LHS Theater Department aims to make a difference, leave a legacy, and be the change.

The Lovejoy High School theater department is back for the 2012-2013 school year and the program is starting of with some “Hot Topics”. the triennial show Hot Topic will, again, be performed on the Lovejoy High School stage with an added twist.

“hot topic: #TheNewGeneration”, (and yes the hash tag and no-space-typing are included in the name) is a program written, directed and performed by students that is appropriate for middle school aged students and up.

“It’s exciting to have an opportunity to be able to have an influence over what critical messages are sent to hundreds of people,” said senior, student director Madison McInnis.

Drugs, relationship, bullying, and multimedia are all included in this jam-packed show written by students, for students. Good music, comedy, and even a shopping cart are some of the great, and quite odd things you can expect from “Hot Topic” this year.

“There is literally something for anyone and everyone,” said 10th grader Nicole Bartel. “We are trying to send a message in a way that doesn’t come off as being told what to do. We just want teens to know they aren’t alone and we know exactly what they are going through, because we’re there too.”

It may be a show for today’s youth, but parents will love the positive messages. Being drug free is still a very large part of the show, but the energetic students of the theater program have included material that has to do with this new generation of high school problems and pressure. Social networking, relationships, cyber-bullying, texting and driving, and self-image are just some of the issues that these hardworking teens tackle.

“Hot Topic is basically everything the Graduate Profile touches on, we just wanted to give a more modern take on it. We wanted to relate it to high school student’s lives,” said senior student director Alex Adkins.

“Hot Topic: #TheNewGeneration” will be spreading it’s message October 4th and 6th at 7:01pm in the Lovejoy High School auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at the school store prior to the show or at the box office the night of the show and are $5 for students and seniors, and $7 for adults. And, as a special promotion until Wednesday October 3rd students can buy one get one free for a friend.