HCHS drama students present the first play of the year – Harlan Enterprise – on October 18th

By Allison Haught

Bear tracks

With the recent rise of social media, cyberbullying has become a real problem in our world, particularly in high schools across the country.
To shed light on this serious issue, the Harlan County High School Drama Club will begin the year with a play called #Viral.
#Viral by Maria McConville will be performed for students and parents on October 18th. The drama club will bring this play to the Clay County High School competition on October 19th.
In #Viral, six high school girls recount a horrific locker room bullying incident that ends up going viral online. The students involved question their role in the events that unfolded that day.
The film stars Ava Fields (Megan), Kylie Ward (Anna), Emilia Dunn (Deb), Emily Witt (Lucy) and Caley Meadows (Morgan).
The cast (#trolls) includes Allison Haught, Emma-Kay Williams, Jovi Tye, Hayley Johnson, Savannah Pennington, Eminee Hubbard, Addison Fields, Kailey Shepherd and Bailey Dunn.
“I think this piece is very relatable because it deals with social media and cyberbullying. I hear many students at our school talking about their struggles with online bullying. “I hope this starts a conversation and helps students show staff better ways to help them,” said Jennifer Freyer, director of the drama club.
Freyer hopes students will learn important lessons from #Viral.
“That they are not alone. There are multiple solutions and we should be kind to each other,” she said. “Be careful not to attack anyone, as this can have lifelong consequences, even for people who are not the victims of the bullying.”
“I feel like it will open people’s eyes to bullying. “A lot of it goes unnoticed because we just see it as a joke,” said Jeremy Goldsberry, a theater club member. “Since I saw it on #Viral, I’ve noticed more bullying around me.”
“I think when this very sensitive topic is expressed, you recognize children who have had to experience this,” added Kaydence Wynn, a member of the drama club. “I think showing the effects of bullying and cyberbullying in front of a high school audience will be helpful. “Certainly kids don’t feel alone.”

(Allison Haught is a senior at Harlan County High School)