Peculiar Friendships in Children's Literature

We at BACT are a buzz about our musical adaptation of Fly Guy, but it has us yearning for other great stories about peculiar friendships.

Buzz and Liz LOVE their pet flies

If you're in the mood for a book or two about unusual friendships, here's the reading list for you!

If you love the classics:

Curious George: Who knew a man in a yellow hat and a monkey could be pals?  Curious George stands the test of time.

Charlotte's Web: Always a tear jerker, your kid will spend the rest of their life searching for a relationship as meaningful as Wilbur and Charlotte's. 

Winnie the Pooh:  The hundred acre wood is full of unusual friendships.  Bears who love pigs, a boy who love bears, and a tigger that might love himself the most.  

Stories from BACT season's past:

Where are Jame's friends when he needs them?

James and the Giant Peach: The musical was composed by this year's Oscar winners, Pasek and Paul, but the book is a Dahl staple, perfect for those who aren't scared of the creepy and crawly.  Not for those who have a fear of their own family. 

Elephant and Piggy: Like many animal tales, this series reminds us that there's nothing strange about the bond between a cautious elephant and care-free pig.

Ivy and Bean: Ivy is a little Berkeley, Bean is a tomboy at heart.  They couldn't be more different, but that doesn't stop these girls from a world of adventures.  The perfect way remind your child to not judge their neighbor by their quirkiness.  

For poetry lovers:

The Giving Tree: This beloved tale from kid-favorite Shel Silverstein has spent over half a century teaching the beauty of the life cycle, while reminding us all to go outside and hug a tree.

Less talked about friendships:

Archy and Mehitabel: Because cockroaches and cats can be friends, especially when the cat's on her ninth life, and the roach is Cleopatra's latest reincarnation.  About as old as most cockroaches, this story has been around since 1916!

Flora and Ulysses: The unlikely friendship of a girl and a supercharged squirrel she rescued from a vacuum.  One of the quirkier tales from Kate DiCamillo.  What's not to love?

Hopefully these tales will get you pumped for the best of unusual friends of all--a kid and their pet fly!  So get your tickets for Fly Guy before they fly away!

 

Advanced Performers wins JTF Award for Excellence in Dance!

At the Junior Theatre Festival, our Advanced Performers won an award for their Excellence in Dance! Not bad for their inaugural year! Congrats to the entire Advanced Performers cast and team!

Be sure to catch the Advanced Performers production of HONK! Jr. when they return. You can purchase tickets here.

Becca Blogs: Honk with Heart

Our Advanced Performers made us so proud today as they were the first group to represent Bay Area Children's Theatre at the Junior Theatre Festival.

Our day started VERY early with a bit of a backlog on the elevators (ask your student about it when they get home - way too many people for 3 hotel elevators) and then kick off in the giant theatre and right into our warm up room.  From there our students were exemplary performance and again showed tremendous patience as they waited to perform their set.

This was the moment they had been waiting for, and they put their whole hearts into the performance.  Their set was terrific, full of energy, life, and incredible teamwork.  The adjudicators complimented the actors on their use of the ensemble, character, and their strong voices.  They also had helpful feedback on how to take the physicalization of animal characters to the next level, finding motivation and objective (acting terms), and playing with levels of volume and counterpoint.

After a debrief and snack, we were able to watch several other groups perform and hear their feedback from the adjudicators.  After lunch we went on to a workshop about artistry and how to be a supportive audience, then on to an acting workshop, and finished up with a high-energy, funky dance workshop.

From there it was straight to dinner, and now we're heading to the New Works Showcase, where we'll see assorted songs from some of the new shows that are being released, including Madagascar Jr, which BACT piloted for iTheatrics/MTI.

Speaking of pilots, our dear Graylag Goose (airline pilot in "Wild Goose Chase") was ill overnight and barely slept, but he was determined to go on, and even received special recognition for his performance from the adjudicators.  (They didn't know he was performing on 3 hours of sleep!)

Sorry for the lack of photos, I was quite distracted by the logistics of the day and didn't have a chance to get many shots.  Once we're home I'll find a way to pull clips of the set performance off the camera and send it out to families.  We have an excited and happy (and a bit exhausted) group of musical theatre lovers amongst 5,800 other musical theatre lovers, which made for a very special day.

