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THE NOT READY FOR BEDTIME PLAYERS
SEXUALITY EDUCATION THROUGH THEATRE AT UMASS AMHERST
Amanda Collings Vann, Community Health and Patient Educator, UMass Amherst
Angela Bruns, Doctoral Student, University of Washington
The Troupe
NRBP is a program of the Center for Health Promotion at
University Health Services.
The Players are a sex-positive, sexuality education theatre
troupe that performs weekly on campus.
Players are recognized campus and considered to be
campus leaders
Skits are funny and serious, but all are performed with the
purpose of building knowledge and skills in the area of
sexual health.
History
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Formed in 1988
The UMass Theater Department and the School of Public
Health created and performed "The AIDS Follies“
Emphasis on educational messages/skill building
Show topics include communication, safer sex, relationship
violence, masturbation, sexual performance, sexual response,
GLBTQ issues and bystander interventions
Scripts adapted and created to ensure inclusion of as many
areas of sexuality as possible, while maintaining core
messages encouraging safer and informed sex decisions
Players have broad variety of skills and education
The current shows consists of approximately 20 vignettes.
Philosophy
The Not Ready for Bedtime Players view
sexual health as integral to the overall
health and well being of college students.
We respect all genders, sexual
orientations and sexual identities. We
support all people’s ability to make
empowered choices that are safe,
consensual and fit their cultures, values,
and belief systems regarding sex and
sexuality. Our goal is to offer a show that
is inclusive, accessible and affirming to
students.
Literature Review
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Audience Outcomes
 Positive
attitude change toward people with HIV (Ergene,
Çok, Tümer & Ünal, 2005)
 Normalization
of safer sexual practices (McIntosh, 2008)
 Improvement in confidence to implement strategies that
prevent the negative consequences of sexual activity
(McIntosh, 2008)
Literature Review
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Peer Educator Outcomes
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Increased knowledge of STIs (Ernhardt, Krumboltz and Koopman,
2007)
Increased liberalization in attitudes toward same-sex sexual
behaviors (Strange, Forrest, Oakley & the RIPPLE study team, 2002)
 Increased confidence in getting what they want from sexual
relationships (Ernhardt et al, 2007)
 Increased interest in field related to human sexuality (Butler,
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Hartzell and Sherwood-Puzzello, 2007)
Improved group facilitation, presentation, and
communication skills (Butler et al, 2007)
 Increased peer counseling self-efficacy (Ernhardt et al, 2007)
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Literature Review
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Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1994)
 People
learn how to behave and how to change their
behavior by observing others
 Interventions that aims to change a behavior must equip
a person with skills as well as self-belief that enables
consistent engagement in the desired behavior
 Effective sexual health programs
 provide
information
 develop skills
 build self-efficacy around those skills
 create social supports for the desired health change
Outcomes for the Players
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17 unique Student Learning Outcomes for Players.
Different outcomes are assessed in various years
using a variety of methods.
 Willingness
to Intervene Scales
 Knowledge Assessments
 CPE certification through BACCHUS
 Participation in trainings (Ally training)
Outcomes
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Increase knowledge and understanding of
bystander intervention.
Demonstrate a willingness to act as a role model in
the areas of social and reproductive justice.
Identify multiple safer sex strategies.
Apply leadership skills and communication skills to
academic responsibilities.
The Players Say…
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Being a member of this troupe helped me transition
into college life and instantly gain twelve new
friends.
I learned about… a lot of social justice issues that
the Bedtime Players as a whole work to fight and
fix. I learned more about myself, that I could be an
ally and that I could encourage those close to me to
become allies.
The Players Say…
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The Bedtime Players… is, as cliché as it may sound, a
family. While we are helping the community surrounding
us, we also exist as a resource and support for those
directly involved in the troupe. We are all friends.
These friendships have been a means to educate myself
directly about different cultures, lifestyles, sexual
identities, race and gender experiences.
The cohesiveness of the directors and the cast make this
not only a fun environment, but a learning environment;
one that has provided me with techniques to connect
better with my peers and my family.
The Players Say…
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I am a first year this year and I was really naive and
unaware of all the different things that could happen
during/from sex. I never had a sexual education class in
high school so hearing all this information was new and
enlightening. The Bedtime Players really prepared me
for different aspects of college as well through their
variety of skits that really put my life into perspective.
Performing for my peers every week used to seem like
a terrifying task but now I get enjoyment out of
educating my fellow students. In this way Players has
given me a certain self confidence that I did not have
before.
What we see
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Student Transformation
Ad Libs- Appropriate or Inappropriate?
Academic Skills
 Writing
 Critical
Thinking
 Public Speaking
 Public Health Theory into Practice
A typical year
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Fall Semester
 Week
1: Meeting with returning players
 Weeks 2 & 3: Auditions
 Weeks 4-8: Training & Rehearsals
 Weeks 9-14: Shows
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Spring Semester
 Weeks
1-5: Training and
Rehearsals
 Weeks 6-14: Shows
Training & Shows
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Training Topics (and how we choose them)
Weekly Shows
Off Campus Shows
Data Informs Our Show
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ACHA-NCHA data
STD testing data from UHS
Informs the creation of new skits, and topics to cover
for academic year and summer performances.
Our Repertoire
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135 skits
50 that we perform regularly
Writing new skits
 Players
independent study
 Collaboration with campus partners
 Directors as writers
Billy Mays does Glyde Dams
Identified SLOs by Nick Delaney
Students viewing this skit will:
 Be able to identify the proper use of a dental
dam/Glyde dam.
 Be able to identify safe lubricants to use with a
Glyde dam
 Be able to identify where to buy Glyde dams.
Outcomes for Audience
Students attending Not Ready for Bedtime Players
performances will be able to:
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Increase their ability to put on a male condom and use a dental
dam correctly.
Identify ways to intervene if someone they know is in an abusive
relationship.
Identify resources on campus relating to violence, sexual assault,
sexual health and GLBT issues.
Identify ways to negotiate a sexual relationship and obtain
consent.
Improve knowledge of safer sex, STDs/STIs, HIV/AIDS,
emergency contraception, sexual performance, transgender
issues, bystander interventions and homophobia(sexual and
gender prejudice).
Define abstinence
Identify safer alternatives to intercourse.
Understand the risks and benefits of entering into a sexual
relationship.
Data Collection
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Paper Evaluations
Clicker Evaluations
Audience Reaction during and after show
The Skit “Homosexuality Is for Gays” gave me ways I
could intervene if friends say derogatory things about
a gay, lesbian or bisexual person.
Spring 2009
As a result of the show, I know where
to go if I have a sexual health issue
Fall 2010
As a result of the show, I am more likely to utilize
on-campus services
Spring 2011 and Fall 2010
The show provided me with skills to negotiate
sexual relationships
Spring 2011 and Fall 2010
After attending the show, are you more likely to
practice safer sex?
Spring 2011 and Fall 2010
Selected Comments
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People forget violence abuse happens in young couples, thanks for
reminding them, and hopefully they will reach out when they see it.
Thank you, it was super funny and pertinent
Video Male, FTW
Gay dudes don’t wear orange socks, out of character
Act out lesbian sex, since people don’t think its possible
Rock On! P.S. It’s too soon for Billy Mays impressions
Nick is hilarious, and I want to be Jeff’s friend
Jeff and JD call me (phone number listed)
Hilarious- I couldn’t stop laughing- Very informative too.
Can you do something about peeing after sex- UTIs suck
Comfortable way to talk about sex
Loved the abstinence song!
LOVE LOVE LOVE! Please keep it going it’s so important!
Thank You!