This
page (Page #5) has stories and helpful info from behind the scenes
of ArtReach productions! Push back the curtain and check out
all these great ArtReach titles: A
Thousand Cranes, Winnie-the-Pooh, Jack
and the Beanstalk, Christmas Snow White, Cinderella,
Mulan, Sleepy Hollow, The
Reluctant Dragon, Kid Frankenstein, Wizard
of Oz, Peter Pan, ArtReach Plays,
The Velveteen Rabbit, Pinocchio, Treasure
Island. Don’t
forget, a Teachers Guide will come with your School Play Package and
contain lots more background articles and info about your play!
ArtReach's
'A Thousand Cranes' brings
History
and Hope to Adams Middle School
Northwest
Independent School District, Fort Worth TX
As
theatre students at Adams Middle School put the final touches on
their One-Act Play ahead of the upcoming district competition, they
are learning much more than theatre skills and are hard at work to
fold 1,000 paper cranes.
Adams
has chosen to perform A
Thousand Cranes for the competition, but it's the connection the
students and teachers have made with the show and its true story that
make this performance special.
"Middle
School put final touches on One-Act Play for district competition."
ArtReach's A
Thousand Cranes - Adams Middle School, Fort Worth TX
The
show presents the story of Sadako Saski, who was 2 years old when
the atomic bomb was dropped on the small city of Hiroshima, where she
lived. Sadako, who is 12 years old in the show, learns 10 years after
the bomb fell that she has leukemia. She is reminded of the ancient
Japanese legend claiming that anyone who folds 1,000 origami cranes
would be granted a lifetime of luck, happiness or one wish. Sadako
does not live long enough to complete her task and a friend decides
to finish the 1,000 cranes for her.
Today,
there is a statue in her honor in Hiroshima Peace Park, and each
year children from all over the world send thousands of cranes to be
placed at the foot of her statue.
In
the midst of preparing their show, students at Adams have also been
folding origami cranes with the goal of creating 1,000 and sending
them to Sadako's statue in Hiroshima.
Adams
theatre directors Jessica Castle and Kathleen McCann chose A
Thousand Cranes not only for the power of its story, but also
for its connection to the curriculum that students are learning in
middle school.
"The
lessons included facts that helped the students connect more with
Sadako and the story of the people who were left to rebuild after the
war," Mrs. Castle said. "Students calculated how many
people died instantly and in the aftermath of the bomb, then compared
that to the size of Haslet to reveal more than 150 Haslet's were
destroyed from the bomb and its aftermath.
"Students
reflected on the social, psychological and emotional impact."
ArtReach's A
Thousand Cranes - Adams Middle School, Fort Worth TX
"Students
also reflected on the social, psychological and emotional impact
this decision had on the pilots flying the planes that dropped the
bombs, the difficult decisions that come with war, and the mental and
physical state of those left behind in wartime."
"I
haven't really connected to another show as much as I have to this
one," said Chloe Schwanenverg, an eighth-grade student who plays
Sadako in the play.
"It's
very different from other shows that I've done," added Makiya
Sharon, another eighth-grade student who performs in the show.
"It really hits you to know that you are telling a real-life
story. I really like the connection and the history behind it."
That
connection the students have to the story is obvious to anyone in
the audience, and it's exactly what Mrs. Castle and Mrs. McCann were
hoping for when they chose such a poignant show.
"I
really like the connection and the history behind it."
ArtReach's A
Thousand Cranes - Adams Middle School, Fort Worth TX
"Just
the sheer power behind telling someone's story really hooked the
kids," Mrs. Castle said. "At first, they were skeptical,
but they've been working hard since November, and now everything is
coming together and they are really connecting to the story.
"It's
been really cool to see the students make that connection. When we
took the time to teach them the history behind the show, that was the
moment that really made them understand the significance of what we
are producing. So tying in the history, for me, has made it really
cool to see them buy into it."
The
lessons learned are going beyond the group of students involved in
the production. Adams social studies and English classes have been
able to watch the performance and discuss the history behind it.
The
Adams community also enjoyed an evening performance of the show, and
parents and community members were able to assist in folding their
own origami cranes that will be sent to Hiroshima.
"Something
that is timely and powerful for our world now."
ArtReach's A
Thousand Cranes - Adams Middle School, Fort Worth TX
"We
wanted to choose something that was meaningful to our community and
something that is timely and powerful for our world now," Mrs.
Castle said. "We wanted to maintain the history, tell the story
and invite the community to be a part of it."