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Our Advanced Performers will be performing HONK! Jr when they return! You can purchase tickets for their performance here!

Becca Blogs: Travel Day - We Made It!!!

Whew! It's been a LONG day of travel for our 31 advanced performers and chaperones and staff.  We arrived at the airport at 7 AM only to find out our flight was delayed by 3 hours.  The kids were amazingly patient and passed the time creatively.  We had lots of passengers ask us where we were going and giving positive feedback on such a well behaved group.  In fact, the woman at the pretzel stand was so impressed by our students' exemplary behavior that she gave one chaperone two free pretzels!

Making a number line for rehearsal tomorrow

Talking a walk through the terminal and riding the people mover

Hanging out with friends

Stretching with Ms. Khalia

The plane finally boarded and we were off!

Jazz Hands on a plane

There was a bit of turbulence, but once we found the "right" altitude we had a smooth ride to Atlanta where we easily navigated the airport to our bus.  We had asked the students not to sing in public in the airport and plane, and once we loaded up the bus they BURST into song!

Jazz hands on a bus

Once we arrived at the hotel we found our rooms and ate pizza and collapsed into bed.  Tomorrow we'll take a walk through the JTF spaces, meet our friends from Korea, rehearse, and have a pool party.   The staff and I are incredibly proud of this amazing group and the support and respect they show to each other and the world around them.  Thank you for sharing them with us this weekend!
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Rebecca Posamentier, BACT's Education Director, will be sharing thoughts and experiences from the Advanced Performers' trip to the Junior Theatre Festival this weekend in Atlanta.

The Advanced Performers are going to Atlanta!

Our inaugural Advanced Performers troupe is headed to Atlanta for the Junior Theatre Festival this weekend!

Wishing the entire team safe travels, fun times, and lots of break-a-legs!
Read more about this stellar group of actors: 

• Feature article in The Contra Costa Times!
• Feature article on Broadway World!

Come see HONK! Jr. presented by the Advanced Performers in February:

Purchase Tickets Here.

Disney Awards $100,000 Grant to the Bay Area Children’s Theatre

We are ecstatic to announce that Bay Area Children’s Theatre has been awarded a $100,000 grant from The Walt Disney Company to help bring the Disney Musicals in Schools program to the San Francisco Bay Area. BACT was one of only four arts organizations in the nation selected this year to collaborate with Disney Musicals in Schools (DMIS). The program is an outreach initiative developed by Disney Theatrical Group to create ongoing theater programs in local elementary schools.

The Disney grant will fund two years of programming—five schools will be selected this year, and another five next year. The after-school programs are free to participating schools. BACT will select five Oakland public elementary schools to participate in 2015.

“We are overjoyed with this incredible opportunity to bring musical theatre to elementary schools in our community,” says Nina Meehan, executive director of the Bay Area Children’s Theatre. “All children benefit from access to live theatre, both as performers and as audience members. We see the positive impact of performance-based theatre education in all the schools we serve. The Disney Musicals in School program will strengthen our capacity to provide programming and training in the performing arts that schools will be able to sustain. We are extremely grateful to Disney for its commitment to and support for this work.”

Applications are now being taken for the 2015 program from Oakland Unified School District public or charter elementary schools in which 70 percent or more of the student population qualifies for free or reduced-cost lunch.

For more information and to apply, please visit our DMIS webpage or call (510) 2962-4433 ext. 7005 or email dmis@bactheatre.org. The application deadline is September 11, 2015.

The Bay Area Children’s Theatre to Perform in Shanghai

The BACT cast of James and the Giant Peach

We have GIANT news to share: Bay Area Children's Theatre is going international! Actors, artists and educators from BACT will be traveling to China this summer to perform our production of James and the Giant Peach! 

Many of you saw our presentation of Pasek & Paul's musical James and the Giant Peach in its California debut this past winter. The executive director of Shanghai Children’s Art Theatre also attended one of our performances and enjoyed the show so much, she has invited us to her theatre as part of a cross-cultural exchange!

Shanghai Children's Art Theatre performance venue.
Photo: Charles Xia

The Shanghai Children’s Art Theatre is a dynamic performing arts organization that is bringing cutting edge children’s programming to the families of Shanghai. It's that city's largest theater dedicated to professional productions for young audiences. BACT will debut James and the Giant Peach in Shanghai with four performances on August 1 and 2.

