Performing Arts Committee
BROKEN BOX MIME THEATER (BKBX)
Description
BKBX is a collaborative theater company that performs original, contemporary short plays entirely through movement. Based in NYC and founded in 2011, we take throwback French pantomime and re-imagine it through the lens of contemporary American theater. The diverse group of artists who call BKBX their artistic home believe in making innovative, provocative, stirring theater that champions the power of simplicity in performance.
Quick Pitch
With the audience’s imagination and a white painted mask to project it upon, our performers can be lizards, humans, jellyfish, or robots. Though our expansive physicality and technical illusion is part of the magic, we also want to model how fantastically expressive our bodies--anyone’s body--can be. Amidst so many apparent divisions in today’s culture, this is how we can offer a universality that coexists with individuality: the body speaks, and you can choose what it has to say. We share this empowering message through pretending to be lizards and robots, and we love doing it.
As theater beyond language barrier, BKBX will act as a living penpal between schools in the Quad City community no matter their language background, experience seeing theater, or frame of reference for "mime." Every student will share a uniquely engaging experience of the imagination. What at first presents as simply a joyful, fun-filled hour of unplugged creative play is in fact also a master-class in body language, creative problem-solving, and body empowerment that students will carry with them long after our visit.
As theater beyond language barrier, BKBX will act as a living penpal between schools in the Quad City community no matter their language background, experience seeing theater, or frame of reference for "mime." Every student will share a uniquely engaging experience of the imagination. What at first presents as simply a joyful, fun-filled hour of unplugged creative play is in fact also a master-class in body language, creative problem-solving, and body empowerment that students will carry with them long after our visit.
Description of engagements / Outreach materials / examples
BKBX Kids! programming includes both in-classroom workshops and our interactive early elementary touring show, “Destination: Everywhere” (which itself ends with a brief audience workshop).
Destination: Everywhere is our touring children's program for ages 3-8. As students enter the auditorium, three mimes are putting on make-up on the stage, and the speaking emcee is greeting the students, taking questions and engaging with the crowd.
Once the event begins, we introduce what mimes are, set up expectations for the theater (it's okay to make noise!), and do an "imagination warm-up" narrated by the emcee and acted out by the mimes. From here, we move into a series of wordless stories acted out to music, and games led by the emcee that elicit suggestions from the audience.
Note! For this project, we would likely design a new program for the 3x/day visits based on Margot's guidance and the needs of the schools that focuses more on the educational and interactive aspects (and tailored to different age groups), then do Destination: Everywhere as our final performance. Tailoring: we can integrate Spanish, French, German, Swiss-German, Patois, or Mandarin translation in-house, work with
an ASL interpreter, and/or design a program specifically for kids who are neurodiverse.
Destination: Everywhere is our touring children's program for ages 3-8. As students enter the auditorium, three mimes are putting on make-up on the stage, and the speaking emcee is greeting the students, taking questions and engaging with the crowd.
Once the event begins, we introduce what mimes are, set up expectations for the theater (it's okay to make noise!), and do an "imagination warm-up" narrated by the emcee and acted out by the mimes. From here, we move into a series of wordless stories acted out to music, and games led by the emcee that elicit suggestions from the audience.
Note! For this project, we would likely design a new program for the 3x/day visits based on Margot's guidance and the needs of the schools that focuses more on the educational and interactive aspects (and tailored to different age groups), then do Destination: Everywhere as our final performance. Tailoring: we can integrate Spanish, French, German, Swiss-German, Patois, or Mandarin translation in-house, work with
an ASL interpreter, and/or design a program specifically for kids who are neurodiverse.
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Estimated fee for five-day residency: $12,000 |
Hobey Ford's Golden Rod Puppets
DESCRIPTION
Mr. Ford is a two-time winner of puppetry’s highest honor, the Unima Citation. Audience members in the Quad City community will experience a master storyteller utilizing movement, music and visually stunning puppetry as his part of his performance. Student audiences will gain knowledge of multiple curriculum areas through his art form. Mr. Ford’s puppetry is an excellent communication tool. It can break down barriers where other means fail, and it can be integrated into many learning situations; telling a story, teaching through humor, and expressing emotions that cannot be done through spoken language. And most of all, both student and community audiences will have fun!
QUICK PITCH
HOBEY FORD is an internationally renowned puppeteer, an award-winning performer, and a Kennedy Center Partner in Education teaching artist. Ford knew early on what he wanted to do after seeing a puppet show while still a youngster, and he eventually realized that he would approach puppetry as storytelling with puppets. Winner of the UNIMA Citation for Excellence and three Jim Henson Foundation grants, Hobey is known for his excellence in puppetry performance and his craft and skill as a master storyteller. Hobey’s performances incorporate a variety of puppetry styles: Bunraku, rod, marionettes, “Foamies” and shadow puppetry. He adapts tales from various cultures for many of his performances, always adding a special “Golden Rod” twist. He designs and constructs all of his Golden Rod puppets and the beautiful sets that surround them and often performs in full view of the audience, creating a seamless and almost hypnotic dance between the puppeteer, puppets and original artistic scenery. Hobey tours a number of family and student performances as well as conducts community, student and teacher professional development workshops.