Short
Background History
for 'A Thousand Cranes':
The
city of Hiroshima is a port on the island of Honshu in Japan. It was
the first city ever to be struck by an atomic bomb.
Hiroshima
was founded as a castle town in the 1500s. Beginning in the 1860s it
was a military center. On August 6, 1945, in the last days of World
War II, the United States dropped the atomic bomb. Much of Hiroshima
was destroyed. More than 70,000 people died right away. Radiation
left by the bomb killed many more people later on.
Hiroshima
was rebuilt after the bombing. It is now a large industrial city.
Factories in the city produce steel, automobiles, rubber, chemicals,
ships, and machinery.
The
place in Hiroshima where the bomb exploded is now a park called
Peace Memorial Park. It has a museum and monuments to the dead. The
Atomic Bomb Dome is the ruins of one building that was left partially
standing after the blast.
Island
School students' perform ArtReach's 'Winnie-the-Pooh'
Kaumakani
Kauai County Hawaii
BY
THE CITIZEN, Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer
The
curtain to the Island School fifth grade students' production rises
at 7 p.m. on Friday at the school's Main Hall. There will be a repeat
performance of the show, "Winnie-the-Pooh," on Saturday at
7 p.m., with a Sunday matinee at 4 p.m.
"The
Island School fifth grade students are performing
'Winnie-the-Pooh,'" said Rebecca Hanson, the Island School
theatre arts teacher. "It is an Island School tradition to have
a fifth grade play each year, and we are so excited to perform this
one for audiences this year."
"Perfect
for a fun family evening."
ArtReach's Winnie-the-Pooh
- Auburn Area Community Theatre, Auburn AL
Hanson
said Katherine Schultz Miller takes the classic Winnie-the-Pooh
tales, written by A.A. Milne, and adapts them for the stage.
"This
production is a wonderful script for fifth grade actors to
perform," Hanson said. "They all get the opportunity to
work in collaboration with each other and play these fun, lovable
characters that include Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin, Eeyore,
Piglet, Rabbit, Roo, Kanga and Owl."
"Island
School starts their theatre arts curriculum in third grade, and it
culminates together with a full production open to the Kaua'i
community," Hanson said. "For many of our young student
actors, this is their first production, and for many, it may be their
only production. Each one of these students have some success to celebrate."
"The
story
lines and tales are a pleasant surprise."
ArtReach's Winnie-the-Pooh
- Auburn Area Community Theatre, Auburn AL
The
characters involved in the Island School fifth grade students'
production are familiar to many, and the story lines and tales the
characters become involved in is a pleasant surprise for the
audience. Hanson said the production is just about an hour, and
perfect for a fun family evening.
Kids'
Summer Drama Camp performances of ArtReach's "Jack
and the Beanstalk"
Kelci
McKendrick | Enid News & Eagle
ENID,
Okla. - Carsyn Felix said her character in "Jack
and the Beanstalk" just needed a tiara.
The
11-year-old is playing Polly in the production from Gaslight Theatre
this weekend, and since the cast gets to choose their own costumes,
she went with a sparkly, sequined outfit and crowned herself with a tiara.
"I
wanted a tiara, and I feel like Polly just needs it, too,"
Felix said.
"Jack
and the Beanstalk," by Kathryn Schultz Miller and by
special arrangement with ArtReach Children's Theatre Plays, is the
final curtain call to the nearly four-week long Kids' Drama Camp,
which Gaslight puts on annually each year throughout the month of June.
Performances
for the "fee-fi-fo-fun" production are set for 1 p.m. and
3 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday at Gaslight Theatre, 221 N. Independence.
Tickets
are $5 each, and tickets for a live-streamed show of Saturday's 3
p.m. production are available online. Box office hours are 2-5 p.m.
Tuesday-Friday, and the theater can be reached at (580) 234-2307.
Half
of the 1 o'clock shows are already sold, said Camp Director Catina Sundvall.
This
year, 37 elementary-aged kids are enrolled in the camp and involved
with the production, going from 8 a.m. to noon every weekday since
June 1, Sundvall said.
"It
has a lot of laughter and classic songs."
Campanile Summer Youth
Theatre, Minocqua WI
Day
one of the camp started with reading the script and thinking about
the sets and costumes for "Jack and the Beanstalk,"
Sundvalll said, all before it was cast. Auditions came next, and then
the work really began to get to the final curtain call.
"We
go from the very bare bones of the show to the final
performances," said Sundvall, who's in her second year as camp director.
Sundvall
said the past few weeks have had some ups and downs, but "mostly
just ups and learning."
