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�It�s OK to be who you are� Mail Tribune / Drew Fleming Casey Faubion, foreground, plays a bus driver dealing with middle school pandemonium in the kickoff of Teen Theatre�s "Puberty Show" Saturday during the Parent and Daughter Faire in Medford. The annual fair is sponsored by the Reduce Adolescent Pregnancy Project and addresses such issues as communication, friendships and peer pressure. Theater troupe carries message about puberty By Meg Landers What if you had a superhero to stick by your side and defend you during your adolescence? What if, while you were being teased or picked on or put down, a mighty figure flew in to save the day? Meet Mr. No-makin�-fun-of-anybody-else-man. A turquoise cape with a giant "N" gives him away. The superhero, played by Devon Peyton, an 18-year-old South Medford High School student, is one of the many characters in Teen Theatre�s new production, "The Puberty Show." Its performance was part of the sixth-annual Parent and Daughter Faire, "Let�s Talk," held Saturday at Rogue Valley Medical Center�s Smullin Center. More than 230 people attended the fair, which was sponsored by the Reduce Adolescent Pregnancy Project, a coalition of health care providers, educators, law enforcement, and religious and community leaders in Jackson County. The day included a dance performance, a fitness presentation, workshops and the Teen Theatre performance, all focusing on issues such as communication, friendships, and body changes that take place during puberty. "The Teen Theatre was the best part because it reached everyone," said Monique Kell, of Rogue River, who attended with her fourth-grade daughter, Natawnee. Kell found the performance spoke to a range of ages. "They could hit every level of kid." The performers were able to tackle tough subjects like divorce and peer pressure and intersperse them with humor. "I think it was funny," said Rozalyn Keeley, a fifth-grader at Oak Grove Elementary School. Her mother, Deborah Coggins, agreed, adding she appreciated the characters� messages. "It reinforced what I already told her over the years," she said. The troupe has several messages, according to Peyton, one of the 24 actors in the company. "It�s OK to be who you are, you shouldn�t judge people, and diversity is a strength," he said, listing a few. As Mr. No-makin�-fun-of-anybody-else-man, Peyton intervenes in situations in which someone is being bullied. With the help of the Unity Kids, recognizable by neckties with a giant "U" and sunglasses, the superhero is able to uncover the true feelings of the bully and the bullied. Then listening and understanding can begin. Preston Backer, a 15-year-old at Ashland High School and Teen Theatre member, said all individuals have the capacity within themselves to be strong enough to get beyond being disrespectful of themselves and others. "Everybody," said Preston, "can be a Mr. No-makin�-fun-of-anybody-else-man." For information on future public performances of Teen Theatre, booking for school performances, or auditioning (must be 14-20 years old), contact director Cil Stengel or producer Maggie Sullivan at Planned Parenthood, 770-3331. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.