DESCRIPTION OF ENGAGEMENTS / OUTREACH MATERIALS / EXAMPLES
Performance: Hobey begins his performances with a warm-up of the audience. In his performance of ANIMALIA (suggested for this series), he begins with a small set of eyes that turns his hands into a series of animals, eventually turning his hands and the eyes into a butterfly that leads him backstage. The music begins and Hobey returns to manipulate a series of realistic animal puppets that he brings out into the
audience. ANIMALIA is a non-verbal program set to the music of Paul Winter’s “Icarus”. It is visually stunning and engaging for all ages from preschool through seniors. As Hobey continues, the audience begins to understand that they are watching the metamorphosis of a monarch caterpillar and tadpole. And as the show progresses, he brings more animals and their natural behavior out from the puppet stage to interact with the audience.
One Contact Student Workshops: Students begin with a demonstration shadow play by Hobey, followed by a short history of shadow puppetry with a Chinese Shadow puppet for reference. The lesson then carries the students into designing, drawing and constructing their own shadow puppets, with each student having the opportunity to work with his/her puppet(s) on a shadow screen provided by Mr. Ford.
Multiple Day Student Residencies: Residencies include performance, student shadow puppet workshops and a Kennedy Center professional development teacher workshop in creating folktales through shadow puppetry.
audience. ANIMALIA is a non-verbal program set to the music of Paul Winter’s “Icarus”. It is visually stunning and engaging for all ages from preschool through seniors. As Hobey continues, the audience begins to understand that they are watching the metamorphosis of a monarch caterpillar and tadpole. And as the show progresses, he brings more animals and their natural behavior out from the puppet stage to interact with the audience.
One Contact Student Workshops: Students begin with a demonstration shadow play by Hobey, followed by a short history of shadow puppetry with a Chinese Shadow puppet for reference. The lesson then carries the students into designing, drawing and constructing their own shadow puppets, with each student having the opportunity to work with his/her puppet(s) on a shadow screen provided by Mr. Ford.
Multiple Day Student Residencies: Residencies include performance, student shadow puppet workshops and a Kennedy Center professional development teacher workshop in creating folktales through shadow puppetry.
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Estimated fee for five-day residency: $9150 |
Kevin Spencer | Hocus Focus, Inc.
Description
Kevin Spencer is an educator, artist, and consultant with an expertise in arts integration for special populations. His residency work is designed to reach special education students in self-contained and inclusive classrooms in upper elementary, middle, and lower high school grade levels. He also provides professional development training for educators on a variety of content areas. His work also includes the delivery of continuing education activities for rehabilitation professionals (occupational, physical, and speech therapists) approved by professional state associations and the American Occupational Therapy Association. As an artist, he offers sensory inclusive performances.
Quick Pitch
Kevin Spencer’s work is innovative, specifically designed and developed to reach marginalized populations in your communities. If you are already reaching these communities, Kevin’s expertise can help you expand the impact of your work and demonstrate the power of an arts-integrated approach in education and healthcare for individuals with disabilities. His work is research-based and has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals (see CV).
Description of engagements / Outreach materials / examples
In my work, each outreach engagement is completely different, customized to the needs of the particular group or audience. An interactive workshop will be very different for a group of children than it would be for a group of young adults with disabilities. A PD training for educators would begin with a presentation that covers concepts, theory, and research before moving into practical interactive activities. This is the same process for CEU workshops for rehab professionals. Parent groups would require a different approach and provide less theory and more practical strategies.
Estimated fee for five-day residency:
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Shanta Nurullah
DESCRIPTION
Shanta Nurullah is a storyteller and musician who blends African and African-American folktales with
African instruments, chants and songs.
African instruments, chants and songs.
QUICK PITCH
Through storytelling and music, Shanta Nurullah engages her audiences in a joyful and inspiring experience
of Black Culture.
of Black Culture.
DESCRIPTION OF ENGAGEMENTS / OUTREACH MATERIALS / EXAMPLES
The first 15 minutes of most of my presentations include a story followed by engaging the audience in an
African greeting, a personal story or anecdote, introduction of an instrument, then a communal song.
African greeting, a personal story or anecdote, introduction of an instrument, then a communal song.