She
said ArtReach's "Jack
and the Beanstalk" was chosen because it seemed fun, and it
has a lot of laughter and classic songs involved.
Theatres
put on summer
drama camp each
year.
Campanile Summer Youth
Theatre, Minocqua WI
Felix
is wrapping up her fifth and last year in the Kids' Drama Camp,
saying theater has become one of her biggest passions.
"My
first year was really fun," she said. "I just kept coming
back, and I really enjoy (theater)."
Kids'
Drama Camp helps kids develop social skills and come out of their
shells, Sundvall said.
"Several
kids - we get to see a transformation," Sundvall said.
"They won't talk to anyone the first few days, and then you
can't stop them from talking."
This
is Eli Corderman's first year with Gaslight. As Strum Along Cassidy
- basically a " singing, talking banjo" - in "Jack and
the Beanstalk," Corderman, 12, first enters the stage to stall
Old Dan Tucker, the giant in the production played by James Harvey,
and sings a song.
"My
first year was really fun, I just kept coming back."
Campanile Summer Youth
Theatre, Minocqua WI
This
entrance is one of Corderman's favorite parts of the show.
"It's
really cool having my own spotlight," said Corderman, who is a
little nervous and a lot excited about the performances. "It's
definitely going to be my first time performing in front of large
crowds (not at school)."
Corderman
wants to be an actor when he grows up, so he got involved with
Gaslight to gain some experience. Next year, he plans on going into
the Gaslight Teens program, as does Felix.
Shilo
Willingham is the projection technician, or "techie" as
she calls herself, for "Jack and the Beanstalk" and is in
her second year of Kids' Drama Camp.
Willingham,
who will enter sixth grade at Kingfisher Middle School in August,
said because she had fun doing the technical work and making friends
at Gaslight last summer, she decided to come back for a second go-around.
"The
first time, I thought there would be one light and it would never go
down, and there would be one sound cue every so often,"
Willingham recalls of her first year. "There is actually a
ginormous tech booth, and you have to have a lot of sound cues and
lights and all that goof stuff."
"The
kids are able to blossom and grow and see different things."
Gaslight Theatre, Kids Drama
Camp - ArtReach's
Jack and the Beanstalk
Sundvall,
who is also involved with Gaslight's "Julius Caesar"
production for the 27th annual "Shakespeare in the Park"
which is also this weekend, said seeing kids like Felix and
Willingham come back each year is one of the most rewarding parts of
being camp director.
"(Kids'
Drama Camp) helps them develop self-confidence and-self
awareness," Sundvall said. "They learn how to work
together. ... The kids are able to blossom and grow and see different
things that they might've not thought about before."
STARS
presents 'A Snow
White Christmas'
UINTA
COUNTY HERALD, Evanston WY
By:
Kayne Pyatt, Herald Reporter
EVANSTON
- Once again, the STARS Dance & Musical Theatre under the
direction of Laurel Higdon and Caddie Welling produced a fun and
entertaining evening for an audience that filled the Davis Middle
School auditorium on Friday, Dec. 6.
"Seven
elves, animal friends, the evil queen, the Prince and even Santa Claus!"
Local
youth dance during the STARS performance of ArtReach's "A
Snow White Christmas."
The
group put on the show at Davis Middle School in Evanston on Dec. 6.
(HERALD PHOTO/Kayne Pyatt)
Seventy-four
children danced, acted and enthralled the audience with their
acrobatic feats in a play titled "A Snow White Christmas,"
written by Kathryn Schultz Miller. The story was based on the Snow
White fairy tale, with seven elves, animal friends, the evil queen,
the Prince and Snow White, and even added Santa Claus to the cast.
"We
had some of the best talent this year as many of the children have
been in our program for several years now and are seasoned
performers. This was a really fun show to produce," Welling said.
"Being
involved with theater and music from a very young age gives kids an
advantage when they are in the higher grades. It helps them get over
fear and shyness, build confidence, learn to work together as a team,
and all the time they just have fun," Welling said.
Other
instructors at STARS include Ashli Johnson, Jenni Hogman and Jaeli
Higdon who teach acrobat, ballet, tap and hip hop; ShanDee Welling
and Monique McInnis are in charge of cheerleading; Amanda Bounds
teaches tumbling and RoShawn Jones is the clogging instructor. Voice
instruction is given by Jenni Hogman.
Welling
said she is thrilled with the community support for their program.
Classes meet once a week at the Aspen Church and they produce two
shows a year. They are a nonprofit organization and do fundraising to
support the program. They keep the ticket fee for shows at only $5
per person so families can afford to attend.
