Ally is a pretty strong word when you think about it. It's more than just friend or buddy. It summons images of people standing shoulder to shoulder and the hard fight of the "Greatest Generation." Then again, it could just make you think of the last time you played "Axis and Allies."

But it takes on a whole different meaning when you're a gay or lesbian kid.

Think about it - growing up is already one of the most excruciating and hellish conventions of modern life. You can't trust your hormones, your body is betraying you and there is nothing anyone can do to stop it or make it better.

So imagine tumbling through that while trying to sort out your own sexuality.

In that situation, who wouldn't want an ally?

In their latest performance piece the crew at AddVerb Productions once again offer up insights into the parts of young people's lives that others may fear to tread.

"Q&A: Queer & Allied youth perform questions & answers on love, life and acceptance," is a dialogue featuring the voices and experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered students.

The performance takes place this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at SPACE Gallery. Though the performance is free, donations are accepted to help AddVerb's ongoing work.

The Q&A project started months ago with a call for submissions from young people age 12 - 24 from all over the country, said Tess Van Horn, who directed the performance with Gina Stevenson.

They received more than 80 submissions, which were then handed over to a group of youth editors to create the series of scenes, monologues, and spoken word that make up "Q&A."

Though the performance will feature pieces about the experience of being a gay youth, Van Horn said the focus is showing what it really means to be an ally to a gay or lesbian teen.

Van Horn said allies come in all shapes and sizes, from a parent, teacher or the best friend who stands up for you in the high school hallway.

Van Horn said it's incredibly important to "know they are being supported however they identify and their voices are being heard," she said. "This support will give the confidence to continue and maybe work with those who are not getting support."

Overall there are 11 pieces in the "Q&A" production, with 11 actors - ages 14 - 24 - performing.

The performance is hosted by the outhern Maine and Downeast Maine chapters of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). AddVerb hopes to continue accepting submissions from youth through the end of the year for the "Q&A" project in hopes of creating an anthology of that can be used in social-change theater elsewhere.

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