Billy the Bully Goat’s parents and teachers are at their wits’ end! No matter what they do, they cannot get Billy to stop picking on the other kids in his class. Luckily, the Wise Old Goat—a certified goat therapist—has a brilliant plan to stop Billy's bad behavior. With a little bit of magic dust, some common sense, and family support, Billy will learn just how his words and actions can affect another goat’s insides. Can Billy change his bullying ways? And if so, what will happen when the magic dust wears off?
Billy the Baaadly Behaving Bully Goat: The Musical is a 45-minute play written by Staci Schwartz and directed by Ben Smallen, featuring important character education themes about kindness and respect, with uplifting original music by Liz Filios, which will be performed six times during this year’s Philadelphia Fringe Festival in September. We are so excited to be contributing one of the few productions that are specifically geared to kid- and family-friendly audiences! All performances will take place in a popular, ADA-accessible, neighborhood family enrichment center called Nest.
Kids aged 4-9 (and their parents and families) will laugh at Billy’s antics, sing along with engaging, snappy tunes, and interact with the silly and talented cast of characters—all while learning about friendship, empathy, and how to stand up for themselves and each other!
In today’s world, bullying behavior is all around us—in books and movies, on television, and in schools and workplaces all over the world. Our children are watching as divisive behavior is becoming normalized in our country. But if children are taught from the earliest ages to respect and accept one another—and to be kind, empathetic, and inclusive upstanders—they can learn to interact with their peers in positive and constructive ways, even during conflicts.
Education is key. We can teach kids to make good choices, to think about how their words and actions affect others, and to stick up for themselves and others. And why not make that learning fun? And what could be more fun than live children's theater performed in a well-known neighborhood play space?