The
spring show will be based on the story of Alice in Wonderland.
Anyone interested in joining the STARS classes can call Welling at
(307) 679-7369.
"This
was a really fun show to produce!"
"Being
involved with theater and music from a very young age gives kids an
advantage when they are in the higher grades. It helps them get over
fear and shyness, build confidence, learn to work together as a team,
and all the time they just have fun," Welling said.
Orland
Park Theatre Troupe takes on ArtReach's
Cinderella for inaugural summer children's show
Chicago
Tribune: By JESSI VIRTUSIO, DAILY SOUTHTOWN
So
many actors auditioned for Orland Park Theatre Troupe's first
all-children production that "Cinderella"
is being presented by two full casts.
Blue
Cast stages the show on the evening of Aug. 9 and for an Aug. 10
matinee while the Red Cast performs on the evening of Aug. 10 and for
an Aug. 11 matinee.
"It's
awesome to be involved in a show like this," said Dee Hamilton,
director of "Cinderella."
"I've
been doing this type of thing with just kids for many decades. You
have some amazingly talented younger and older children. Especially
with me teaching the village of Orland Park acting classes for almost
20 years, I've seen a lot of these wonderfully talented kids grow up
in my classes," she said.
"I
felt a real need for the children to really be able to show off
their talents. We had over 100 audition and we had to double cast the
show because we had so many interesting kids. This is above and
beyond anything we anticipated but it's wonderful."
Hamilton,
who has been involved in Orland Park Theatre Troupe shows for
approximately 15 years, is working with Orland Park Recreation
Program supervisor Jean Petrow, the show's executive producer, to
stage "Cinderella."
"ArtReach
added some really cool characters."
Ashanti
Norals (left) portrays Fairy Godmother and Abby Sanford plays the
title character in the Blue Cast
of
Orland Park Theatre Troupe's "Cinderella."
The show, which also features a Red Cast, runs Aug. 9-11 at
Orland
Park Cultural Center. (Village of Orland Park) (HANDOUT)
"We
got our rights from a place called ArtReach Children's Theatre
Plays. What they specialize in is taking a show that all kids know
and re-creating it a bit for large casts and young kids," said
Hamilton, of Oak Lawn.
"It's
the same story. Cinderella can't go to the ball and the Fairy
Godmother comes but ArtReach has added some really cool characters.
The mice talk. ArtReach added a narrator part and different little
parts that give more opportunity for children to have speaking lines.
"I
hate kids standing around doing nothing. This production and this
version helps us to include them a lot more."
Members
of the casts include Lockport, Mokena, Orland Hills and Tinley Park
residents and range from ages 7-15.
"The
Cinderellas' voices are beyond their years," said Hamilton
about Abby Sanford and Tara Mastorakos who portray the title role for
the Blue Cast and Red Cast, respectively.
"As
popular as this production was this first time out, I think this is
something we'll be able to continue. I was impressed by all the
talent that came out. The singing and acting is phenomenal. It's a
good, wholesome show and a nice family thing for people to come and see.
"It
gives all the little girls and boys hope that dreams can come true.
That's a cool message."
"Theater
makes them feel good about themselves."
ArtReach's
Cinderella - Athol-Royalston School Theatre, WA
In
addition to her work with the village of Orland Park, Hamilton is
drama club director for both Beecher High School and Cardinal Joseph
Bernardin Catholic School in Orland Hills.
"A
lot of people don't realize that bringing children into theater
makes them feel good about themselves. They gain experience with
public speaking. They make a lot of new friends," she said.
"I've had little girls and boys who would sit in the corner and
cry. Then they are up on stage and having lines because they're more
confident in themselves and their ability. They're enjoying the fact
that somebody believes in them.
"I'm
all about urging the kids to do whatever they're good at and giving
them their opportunity to shine, do what they love and have so much fun."
Learn
More About
the Real Mulan: Hua Mulan is a Famous, Historical Figure
Background
Info; featuring Photos from Jeugdtheater Crea Deinze's production in Belgium
A
historical figure famous for disguising herself as a man is Hua
Mulan. Her name has long been synonymous with the word
"heroine", yet opinions differ as to whether this is her
real name. According to Annals of the Ming, her surname is Zhu, while
the Annals of the Qing say it is Wei. Xu Wei offers yet another
alternative when, in his play, Mulan Joins the Army for Her Father,
he gives her the surname Hua. Others using The Ballad of Mulan as
their guide have attributed her surname to be Mu.
