alphabetical author index

The Secret Life of Girls

  • Linda Daugherty
  • Full Length Play, Drama, Present Day, New Millennium/21st Century
  • 10F
  • ISBN: SM7

"This play is not about real life. It is real life...If you have a daughter under 18, you need to see this show. And if she's over 11, you need to take her with you. Linda Daugherty's powerful script... [is] what many say the theater should be -- a moment for reflection about what's true and, in this case, dangerously hidden."

People Magazine, Dallas, Texas.

  • Full Length Play
  • Drama
  • 60 minutes

  • Time Period: Present Day, New Millennium/21st Century
  • Target Audience: Pre-Teen (Age 11 - 13), Teen (Age 14 - 18)
  • Set Requirements: Area Staging

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre, College Theatre / Student, High School/Secondary
"I'm going to tell you a secret -- and I don't want you to tell. The secret is about me -- about my life -- how it will never be the same again."

In this honest and unflinching dramatization of teen-girl angst, a window is opened into the tumultuous and destructive world of girls' bullying. Abby seeks to gain acceptance as the newest member of the school championship volleyball team. As she and her teammates struggle to find a friend, a place in the group and themselves, their jockeying for position is sometimes humorous and often heartbreaking.

Invitations are extended or withheld, individual friendships sacrificed to collective judgments, and alliances formed and changed daily as they careen from exclusion to isolation to acceptance and back again. Bullying in the form of gossiping, keeping secrets, using friendship as a weapon, name-calling, exclusion, spreading rumors, backbiting, clinging to cliques and manipulation become a prelude to dangerous behaviors such as depression, cutting, eating disorders, and premature sexuality.

The adults in the girls' lives are either unable or unwilling to change their behaviors. Though desperately concerned, Abby's mother is unable to make contact with her daughter, while the volleyball coach and team mom enable rather than work to effect change. When faced with the consequences of their actions, the girls ultimately resolve -- one by one -- to change their behaviors.

Based upon interviews with girls on the giving and receiving end of bullying, the play highlights the impact of cyberbullying, the facilitation of mean-spirited behaviors through the use of cell phones, text and instant messaging, e-mail and chat rooms. The portrayal of the sobering reality of these girls' lives can start a conversation in homes, schools and communities, providing the opportunity to reveal the secrets and address the complexities which dominate the lives of many young women. 

**TECHNOLOGY UPDATE: When The Secret Life of Girls and dont u luv me? were written, instant messaging was popular. It has since been replaced with texting, Facebook messaging and Snapchat. Feel free to update technology to reflect current social media trends.

REVIEWS:

"This play is not about real life. It is real life... If you have a daughter under 18, you need to see this show. And if she's over 11, you need to take her with you. Linda Daughtery's powerful script...[is] what many say the theater should be -- a moment for reflection about what's true, and, in this case, dangerously hidden."

 People Newspapers, Dallas, Texas

"...totally sold out. [DCT] had to extend the run of The Secret Life to keep up with the demand... Health professionals have jumped on board to participate in discussions that follow each performances. Linda Daugherty's world premiere... packs quite a shock."

 The Dallas Morning News

"Take every female you know to see this play, then go somewhere and talk. It is a candid, stark, and artistically brutal look at bullying, peer pressure, self-abuse, and finding one's own value. Shocking and boldly written."

 BetterThanBroadway.com

"Playwright Linda Daugherty tells the truth of destructive dynamics, and she tells it with wisdom, compassion, and sensitivity. The Secret Life of Girls offers both insight and hope."

 Rev. Dr. Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University

"This brave study of teen girl angst presents an unfortunately realistic and sobering view of what our kids are facing. Hopefully, the conversation Daugherty starts with The Secret Life of Girls will be continued in homes, schools, and communities, giving all of us a chance to respond and offer solutions to the difficulties that many of our young women face."

 Susan Sugerman, MD, MPH Girls to Women Health and Wellness, PA, Dallas, Texas

  • Casting: 10F
  • Casting Attributes: Reduced casting (Doubling Possible), All Female

Name Price
The Secret Life of Girls Script Order Now

I'm going to tell you a secreteand I don't want you to tell. The secret is about meeabout my lifeehow it will never be the same again. In this honest and unflinching dramatization of teen-girl angst, a window is opened into the tumultuous and destructive world of girls' bullying. Abby seeks to gain acceptance as the newest member of the school championship volleyball team. As she and her teammates struggle to find a friend, a place in the group and themselves, their jockeying for position is sometimes humorous and often heartbreaking. Invitations are extended or withheld, individual friendships sacrificed to collective judgments, and alliances formed and changed daily as they careen from exclusion to isolation to acceptance and back again. Bullying in the form of gossiping, keeping secrets, using friendship as a weapon, name-calling, exclusion, spreading rumors, backbiting, clinging to cliques and manipulation become a prelude to dangerous behaviors such as depression, cutting, eating disorders, and premature sexuality. The adults in the girls' lives are either unable or unwilling to change their behaviors. Though desperately concerned, Abby's mother is unable to make contact with her daughter, while the volleyball coach and team mom enable rather than work to effect change. When faced with the consequences of their actions, the girls ultimately resolveeone by oneeto change their behaviors. Based upon interviews with girls on the giving and receiving end of bullying, the play highlights the impact of cyberbullying, the facilitation of mean-spirited behaviors through the use of cell phones, text and instant messaging, e-mail and chat rooms. The portrayal of the sobering reality of these girls' lives can start a conversation in homes, schools and communities, providing the opportunity to reveal the secrets and address the complexities which dominate the lives of many young women. Area staging. Approximate running time: 1 hour.

Also Available: 40-minute version

$19.95