JSU’s Department of Theatre and Film’s current show offers virtual performances of Boy Gets Girl, a play by Alabama native Rebecca Gilman, who graduated from Birmingham Southern College and was later inducted into the Alabama Writer’s Hall of Fame in 2016. The show follows the story of magazine writer Theresa Bedell, who becomes a victim of stalking after she goes on a blind date with Tony, a man who cannot take “no” for an answer. As the Theatre and Film Department puts it, “Gilman’s play explores the emotional, mental, and physical toll that stalking victims experience.”

The performance is directed by Dr. Carolyn Conover, an assistant professor of theatre. About the play as a whole, Conover says, “Full disclosure: this is not an easy story to tell. But it’s an important one… One of my favorite things about Boy Gets Girl is its unapologetic and real handling of very difficult content and its humanly flawed characters… It’s our hope that these recognizable characters will help to fuel an important conversation about stalking and victim advocacy.”

Conover also feels that it is important that this play is seen because of its message and potential to educate. “The content and characters in the play are very real, and the trauma of the situation is very relevant to our time, to our society, and to our local and campus communities. Since the start of our process, I have looked at this play as an important opportunity for outreach and education on stalking and dating violence.” Conover also stated that those involved in the play worked with the JSU Office of Violence Against Women, JSU Counseling Services, 2^nd Chance, Inc. in Anniston, AL, and the National Stalking Prevention and Awareness Resource Center to ensure authenticity.

Boy Gets Girl was also an opportunity for the cast and crew to understand the severity and importance of the issues and themes present. “We’ve had several weeks of thorough and thoughtful conversations about these characters and their relationships… the actors definitely feel a responsibility to share these real-life points of view about stalking as honestly as possible. Students have learned to remember that we can never assume to know what others have gone through and to approach the work with empathy, even for the toughest characters. They’ve gained the understanding that there is never just one story to tell, that help can come in unlikely forms, and having a support system is paramount for all of us.”

Conover is also looking forward to the virtual aspect of the performance, as it allows for the audience to conversate amongst itself through the live-chat feature. “While the pandemic has forced us to put so many of our beloved theatre practices on hold, it’s exciting to see how we can engage with our audience in new ways.”

The last performance of Boy Gets Girl can be seen tonight, Monday, March 15, at 7:30 PM CST. Ticket prices start at $5.00 and can be purchased online through the JSU Drama website.

**Boy Gets Girl contains adult language and content, as well as themes of stalking and dating violence, and descriptions of sexual violence**