"Mulan
is well known and has provided much inspiration for poetry."
ArtReach's The
Legend of Mulan - Jeugdtheater Crea Deinze, Belgium
There
is also some confusion concerning her place of origin and the era in
which she lived. She is said by some to have come from the Wan County
in Hebei, others believed she came from the Shangqiu province in
Henan and a third opinion is that she was native of the Liang
prefecture in Gansu. One thing seems certain though. Hua Mulan was
from the region known as the Central Plains. Cheng Dachang of the
Song Dynasty recorded that Hua Mulan lived during the Sui and the
Tang Dynasties. Song Xiangfeng of the Qing Dynasty asserted that she
was of Sui origins (AD 581-618) while Yao Ying, also of the Qing
Dynasty, believed she was from the time of the Six Dynasties. No
record of her achievements appears in official history books prior to
the Song times. Stories circulated in China's Central Plains indicate
that she must have lived before the Tang Dynasty.
"History
books & legends do at least agree on one thing - her accomplishments."
ArtReach's The
Legend of Mulan - Jeugdtheater Crea Deinze, Belgium
Both
history books and legends do at least agree on one thing - her
accomplishments. It is said that Hua Mulan's father received an order
to serve in the army. He had fought before but, by this time, was old
and infirm. Hua Mulan knew it was out of the question for her father
to go and her only brother was much too young. She decided to
disguise herself as a man and take her father's place.
The
troops fought in many bloody campaigns for several years before they
obtained permission to return home. Hua Mulan was summoned to the
court by the emperor, who wished to appoint her to high office as a
reward for her outstanding service. Hua Mulan declined his offer and
accepted a fine horse instead.
Only
later, when her former comrades in arms went to visit her, did they
learn that she was a woman.
The
story of Hua Mulan is well known and has provided much inspiration
for poetry, essays, operas and paintings.
“It
is amazing what a woman can do if only she ignores what men tell her
she can’t.”
--
Carol K. Carr
The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow: Scary story or practical joke?
Washington
Irving’s classic story is just a fun, practical joke!
Hollywood and many
contemporary storytellers like to link The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow to stories like the contemporary Friday
the Thirteenth or The Walking Dead, with lots of terrifying ghosts
and gory un-headings. In fact, Washington Irving’s story
is about nothing more than a practical joke played by one man upon
his rival; an attempt to secure his intended lady’s hand.
Build
Your Own Headless Horseman!
( Instructions
for Headless Horseman Costume in Teacher's
Guide )
Katrina is wise to Brom
Bones’ joke. She knows that the hills of Sleepy Hollow are
not haunted any more any other place in the new republic. She
enjoys watching as participating as Ichabod Crane is scared into
believing in ancient haunts. He is nothing more than an
unwitting participant in her dance of courtship with the brawny Bones.
Brom Bones, sensing that
Katrina’s head is momentarily turned by the
"sophisticated” school teacher from Connecticut, attempts
to show her what a coward he really is. Katrina plays along,
seeming to be convinced of Ichabod’s superiority, until at last
she gets "her man”.
Though Johnny Depp and the
producers of the movie, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, want to offer a
scary Halloween thrill, Washington Irving’s original story is
considerably less bloody. Irving’s character Brom Bones is
successful in scaring his rival Ichabod Crane from the Hollow,
securing his pact with the lovely Katrina who happily joins her
darling Brom in an enthusiastic trip down the chapel aisle.
What
Can Dragons Teach Us About Bullying?
The
Reluctant Dragon Takes on the Bullies
Kenneth Grahame’s classic
story strikes a chord with contemporary readers because it stirs in
us a natural compassion for others. In The
Reluctant Dragon we meet a dragon who is a misfit among mythical
beasts – a peaceful soul who just wants to enjoy life with
friends. Similarly, the boy who meets the dragon is
misunderstood and longing for excitement. We cheer at the end
because we are pleased to see the underdog triumph.
"Use
literature to launch a discussion on bullying."
In ArtReach’s version of The
Reluctant Dragon, Widget and Hairytoes are plagued by the
neighborhood bullies, the Grody Gobsters. As members of a group
who consider themselves superior to others, the Gobsters have none of
Widget’s insecurities or yearnings. As a result they tease
and pester our heroes and even call for the destruction of their
beloved dragon. Though this play is set in a fairytale
world with lots of laughs and a satisfying final solution, we know
that similar stories in life do not always end so happily.
