Guest blogger, teen author, and philanthropist, Allysa B. Antoci is on the blog today to share all about her anti-bullying picture book being adapted into The Purple Marble Musical!
Hello Everyone,
Alyssa Antoci here, author of The Purple Marble. I want to update you all on what has been happening the last few months. Recently, my book, The Purple Marble was adapted into a one-act musical by PCPA, called The Purple Marble Musical, and is currently performing in over 70 schools through their outreach program on the central coast. I have had the opportunity to go to four performances at local schools and got to speak and answer questions.
I wish I could go to all of the schools but because I’m in high school now, I cannot miss class that much. I have never spoken in front of 300 kids before, and I was very excited and nervous. It wasn’t as bad as I thought as the actors answered questions first and then the kids asked me questions. It is so amazing and fulfilling to see the impact this musical has on so many kids.
It opens up so many discussions about bullying and I love hearing and answering the questions that the kids ask. One of the most heartfelt comments a kid made after one of the Purple Marble Musical performances was when a boy stood up and yelled to one of the actors in the musical, “You are not alone!” That comment really affected me and so many others, and made me realize the importance of this musical and its message. It made me feel so great and proud of this small book I wrote when I was just 8. I had no idea it would be this impactful to so many. I also did not know that this musical was going to be performed in over 70 schools with a minimum of 100 kids.
I can’t wait to hear how many kids total got to see this musical. I was so impressed with the actors’ performances as they were cast perfectly to the characters that I created. Leo Cortez, the playwright, captured my book perfectly and transformed it into the most spectacular musical. He stayed so true to my book and I’m forever grateful that he felt so moved to want to write this musical. I also want to mention how amazing and powerful Paul Marszalkowski’s music and lyrics are. By the end of the performance, the music and lyrics have stuck with you. The bullying song is so haunting and makes the main bullying scene so true to how kids feel when they are being bullied. I don’t think I ever realized how important the music and lyrics need to be to get a message across in a strong way.
After a performance just for adults, I couldn’t believe how many attendees came over to me and told me how much this even affected them and some of them even cried. Sometimes I feel what I have done is so menial until bullying victims tell me how much I have helped them.
We are now planning our next Kindness Concert and I can not wait to see how this will turn out. Catch up with you soon.
Love, Alyssa B Antoci
Thank you, Alyssa! We love this musical and can’t wait to catch up with you again soon, too.
Alyssa Antoci is the fourteen-year-old author of an anti-bullying children’s book called The Purple Marble. She speaks regularly in schools as an anti-bullying advocate. She also has a charity called Just a Little Cloth Children’s Charity, where they donate fancy dresses to underprivileged girls, because every young girl deserves to feel beautiful. Follow her on Instagram @alyssabantoci.