The performances by Taproot Theatre’s Road Company at the Covington-area schools are included in a tour of the show from January through mid-May in western and eastern Washington. A Taproot official said the goal is to teach students how to recognize bullying, inform them how to react and give them encouragement to speak up against it.

Fifteen to 25 percent of students in the United States are believed to frequently experience bullying, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, 15 to 20 percent say they bully others.

“We want students to recognize that we all have a part in making the world a place where violence, harassment and gossip can be fought,” said Josiah Wallace, director of outreach for Taproot Theatre.

The touring company incorporates into its plays bullying-prevention principles aimed at preventing abusive behavior. The plays target students in various age groups through characters they can identify with, Wallace said.

In “Camp Super Friend,” the protagonist is a superhero who, despite his super powers, struggles to make friends. The other play is “Star Power,” about two fifth-graders who encounter a bully while competing in a talent show. Both plays are for students through sixth grade. A third play, "Witness," is geared for grades six through 12.

The plays are "a great way for kids to learn while having fun at the same time," said Daytona Strong, a Taproot spokeswoman.

Taproot expects to perform 150 times in 100 schools this winter and spring, including Cedar Heights on Feb. 5 and Cedar Valley on Feb. 28. In 2007, the Road Company gave 242 performances at 180 schools and before a combined audience of more than 93,000 students, Wallace said.

Taproot is a professional, non-profit theater company. It was founded in 1976.