Have your students read
Grahame’s classic short story. Then read the first in the
popular series of books How to Train Your Dragon, which was inspired
by the classic. Have them discuss the similarities and
differences in the stories. How is the theme of bullying used
in order to make the story more contemporary? Then use the
discussion of this literature to launch a deeper discussion on
bullying in your school.
PRIMARY
SCHOOL DRAMA PRODUCTIONS WELL UNDERWAY
Mandurah
Catholic College, AU - Kid
Frankenstein
Primary School Drama
productions Kid Frankenstein
and Law and Order: Fairytale Unit are well underway, with the
students ramping up rehearsals, having their first dress rehearsal
this week. The students were abuzz during this week's run-through as
they started to see characters coming to life through costume.
"The
kids are loving it. It's really a big journey for them."
ArtReach's
Kid
Frankenstein - Madurah Catholic College, Primary School
Show co-director Mrs Corinna
Herbert is really happy with how the productions are shaping up.
"Were just finalising blocking of the show. Costumes and set
have all arrived and there's a buzz in the air - the kids are loving
it. It's really a big journey for the kids - for a lot of them, this
is their first time on stage - and they're experiencing what theatre
is about and they're realising that it's not just about learning
lines. It's that realisation that we start seeing in their faces
about now. Watching the friendships and the trust build between them
is really lovely as well. To me drama club brings out a different
side of learning for the kids. They learn to trust themselves more
and they learn to have confidence and conviction when they do
something and I think that's such a valuable skill. I've seen very
shy kids come into drama club, too scared to say a word, and then
they get on stage and they trust themselves and they work as a team -
it brings out a whole different side to them. It's really lovely and
to me, that's what drama club is all about."
Former student Elizabeth Crook
has returned to the College to help out with the productions.
"Drama is a passion of mine and I'm getting back into it through
this production experience. It's also the love of the College that's
brought me back. I was trying to get into something like this, so
this experience has come along at a perfect time for me. It's a
fantastic outlet."
For Year 10 student Jamie
Kilcoyne, this is his fourth show with the College. "It's so
much fun - I love it. I got work experience at MPAC because of the
experience I got working on College productions. I love it when it
finally comes together at the end - that's my favourite part. This
time I am again working on lighting, sound and production."
Local
girl gains confidence through summer camp
Drama Kids features
ArtReach's The Wizard of Oz
KBTX-TV
Channel 3, Bryan TX - By Katerina Biancardi
COLLEGE
STATION, Tex. (KBTX) 9-year-old Maryanne Hollinger joined Drama Kids
of BCS three years ago. She recalls her initial memory with theatre.
"I
stuttered every single time I spoke," Maryanne said.
More
than 6 million Americans struggle with speech, language, and voice
impairments according to the National Institute on Deafness and
Communications Disorders. Maryanne's parents noticed her speech
impediment as a young child. Her mother, Kelli, says she had concerns.
"That
the confidence was challenged if she was made fun of in the
classroom was something we were really aware of," she said.
"When
I get up on stage, I can't stop smiling."
Drama Kids of College Station
TX produced ArtReach's The
Wizard of Oz
Maryanne
says her stutter made her shy.
"I
didn't really like to be around other people," Marianne said.
"But Drama Kids helped me to break out of my shell."
This
week, Maryanne stars as Toto and the gatekeeper in the production of Wizard
of Oz. Kelli says the camp strengthened what Maryanne learned in
speech therapy.
"It
reinforces many of the principles she was learning in class as well
as give her a fun outlet," Kelli said.
An
outlet Maryanne loves.
"When
I get up on stage, I can't stop smiling," Maryanne said.
Besides
the smiles, Kelli says Maryanne is gaining more than she realizes.
"Those
are lifetime skills."
Ankeny Dance & Performing
Arts, Polk City IA
"My
child has the confidence to go in front of an audience, speak in
front of her church, ask questions of adults," Kelli said.
"Those are lifetime skills."
Maryanne
plans on using those lifetime skills when she grows up. She hopes to
be a veterinarian and also a drama class teacher.
Drama
Kids of BCS offers summer camps and programs throughout the school year.
Broadway
Plays v. ArtReach Plays: What’s the Difference?
Are
ArtReach’s plays better than a Broadway Musicals for kids?
Broadway plays are written for
professional adult actors who have spent long years studying their
craft and have already proven their exceeding talent.
Professional actors have trained to deliver long, difficult speeches
and have spent years learning the most advanced vocal and physical
moves. Broadway plays also rely on expensive and
state-of-the-art technical stagecraft. These scripts are
usually quite long with elaborate scene changes and an
intermission. Also, since big productions are star vehicles,
the spotlight will always linger on the star of the show rather than
the team of performers who support the project as a whole.