We are so honored to be included in the theatre’s roster of international visitors for 2015. Our cast and design team are very excited about taking our work abroad for the first time and introducing a vibrant new play in the great tradition of American musical theatre!

Becca's Notes: Learning through Live Theatre

The cast of James and the Giant Peach

During a particularly lively number at James and the Giant Peach, I took my son’s hand to move it in time with the music.  “Mommy,” he objected, “I’m watching!” 

Eli is four. I was thrilled that he was so engaged in the performance! If, at the age of four, he can devote such attention to the action onstage, I chuckled to myself, we were in good shape for the college lectures he would have down the road.

Going to the theatre is not only great entertainment for our kids, it is a learning experience on many different levels.  At the Bay Area Children’s Theatre, it’s an opportunity to see a favorite story come alive onstage or to be introduced to a story that a child will enjoy reading later on.  It’s the chance to share and discuss an artistic experience with family members, and the discipline of watching, wondering, absorbing, analyzing, and then responding—as life often demands.

As BACT’s education director, I focus on the experiences children have as participants in making theatre, but I’m equally delighted when I see youngsters become involved with live theatre as audience members.  Both artistic experiences are enriching, and both are invaluable preparation for the future.

See you at the theatre!
Becca

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Becca Posamentier is a founding company member of Bay Area Children's Theatre and currently serves as the Director of BACT's Education Program.

BACT Spotlight On - Actor

With BACT's brand-new show The Gold Rush Musical! getting ready to embark on its Bay Area school tour, we decided it would be exciting to get to know one of the cast members: Khalia Davis. Khalia is also a teaching artist with our Youth Education Program, teaching theatre and drama at three different school locations.

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BACT: You have worked with BACT in many different capacities. Can you outline those roles for us?

Khalia: My first introduction to BACT was last summer when I performed in their show Click, Clack, Moo as Cow #2 at Children's Fairyland in Oakland. At that same time I was also their musical director for their summer theater camps. We did Annie, the musical. I had such a wonderful time that when I was asked to come back for this past summer, I couldn't say no! I played Sally in The Cat in the Hat at Children's Fairyland and at Marin Theatre Company in Mill Valley. I also worked at the same summer camps but this time wearing a different hat: choreographer. I was way more in my element and comfort zone in that role, as I have more experience directing and choreographing for kids. Currently, I am gearing up for the fall school tour of The Gold Rush Musical! as well as workshopping the new children's musical, Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy (based on the hit book series). While being a performer, I am also the director for two different after school theater programs: Wildwood Elementary School in Piedmont and Alamo Elementary. I am also assistant directing and doing the choreography for Disney's 101 Dalmatians, Kids at Beach Elementary School in Piedmont!

BACT: Phew! That is a lot! Do you consider yourself an actor first? An educator first? Or a combination of the two?

Khalia: That is a great question! I have always been passionate about acting and performing. It wasn't until about 4 years ago that I realized my true passion is in children's theater and entertainment. I have been teaching drama and dance to kids since I was a kid. It is a blessing that while trying to make a full-time career as a performing artist in family entertainment (theater, television, web, and film all included), my other jobs are revolved around teaching kids theater!

BACT: How does your acting inform your work as an educator?

Khalia: I think teaching kids is what has fueled my ability to perform for kids because I get to witness first-hand all their antics and adorable shenanigans in class. As an actor, you take on many roles that help tell a story. As a teacher, you take on many roles to help these children grow and learn. Sometimes I have to be stern and authoritative so my children can understand the importance of the lesson and the respect they should show me and each other as ensemble members. Then, there are times when I am the nurturer that lends a sympathetic ear to a child who is reticent to audition or perform due to shyness or nerves. Other times I am the goof ball who shows my class how easy and fun it is to just let loose and be silly and over the top. Acting is such a wonderfully freeing art form and getting to showcase that for the kids is awesome!

BACT: What do you most enjoy about being an educator? An actor?

Khalia: As an educator, I love seeing the process my children go through in creating a show. The final product is always a wonderful way to showcase how much hard work, energy, and heart these little ones put into it. I enjoy facilitating the use of their imaginations or finding ways to get kids to come out of their shells. Some of my favorite times being an educator are when I get students who have behavior problems but by show-time, the same kids find a way to be helpful whether by knowing their cues and lines or gathering props or sets.

