Merrick Woman Creates Anti-Bullying Musical

Lyle Cogen of Merrick will be touring her one-woman musical, "Sticks & Stones," this fall to help children identify, respond to and prevent bullying behaviors, according to a report on ABC News. 

The musical, created by Cogen in 2008, uses theater to teach children how to recognize different kinds of bullying behavior, allowing them to discover their own behaviors in the various characters depicted - whether “bully, bullied or bystander,” according to Cogen's website. 

The musical also tells students that if they see bullying take place, not to be a "passive bystander," but an ally. 

Cogen has performed the musical all over the US for children from Kindergarten to grade 12. She will be touring across the country this fall. 

Cogen told ABC News, that at the end of the musical there is a "talk back" session that gives students the opportunity to to speak on what they saw. 

"That's the most important part," said Cogen. "The purpose of theater in this context is to create a picture and talk about it. This creates awareness and it's a great springboard for discussion."