Though some of your most talented kids may clamor to do the original,
is it really the best choice for your school?
Everyone
has a Role in ArtReach’s Peter Pan
Peter
Pan -- Shoultes Elementary School, Marysville, WA
ArtReach’s School Plays
are written just for kids to perform. There are no long
speeches or difficult scenery requirements. Peter
Pan, for instance, allows up to four kids play the coveted role
of Peter Pan so that not one child is the star. Even better,
each and every other role has a distinct name and at least a few
lines to give them their big moment to shine. Special
kids and kids in wheelchairs may be cast and given the chance to fit
right in with the team of performers. No one is discouraged, no
one dreads rehearsals. Best of all, you have the right and
ability to change the play – write lines, characters, songs
– in order to serve your unique group of superstars!
Ask yourself, do you
want to start out with a script that may be too difficult for many
kids? Do you want to encourage only the brightest talents, or
do you want to allow everyone to have the most positive
experience? Do you want to bring out the best in each
every child in your cast? Check out any of ArtReach’s
School Plays and you’ll soon see the difference.
Theatre
is Daydreaming in Motion
Any child can
ride a giant crane or become a princess!
Like all artistic expression,
theatre is a celebration of life’s experiences. For
children it is even more. It is a reaching for the future, an
exploration of what is to come, a lovely excuse to dream about the
path that lies ahead. Any child can ride a giant crane or
become a princess, a wizard or a knight in shining armor. Any
child can kick around all the reasons why princesses do what they do;
experience all the obstacles and triumphs involved in slaying that
pesky dragon. Navigating through a theatre world is daydreaming
in motion. And it can be a wondrous and nurturing place to grow.
"Place
your emphasis on the joy of creation."
ArtReach
Plays offers lots of information and suggestions to enhance the
learning experience and many tips on directing. You can pick
and choose what makes the most sense for you and your students.
You know what to do with it – you’re the teacher!
Our children have a long dream
ahead of them. This is the place for them to test their
creativity, explore their farthest limits, and to begin to understand
the place they will take in the real world. All the
things that might worry you, the things you might think are important
– costumes, scenery, learning lines, getting it right, making it
"good” – have very little to do with the blossoming
that is going on in a young player’s mind.
Every ArtReach school play has
been written to take the emphasis off of all that, leaving you to
concentrate on what really matters. It’s the process -
that feeling around in the dark - that means the most.
Place your emphasis on the joy of creation. At every bump in
the road choose the path of fun and exploration. Give your
young friends a safe place to "play” and imagine.
Give them roots and wings&ldots;
And guess what? I
promise you – the play will be better than your wildest dreams!
The
Velveteen Rabbit: The Power of Love
What does
Margery Williams tell us about love in her wonderful Christmas Classic?
Margery Williams’ beloved
classic seems to tell us that love makes us Real. Since The
Velveteen Rabbit longs to be Real and eventually becomes a wild
bunny, it’s easy to miss the deeper meaning.
The Boy loves his toy rabbit
so much that the toy shows its age and becomes shabby. But is
Williams really talking about how much a Boy loves a toy?
"It's
about finding the courage to pursue a happy adulthood."
"Real
isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a
thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long
time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
As we age we become shabbier
just like the Velveteen Rabbit and his mentor the Skin Horse.
We may suffer a few bumps and scrapes along the way, but sooner or
later we go out of doors and find our own path in a wild new world.
Just as Michael (The Boy in
ArtReach’s version of The
Velveteen Rabbit) recovers from illness and begins to pursue his
dreams, so do we all break free of the trappings of childhood and
find strength in the past to begin a new future. Although,
Margery Williams’ story will bring a tear to your eye, it is
really a very hopeful story about a Boy who is stepping out into his
own new world and finding the courage to pursue a happy adulthood.
As the play ends, everyone
gathers around the Christmas tree. Michael realizes that love
of family and friends (real and imagined) has carried him through the
difficulties of childhood and he is now prepared to face the future.
Fifth
and Sixth Grade Students Perform The Velveteen Rabbit
Canfield Village Middle
School, Canfield OH - Lower Lake High School, CA
Canfield Local School
Newsletter: Fifth
and sixth grade students will be performing the original "Toy
Story" The Velveteen Rabbit at Canfield Village Middle School.