As an actor, I love telling stories. I have the opportunity to affect an audience. I have always loved performing for people even when I was little. I started as a professional child actress and model, and I couldn't get enough of being on stage or in front of a screen. When you are acting, you are not yourself anymore. There is something very magical about that transformation. There is also something magical when an audience allows themselves to be transported to that time and space you have invented for them to enjoy. Being an artist means I never have to lose my imagination and love of creation. Being a children's entertainer means I never have to grow up.

The Gold Rush cast: Khalia Davis, Alex Lydon & Steven Shear

 

BACT: You are in the midst of rehearsals for The Gold Rush Musical, which will tour schools in October. What are the differences, if any, in preparing for a touring show versus one of our mainstage shows (i.e. Cat in the Hat, Click Clack Moo)?

Khalia: The major difference I have found are the added responsibilities that we have when prepping for a touring show. We are not just the talent but also the stage hands and facilitators for discussions after the show. We have to be in charge of setting our own costumes, props, and set pieces. After a mainstage show, we may go out to the audience for a meet and greet but with this tour, we will be holding talk backs that provide kids an opportunity to ask us direct questions about our show, characters, and educational content. Mainstage shows operate in the same theaters all season long, but with a school tour, we travel all over the Bay Area and perform in all sorts of spaces. Some of the schools will have an actual auditorium with a stage. Some schools will use their multipurpose room with no stage space. We have to be ready to make those adjustments on the fly. The time it is taking us to mount this production is also significantly faster than for a mainstage show. We were required to be off-book before we even started rehearsals so that we could start immediately with working on our feet.

BACT: What are you looking forward to the most performing with BACT this year?

Khalia: Being a young woman of color, I was always looking for the black actress in anything I saw as a child. I wanted to see a representation of myself up on stage because then I could believe it was possible for me to do it too. I am so honored that I get an opportunity to travel to all different types of diverse schools this fall hopefully inspiring other young girls of color who have the same dream I did or at least giving them a reason to relate to the material being performed. It is very special for me.

BACT: What words of encouragement, insight or wisdom do you have for the younger generation who someday hope to do what you are doing?

Khalia: Training hard, being professional, and having a positive attitude are what will get you ahead in this business. If you believe in yourself and what you have been called to do, then do it. Give it everything you've got, and support and encouragement will follow. Bring positive energy into any work environment because people will notice you and your light will shine the brightest.

Partners in Fun

Bay Area Children’s Theatre and MTC join for new Theater Series for Young Audiences
A Guest Blog by Daunielle Rasmussen, Marin Theatre Company's Director of Education

I love theater for young audiences. It is a joy to see how young ones light up when they experience the magic of live theater. They are so engaged and present, connecting deeply to the story being told in front of them. One of the values that Marin Theatre Company holds that drew me to this organization is their belief that every child should grow up experiencing great theater. We want to produce great work that inspires audiences of all ages.

Ivy + Bean was the first show BACT brought to MTC!

When I first came on board at MTC, Jasson and I decided that it is a top priority to create extensive programming for families. Knowing that it will take several seasons to build the infrastructure needed to support producing a full season of plays for youth, I started to think about potential partnerships that would allow us to serve our young audiences more fully today. Up until this year, we produced one to two School Tour productions each year that toured throughout Marin County and the Bay Area. A few years ago, we also started presenting the School Tour onsite at MTC to engage neighborhood families in the experience.

Due to logistical challenges, I realized last December that we weren’t going to be able to mount the MTC run of our The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe School Tour in March and April 2013, but I didn’t want to lose our one slot in the year where we had been presenting work for children and families. That’s when the light bulb lit up in my mind and I thought that this might be an opportunity to pilot a partnership experiment to see how Marin County families would receive it.

When selecting a partner, it is important to find someone who shares similar values and whose work you respect. For me, I knew right away that I wanted to work with Bay Area Children’s Theatre. I first encountered BACT when I attended their production of Junie B. Jones and A Little Monkey Business in 2006. I was dazzled by the show; it was a magical experience made by people who have what it takes to make meaningful work for children that doesn’t pander or wallow in didactic language. Their work is smart, funny and innovative, engaging families with each other in creative experiences. Those are the values we hold in our own work.

The Cat in the Hat kicks off the partnership with MTC!