Estimated fee for five-day residency: $4,600 |
Tom Crean
Description
“Discovering Antartica: Heroric Tales of Shackleton, Crean and Scott”
Set during The Golden Age of Antarctic Exploration (1901 – 16), discover the riveting true stories of Shackleton and Scott through the eyes of Tom Crean, who was at the center of 3 of the most daring & challenging expeditions to the great white continent – including Shackleton’s ill-fated Endurance expedition. An intimate piece of theatre that re-enacts the heroic endeavours with a blend of drama, humor and a rich Irish storytelling style that takes you to the edge of your seat… and beyond!
Set during The Golden Age of Antarctic Exploration (1901 – 16), discover the riveting true stories of Shackleton and Scott through the eyes of Tom Crean, who was at the center of 3 of the most daring & challenging expeditions to the great white continent – including Shackleton’s ill-fated Endurance expedition. An intimate piece of theatre that re-enacts the heroic endeavours with a blend of drama, humor and a rich Irish storytelling style that takes you to the edge of your seat… and beyond!
Quick Pitch
Members of the community will be entertained and absorbed by an extraordinary real-life story that's moving, funny and full of dangerous drama. It's a totally new perspective on a story that continues to fascinate – Scott and Shackleton's ill-fated Antarctic expeditions told from the point of view of little-known irishman Tom Crean, who was a humble subordinate of the famous explorers.
They will find it very informative, learning about the Antarctic and the expeditions, as well as the men involved. It's full of fascinating detail, based on my intensive research for my award-winning one-man show about Crean's Antarctic expeditions and my intimate knowledge of a subject I have lived and breathed for the last 20 years..
It will give opportunities for self reflection, comparison and discussion: for example, what would I do if faced with this life-and-death situation? How would I cope in these punishing conditions? Could they have avoided men dying by taking a different course of action?
I hope audience will be inspired, informed and uplifted by the story of men prevailing in the most inhuman conditions, not only to fulfil their mission, but ultimately to stay alive and also to keep others alive. It's about courage, comradeship and the enduring human spirit that can find humour and strength in the midst of disaster. Strikingly poignant in view of the current crisis of Covid19.
It's a very informative example of leadership – both good and bad – and team work in a life-threatening situation.
The Community will be able to use me as a learning resource ( Community outreach attached), including my research, my experience of performing the show, my meeting with Tom Crean's family and my own trip to the Antarctic.
It will provide an insight on a world that, thanks to global warming, is under threat and may disappear for good.
They will find it very informative, learning about the Antarctic and the expeditions, as well as the men involved. It's full of fascinating detail, based on my intensive research for my award-winning one-man show about Crean's Antarctic expeditions and my intimate knowledge of a subject I have lived and breathed for the last 20 years..
It will give opportunities for self reflection, comparison and discussion: for example, what would I do if faced with this life-and-death situation? How would I cope in these punishing conditions? Could they have avoided men dying by taking a different course of action?
I hope audience will be inspired, informed and uplifted by the story of men prevailing in the most inhuman conditions, not only to fulfil their mission, but ultimately to stay alive and also to keep others alive. It's about courage, comradeship and the enduring human spirit that can find humour and strength in the midst of disaster. Strikingly poignant in view of the current crisis of Covid19.
It's a very informative example of leadership – both good and bad – and team work in a life-threatening situation.
The Community will be able to use me as a learning resource ( Community outreach attached), including my research, my experience of performing the show, my meeting with Tom Crean's family and my own trip to the Antarctic.
It will provide an insight on a world that, thanks to global warming, is under threat and may disappear for good.
Description of engagements / Outreach materials / examples
The ‘Discovering Antarctica’ Community Programme delivers workshops run by the actor Aidan Dooley in schools nationwide with the purpose to inspire and motivate pupils from all walks of life. The programme brings the stories of the golden age of exploration directly to students and community groups to inspire and motivate.
WORKSHOP FOR ELEMENTARY LEVELS
*Adjusted and delivered for appropriate age groups
The initial engagement with younger students, commences with a fun and friendly storyteller. This enables the workshop to begin in a very informal and open manner. In order to set the scene the storyteller / actor, with the aid of costume and soundscapes, becomes the character of Tom Crean. The children are invited to ‘time travel’ to the land of Antarctica. So begins an age appropriate performance exploring the incredible stories included in the full production of ‘Discovering Antarctica’. Post performance, the actor returns to the neutral storyteller for the purpose of the workshop. Sessions for older students commence with the actor in role.
WORKSHOP OUTLINE
*Bespoke sessions catered for
Our aim is to bring fun ideas/activities, using techniques of drama and storytelling, to the classroom, in order to explore the wonderful world of Antarctica. In this process we look at developing confidence, imagination, group awareness, communication, team building skills, co-ordination and concentration.
TOPIC OPTIONS
*Props, costume, music and visual aids provided.
