you don't need to resort to melodrama to make an important point. I would recommend this show to anyone looking for a meaningful project."
--Dollie Boyd, Riverdale High School (Murfreesboro, TN) "When I read the play, I felt that it connected with students on their level. It does not preach, but it uses their language, their situations, and their experiences to deal with the issue of bullying in a realistic manner. It has had a tremendous impact on my students' lives. They are much closer and more aware of the impact of bullying around them everyday." --Michelle Backel, Hagerty High School (Oviedo, FL) 
"I'm really grateful for the opportunity I had being cast in the Socorro High School production. Being Glinda was an eye-opening experience. I loved the play! It was wonderfully written."
--Melanie, student, Socorro High School "We were the first high school in Mississippi to perform this play. We enjoyed it because it played on a theme that the students could connect with and really learn from." --Dr. Phil Burchfield, Superintendent, Clinton Public School District (Clinton, MS) "Thank you for writing a delightful script that while humorous still brought home the seriousness of the issue of school bullying." —Bruce Turner, Counselor, Royster Middle School (Chanute, KS) |
"I'm one of the students from the Midway, B.C. production. Being in this play is an experience I will never forget. It opened my eyes to a lot of things. Brilliant work."
--Sherry, student, Boundary Central Secondary School (Midway, British Columbia, Canada) 
We had a great experience with Thank You for Flushing.... We took it to state competition and loads of directors were asking about the show. Several went on to produce it themselves. I am sure they saw in it what we saw: a piece that addresses bullying in a straightforward, non-cloying way. The emotions here are sincere but not sappy. My students liked the fact that it is a 'call to action' for their peers. I would recommend this piece for high school as well as middle school actors and audiences. The set and costume requirements can be as simple or as elaborate as your budget allows. Altogether, this is a rewarding piece of theatre."
--Mindi Penn, North Myrtle Beach High School (Little River, SC) 
"We took Thank You for Flushing My Head in the Toilet to our conference one-act competition, and we received so many compliments at contest, on our production and on the script itself. Thank you for writing such great material for high school students--appropriate for their emotional level, but not forced or diluted. My students developed and advanced their acting and analysis skills because this script gave them so much to consider and work with."
--Molly Duncan, Powhatan High School (Powhatan, VA) "I simply wanted to personally thank you for writing such a terrific play. I had been bullied in my younger years and feel that this is a message that really has to get out there and this play is absolutely perfect for it. My school recently performed this at our Provincial Drama Fest. The students loved it! Everyone came in thinking it was going to be a comedy, and apparently kids were crying by the end of it. Simply demonstrating how powerful your play really is. Once again, I can't thank you enough, I've learned so much through this play and was glad I could get such an important message across as Achilles." --Alex, student, Hampton High School |
Photo credits (clockwise from banner): Dover Bay Performing Arts Academy (Nanaimo, BC, Canada); Burroughs High School (Ridgecrest, CA); Taft Union High School (Taft, CA); Burroughs High School; Coachella Valley High School (Thermal, CA; photo by Peggy Long).