I reached out to Nina and she thought to bring Ivy + Bean, the Musical to MTC. I loved the idea, and the benefits of working together were very apparent for both organizations. With every show sold out, the MTC run of Ivy + Bean went even better than we had anticipated, so continuing the partnership seemed to be a no-brainer.

We are excited about this partnership as it creates the opportunity for us at MTC to provide a full
season of quality theater for young audiences in Marin County with a partner who, over the last ten years, has created a home for Bay Area children to engage creatively with their families and their imaginations.

We look forward to seeing you and the young people in your life this season!

10 Years - Imagine That!

Bay Area Children’s Theatre is about to embark on our 10th Anniversary season. I couldn’t be more thrilled and excited about the shows we have lined up!

The Cat arrives at Fairyland in June!

We open the season with a new and innovative interpretation of Dr. Seuss’ classic, The Cat in the Hat. This production uses the words from the book as the dialogue in the show, while adding hysterical audience interactions accompanied by live sound effects and musical instruments. The incredibly talented cast will bring to life the mischievious Things, Sally, the Boy, the Fish, and, of course, the Cat. I can’t wait to see the delight on the faces of our youngest audience members as the world of Cat is revealed on stage at Fairyland.

Coming to a school near you!

This fall, we will tour local schools with The Gold Rush Musical!. BACT is commissioning this show to directly address the California Content Standards for social studies. This fast-paced, comedic, musical adventure through the history of California will be designed to educate and entertain elementary school students throughout the Bay Area.

The beloved classic returns!

Just in time for Thanksgiving, we will be revisiting one of our all-time favorites, A Year with Frog and Toad. I adore this heart-warming story about friendship, and the music is captivating for all ages.

Meet the porcine wonder!

In January, I cannot wait to bring to life one my son’s absolute favorite book series, Mercy Watson. If you are not yet familiar with this “porcine wonder” do yourself (and your family) a favor and pick up a copy of the Mercy Watson books, by Kate DiCamillo. You will giggle the night away as you read about Mercy and her escapades.

A magical journey in ancient China!

Following Mercy Watson, BACT is proud to bring to the stage another new musical by Min Kahng (book, music and lyrics for Tales of Olympus). This time, Min will be creating an original musical adaptation of the Newbery Honor book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. I picked up this book and read it one night after I heard from a librarian friend that she couldn’t keep it on the shelves at their school library. And I am excited to see it realized on-stage next year!

Let your imagination fly!

Finally, we close our season with another world premiere! Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy, the Musical will be written and composed by local musician, Julia Norton. The show is a celebration of the power of imagination—a theme I hold near and dear to my heart.

We hope that you and your family are as psyched about the season as my family is. My son keeps asking me, “When is the Cat coming to town?” Well, the Cat arrives in June. Looking forward to seeing you at the theatre as we embark on the next 10 years!

- Nina

BACT Spotlight On - Actor/Educator

As we prepare for the holiday season, we are excited to bring back one of our most popular shows from last year: Pinkalicious, the Musical!  We thought it would be fun to interview Pinkalicious herself, or rather the very talented actress who plays her: Katie McGee.  In addition to being a performer, Ms. McGee is also one of the educators for BACT's Youth Education Program (YEP). We asked her about both her life on-stage and her life as a drama teacher.
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BACT: Let's get right to what everyone probably wants to know. What is it like to play Pinkalicious? In what ways are you like or different from her?

Katie: Playing Pinkalicious is a delight! It is very similar to a crazy sugar rush - spaz, crash, and return to normal. I relate to Pinkalicious in a lot of ways. The relationship Pinkalicious has with her little brother, Peter, is very similar to the relationship I have with my little brother. Like Peter and Pinkalicious, we were very close growing up. Much like Pinkalicious, I was (my brother would argue that I still am) a bit of a bossy boots. Also similar to Pinkalicious, I love the color pink. When I was a kindergartener, I went through a phase where I would only wear pink. Red was a big wardrobe no no. Unlike Pinkalicious, however, I have always loved my greens. Yum!

BACT: Pinkalicious, the Musical was one of our most successful productions. Why do you think kids relate to Pinkalicious so much?
 
