Teen Group Attempts To Raise Awareness For Local Tragedy

When high school senior Hannah Jo Weisberg became president of Prime Stage Theatre's Teen Board, she didn't have to think twice about the focus of the group's annual charity service project.

Teen dating violence.

All of Monroeville was shocked in August of 2007 when 16-year-old Demi Brae Cuccia was brutally stabbed to death by her boyfriend. While Weisberg did not know Cuccia personally, both young women were students at Gateway High School.

"What happened at my school hit so close to home," said Weisburg, "I thought "This shouldn't happen If I can do anything to prevent this, I have to.'"

Seeing an opportunity as "a chance to make a difference," Weisburg is just one of nearly a dozen local high school students performing the play Don't U Luv Me? February 25 at the New Hazlett Theatre on the Northside.

Written by Linda Daughtery, Don't U Luv Me? empowers teens to recognize potentially dangerous relationships so they can take steps to help someone in trouble-maybe even themselves.

According to Wesiberg, the group originally planned to do a series of monologues, but no idea seemed to work well. Then Prime Stage Artistic Director Wayne Brinda gave a copy of Don't U Luv Me? to Weisberg. She read the script and said, "This is perfect."

"Dating violence is affecting my generation," said Weisberg. "Everyone I know has either gone through this or knows someone who has."

Statistics confirm Weisberg's findings. Thirty-eight percent of date-rape victims are girls aged 14 to 17. According to Liz Claiborne, Inc. only half of 11-14 year-olds claim to know the warning signs of a bad or hurtful relationship.

Brinda encourages parents as well as teens attend the performance in hopes of speaking dialogue and increasing awareness about ten dating violence.

Following the performance of Don't U Luv Me?, there will be a chat session. Counselors will also be on hand to field questions and offer support.

The Pittsburgh Chapter of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, has been active in promoting Don't U Luv Me?

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Demi Cuccia Memorial Fund dedicated to prevent teen dating violence and support families who are dealing with dating violence. Demi's father Gary and her stepmother Johanna have been working with the Prime Stage Teen Board on this project. More information about teen dating violence (and legislation to make the issue part of the curriculum in Pennsylvania schools) is available at www.demibrae.com.

Weisberg hopes there will be future performances at local schools.

Don't U Luv Me? will be performed at 7pm on February 25 at the New Hazlett Theatre. A donation of $10 is suggested.

For more information, visit the Prime Sage Theatre's website at www.primestage.com.

PHOTO: Zeke Stewart and Hannah Jo Weisberg play the leads in Don't U Luv Me?

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