The Velveteen Rabbit, or How Toys Become Real, is a British
children's book written by Margery Williams and illustrated by
William Nicholson. It chronicles the story of a stuffed rabbit's
desire to become real through the love of his owner. The
curtain goes up in the front gymnasium of Canfield Village Middle
School on November 9 & 10, at 7:30 p.m. and November 11, at 2:00
p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door. Admission is $6 for
adults and students. Children under four are free.
'Pinocchio'
comes to life: Sutter Street Theatre
Village
Life, Sacramento CA
Pinocchio
tangles with tricksters, Fox and Cat, and Lampwick and his no-good
buddies in the Land of Toys. Will he save Geppetto from the belly of
the whale? Will he ever prove that he is good enough to become a real boy?
The
story really comes alive, as Lorenzo invites you to see his show at
Sutter Street Theatre. The audience helps Pinocchio
locate Hickory the Cricket, there's a puppeteer with live puppets,
kindly Geppetto, mischievous kids and so much more &ldots; including
the whale.
The
entire family will enjoy this fun filled version
Sutter Street Theatre performs
ArtReach's Pinocchio,
Folson CA
The
play was written by Kathryn Schultz Miller and this production is
directed by Mike Jimena.
The
entire family will enjoy this fun filled version of a classic tale
opening at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25. and continuing at 1 p.m. on
Saturdays and Sundays through Nov 30. Tickets are $17 general, $15
seniors and students and $13 children 12 and younger. For groups of
10 or more there is a discount of $2 per ticket. Birthday parties are
also available. Purchase tickets online at SutterStreetTheatre.com or
call (916) 353-1001. Sutter Street Theatre is located at 717 Sutter
Street in historic Folsom.
Lodge
School Announces Musical Production, ArtReach's Treasure
Island.
ArtReach's play
is performed in Malaysia
Lodge
Group of Schools is pleased to announce the annual Lodge School
Musical Production, "Treasure Island". Teachers
and students involved in this year's production look forward to
achieving greater heights in a 3-night performance of this classic tale.
Treasure
Island
is performed around the world.
Posters from Oregon and
Vietnam for ArtReach's Treasure
Island.
Originally
written by Robert Louis Stevenson, "Treasure
Island" is a story written for young people who dreamed of
adventure on the high seas. This classic book, published in 1883, has
endured through the decades as a beloved tale of pirates, ocean
voyage and exotic islands.
Lodge
School Musical Production, Kathryn Schultz Miller's 2012 theatrical
adaptation of this well-loved tale had been chosen. This production
follows the fantastical pirate adventure of an ordinary contemporary
boy, Jim Hawkins.
Lodge
School is proud to have on board Zakaria bin Abdul Manan as the
director of this year's musical production. An experienced theatre
practitioner, Zakaria is also a triple threat as he has been a stage
crew, actor and director in no less than 32 different theatrical
productions both within Malaysia and in Indonesia. This year,
we are also pleased to introduce several young talents.
Lodge
School has a legacy of being a hub for budding performing arts
talents. From the earlier musical productions of "Joseph and the
Technicolour Dreamcoat", "Wizard of Oz",
"Oliver!" to the biannual "An Evening with the
Stars", Lodge students have always enjoyed the opportunity to
showcase their otherwise untapped potential in the performing arts.
In
Kuching where theatrical performances rarely take place, students
and their annual audiences revel in these occasions to sit back and
truly appreciate the arts. In addition, Lodge alumni have been
inspired to embark upon performing arts careers in London and
Singapore respectively.
"I
have enjoyed working with these students."
Lodge
School
Large Cast, Sarawak, Malaysia - ArtReach's Treasure
Island.
More
importantly, part of the proceeds from this performance is in aid of
Hope Place, a local welfare group that visits the poor and less
fortunate families to help improve their lives. Kelvin Wan, the
founder of Hope Place, had visited the school to raise awareness of
the needs of these families. Teachers and students alike have been
greatly touched by Wan's efforts to help the needy, and have strove
to contribute to help better the Kuching community.
Teacher-in-charge,
Ms Sharon Goh, says, "I am extremely proud of Lodge School's
musical legacy, and we look forward to another quality Lodge
production this year."
Teacher-in-charge,
Mr Anthony Wong, says, "The Lodge School musical is a unique
effort that encourages teachers and students alike to constantly push
the envelope and raise their individual bars. This way, each person
realises his or her best potential, and with that, continue to become
better individuals."
Director,
Mr Zakaria, says, "I have enjoyed working with these students
as they have an enormous amount of energy. I have been able to tap
onto that energy to produce something very special."
For
press queries, please contact: Poh Sze-Lyn (Ms), Lodge
International School, Sarawak Malaysia