Katie: I think one of the biggest draws is the magic. She turns pink! And then red! Pinkalicious brings to life all of the wives' tales our parents told us. "Don't cross your eyes Tommy or they will get stuck that way." "Don't eat all of your Halloween candy Susie or your teeth will fall out." Also, many of the audience members know the story of Pinkalicious before they see it. Therefore the dramatic irony builds each time Pinkalicious eats another cupcake. There is something very suspensful about knowing a character's fate and watching them ignore your warnings.
 
BACT: We're getting ready for the return of Pinkalicious to the BACT stage this December. Will it be easy to jump back into the role? Will there be any new challenges the second time around? What are you most looking forward to about doing the show again?
 
Katie: Since closing, Pinkalicious has followed me around like a shadow. The kids I nanny for frequently request Pinkalicious living room performances. (I thought these requests would fade, but here we are in November and it is still happening!) Thanks to them my lines are pretty solid. I will, however, need to dust off my pink tap shoes and start practicing my footwork! I am most looking forward to reuniting with the cast and crew. They are a hoot!
 
BACT: You also help out with BACT's Youth Education Program. Can you describe what you do?

Katie: This semester I have been helping lead Montclaire Elementary first and second grade students on pirate adventures and jungle explorations. It is the BEST. BACT's curriculum is based in process drama. Teachers and students are in role (playing news reporters, jungle explorers, pirate captains, etc.) throughout class. While in character, students are asked to help teachers solve problems and make discoveries in real time. For example, last week I played a starving hunter. The student jungle explorers were asked to help me come up with alternatives to hunting. They concluded that they would help me plant crops and loan me some of their food. They were so sharp and generous!
 
BACT: What do you enjoy most about working with kids, specifically as it relates to theatre and dramatic arts? What have you found most rewarding about working with children?
 
Katie: Such a hard question! Many aspects of the job are extremely rewarding. Most recently I have enjoyed watching students make discoveries about human relationships. For example, last week I was participating in a pirate tableaux with a few first grade students. I was cast as a timid crew member opposite an evil pirate captain. I put on my best scared face and made eye contact with the "captain." I watched the lightbulb go off in the captain's head. As she observed my frightened face, her face got meaner and nastier. She discovered that our emotions and demeanor generate a reaction from others. Awesome!

BACT: Many teachers say that they learn a lot from their students. Is this true for you? What have you learned from your students?
 
Katie: I am constantly learning from my students. The teaching I do inspires a lot of what I do onstage. The biggest lesson I have learned happened while I was working as a music director for a student production of Peter Pan. It was someone's birthday and cookies were getting passed out backstage. One of the second graders was getting into costume and asked if either my co-director or I could set a cookie aside for her. We both said yes and immediately forgot to do it. Later while apologizing to her, she stopped us and said, "Guys, it's just a cookie." Now whenever I get worked up over something I say to myself, "Katie, it's just a cookie!" 


BACT: What advice would you give to any young actor who wants to one day take the stage (perhaps to play the next Pinkalicious or Peter)?  

Pinkalicious (Katie McGee) and Peter Pinkerton (Evan Boomer)

Katie: Start now! Pets, friends, stuffed animals, parents all make great audience members. Some of my best performances happened when I was five and performing for my dog Bob. The more you practice acting and storytelling, the better you get.

BACT: Great advice, Katie! Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to share your thoughts with us! We wish you the best with your students, and break a leg on the return of Pinkalicious, the Musical!

Why Teach Theatre? - A Guest Blog by Thomas Arndt

Thomas Arndt, who is the Program Assistant in the Youth Education Program (YEP), joined Bay Area Children’s Theatre in 2011 and worked as the Assistant Director for The Aristocats and Sleeping Beauty.  He is now directing Winnie the Pooh in Piedmont and Alameda with the Little Performers (ages 5-6) and Young Performers (ages 7-11) programs and is the Lead Teacher for Crocodile Junction, a Drama Residency at Montclair Elementary in Oakland (where he is assisted by the fabulous Katie McGee, who plays Pinkalicious, and Bryan Quinn, who was Farmer Brown in this summer’s Click, Clack, Moo).  Thomas grew up in Washington State, going to school in Redmond (where he played roles such as The Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors and Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof) and spending summers farming with his family in the San Juan Islands.  He later attended Bard College in Upstate New York, where he graduated with a B.A. in Human Rights (Concentrating in Theater). 

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Hi folks!  I’m excited to be writing for Nina’s Notes, and thought I’d use this time to talk about some of my experiences teaching and working with YEP and discuss a question that I really enjoy answering: “Why teach Theatre?”  Thanks for reading!