WORKSHOP FOR ELEMENTARY LEVELS
*Adjusted and delivered for appropriate age groups
The initial engagement with younger students, commences with a fun and friendly storyteller. This enables the workshop to begin in a very informal and open manner. In order to set the scene the storyteller / actor, with the aid of costume and soundscapes, becomes the character of Tom Crean. The children are invited to ‘time travel’ to the land of Antarctica. So begins an age appropriate performance exploring the incredible stories included in the full production of ‘Discovering Antarctica’. Post performance, the actor returns to the neutral storyteller for the purpose of the workshop. Sessions for older students commence with the actor in role.
WORKSHOP OUTLINE
*Bespoke sessions catered for
Our aim is to bring fun ideas/activities, using techniques of drama and storytelling, to the classroom, in order to explore the wonderful world of Antarctica. In this process we look at developing confidence, imagination, group awareness, communication, team building skills, co-ordination and concentration.
TOPIC OPTIONS
- The land of the Antarctic (Exploring ice flows, glaciers, snow and crevasses.)
- Creatures of the Antarctic (Investigating penguins, killer whales, Albatross, and seals etc.)
- Transport in the Antarctic (Discovering ships, tractors, sledges, dogs, ponies, and humans.)
- Equipment in the Antarctic (Researching food, clothing, tents, ropes, tools, maps etc.)
*Props, costume, music and visual aids provided.
Estimated fee for five-day residency: ?
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Zak Morgan
DESCRIPTION
GRAMMY nominee Zak Morgan's unique brand of children's music delivers songs and poems with wit and charm that inspire and tickle the funny bones of children and adults alike. When he is not writing and recording, Zak performs family concerts and educational concerts throughout the country. His live performances are always filled with laughter and warmth as he encourages children to READ, IMAGINE and BELIEVE in themselves. Children use their voices, creativity and body movements to join in the fun. Zak’s music is focused on families with children 3 years to 12 years and preschool through older elementary students.
Educational concerts offer study guides and activities for music education and arts integration with science facts, literary devices, reading skills and confidence building. Teachers can access thirteen interactive lessons for classroom use at a variety of grade levels, supporting creative writing and reading comprehension.
Educational concerts offer study guides and activities for music education and arts integration with science facts, literary devices, reading skills and confidence building. Teachers can access thirteen interactive lessons for classroom use at a variety of grade levels, supporting creative writing and reading comprehension.
QUICK PITCH
Zak Morgan’s wit has been compared to Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss. His first CD, “Bloom” was met with awards and many “Best of” listings. His CD “When Bullfrogs Croak” was nominated for a Grammy. Last year, Zak teamed with the Cincinnati Symphony and Cincinnati Zoo to write music, perform, and create a video in celebration of Fiona, the zoo’s popular hippo.
A visit to your community by Zak will bring joy to the hearts of each audience member, who will be enthralled by the depth of a good musical story, sophisticated language, and fun and clever wordplay that can be enjoyed by all ages on different levels. He provides quality engagement for family and student audiences and promotes kindness and respect for children as a primary lesson, but with humor and wit so no-one know they are learning!
Zak Morgan’s interactive live performances are led with warmth, wordplay, laughter, and positive messages as he encourages children to read, imagine and believe in themselves.
A visit to your community by Zak will bring joy to the hearts of each audience member, who will be enthralled by the depth of a good musical story, sophisticated language, and fun and clever wordplay that can be enjoyed by all ages on different levels. He provides quality engagement for family and student audiences and promotes kindness and respect for children as a primary lesson, but with humor and wit so no-one know they are learning!
Zak Morgan’s interactive live performances are led with warmth, wordplay, laughter, and positive messages as he encourages children to read, imagine and believe in themselves.
DESCRIPTION OF ENGAGEMENTS / OUTREACH MATERIALS / EXAMPLES
Zak can conduct a series of single class session workshops on creative writing or a 5 day creative writing/songwriting residency with multiple contacts per class, culminating in an all school assembly with student participation.
A single, one classroom contact creative writing workshop would start with an introduction by Zak and move into a discussion about alliteration. Zak and the students would use their names to come up with humorous alliterative sentences and then Zak would draw a picture of a sentence on a white board. He will sing an original song filled with alliteration and ask the students to point out each time they recognize the use of alliteration. The students and Zak will then talk about the elements of a story. Zak will sing an original story song and the children will identify characters, setting, plot and climax.
A single, one classroom contact creative writing workshop would start with an introduction by Zak and move into a discussion about alliteration. Zak and the students would use their names to come up with humorous alliterative sentences and then Zak would draw a picture of a sentence on a white board. He will sing an original song filled with alliteration and ask the students to point out each time they recognize the use of alliteration. The students and Zak will then talk about the elements of a story. Zak will sing an original story song and the children will identify characters, setting, plot and climax.
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Estimated fee for five-day residency: $9,150 |