There was a time when I thought Theatre would no longer be a part of my life.  I was in the middle of my college career and, faced with what I saw—and still see—going on the world around me, I figured that I needed to be more serious; I thought I needed to take on all of the problems of the world.  Looking back, I think that this mindset is actually indicative of exactly why I believe Theatre is so important to all people in general, and young people in particular.  It’s not that I think Theatre all by itself is going to save the world—that’s silly!  But I do think that it can do some really important things for all of us, and I know now more than ever that I want to and need to be creating and teaching Theatre!

Theatre teaches us to make choices.  When developing a character or directing a show, you can have lots of good ideas, but you can’t use all of them.  Theatre forces the artist to choose, take risks, make mistakes, rethink, and practice, practice, practice.  For example, in Winnie the Pooh Kids, which is an incredibly fun show to work on, we have been spending a lot of time on character development.  The characters are all so expressive and different, yet so malleable for each actor to make his/her own.  Each character of the story really illustrates a different side of human emotion and the kids get that.  We recently did some work with character walks, having the kids move through our rehearsal space putting attention into embodying their characters.  At one point, I had everyone freeze and just look at Tigger and Eeyore next to each other.  Totally frozen and soundless, they each were able to communicate such volumes about who they were as characters—it was quite striking to everyone there.  One of the most common refrains I return to in teaching theatre is “Drama means telling stories.”  It’s not a profound statement on its own, but I think it’s important to remember what we are doing and why we are doing it—we step onto the stage to communicate something, and to do so in a way that you can’t achieve with words alone.  I also think Winnie the Pooh is a great show because there are so many opportunities in the script for Physical Comedy and tongue-in-cheek laughs.  We also do this because it’s fun—to see and to do!

Theatre also encourages us to think about what I call “Big Picture, Little Picture.”  Theatre expands our ideas of what is possible.  And this extends beyond the classroom and the stage—creativity is a muscle and the more we use it, the more it grows.  Children need to experience seeing and feeling themselves in different roles than those they may have always assumed.  So Theatre encourages us to think big!  At the same time, we are also called in Theatre to get very focused on small details—an expression in the face, the movement of a hand, or a moment of a scene.  This practice helps us to look at problems up close, analyze them, and think and feel our way through.  And the amount of focus that this can teach is priceless!  At Montclair Elementary, we are really exploring all of this in our Crocodile Junction program.  Based on the Process Drama work of the late British Theater Education Expert Dorothy Heathcote, Crocodile Junction utilizes group storytelling to explore language arts, writing, and acting skills, while building creativity and teamwork. Currently we are building a story with the 1st Grade about Jungle Explorers searching for the Magical Monkey, and with the 2nd Graders one about Pirates searching for Captain Blagl’s lost treasure. In role as a character in the story (be it One Eyed McGregor, Jungle Jim, or Dr. Fleet, the world’s leading Piratologist, to name a few), I lead each class—who are also in character as part of the story—in an exploration that fills in details and builds unique narratives.  At the end of the semester, we will look through what we have done together and create a performance.  Process Drama in Crocodile Junction is an incredibly fun and powerful way to step wholeheartedly into Theatre and performance!

Finally, Theatre teaches us to speak up!  There are all kinds of actors, but ever heard of a quiet one?  (Okay, okay, mimes, I’m sorry! … Wait, excuse me, what’s that you’re saying?).  Being introverted and being shy are not the same thing.  Acting can teach us very literally to stand up on a stage in front of a group of people and speak powerfully.  And as I say when kids are really nailing an improv piece: “If they’re this amazing when they don’t know what they’re going to say, imagine what they could do when they know what they want to say!”

You have to do what you love.  Not for any big philosophical reason, but just because your life isn’t going to be very fulfilling if you are not.  I love Theatre and I love working with kids.  Seeing them light up with excitement about a project, work hard at it, and succeed in front of their families, friends, and community is absolutely thrilling!  And more than anything, I truly believe that the more young people can use Theatre to learn to make solid choices, expand their creativity, and speak up, the greater their possibilities will be in the future.  I see groups of BACT kids doing this time after time in our programs, and if we can do all that we must be doing something right.  So, Hip-Hip-Pooh-Ray for our kids!