Childsplay

Founded in 1977 in Tempe, Arizona, Childsplay’s mission is “to create theatre so strikingly original in form, content or both, that it instills in young people an enduring awe, love and respect for the art form thus preserving imagination and wonder, the hallmarks of childhood that are the keys to the future.”

Childsplay is a resident professional company of adult actors who teach and perform for young audiences and families. The company has performed for more than 2.9 million children and adults; over 200,000 people attended performances in the last fiscal year. The majority of performances have been in elementary schools in Metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona.  Childsplay has also toured in California, Colorado, Washington, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Texas and the District of Columbia.

Childsplay has developed both a strong community presence and a national reputation for excellence under the guidance of Founder and Artistic Director, David Saar. In the April 2000 cover story of American Theatre magazine, Childsplay was listed as one of the top theatre companies for young audiences in the United States. All productions are performed by Childsplay’s ensemble of resident professional adult actors, whose tenures with the company range from three to twenty years.

For complete information on Childsplay's touring,
including technical requirements, study guides, and promo materials, visit:
www.childsplayaz.com

 

Tomás and the Library Lady

Adapted by José Cruz González, Book by Pat Mora

“Tomás and the Library Lady" a play with music adapted by José Cruz González from the book of the same name by Pat Mora has been an enormous success in theaters and in schools.  In January 2006, Childsplay embarked on its largest effort ever to use drama as a tool for promoting literacy to Arizona’s young people. This timely story inspires children to look beyond the confines of poverty, language barriers, and cultural intolerance to find joy in reading.

Tomás loves stories.  As the young son of migrant farm workers, he spends the summer with his family following the crops north from Texas to Iowa, passing long days in the fields listening to his grandfather tell stories and practicing English translations.  Before long, Tomás knows all of Papa Grande’s tales by heart and a chance encounter brings him to the local Carnegie Library.  Once there, he meets a “library lady” who recognizes his thirst for knowledge and encourages him to read.  His delight in books is equaled by his pride in teaching the librarian Spanish, trading knowledge and respect between generations and cultures.  Tomás develops great pride in becoming his family’s new storyteller.  When his family searches through the dump for things to sell, Tomás hunts for old books to add to his own library.  By the end of the summer, Tomás has gained the respect of his family, the guidance of a colorful mentor, and a lifelong love of reading.  Based on the true story of the Mexican-American author and educator Tomás Rivera, a child of migrant workers who became the first minority Chancellor in the University of California system, this inspirational story suggests what reading -- and self respect -- can make possible.

Between January and June, 2006, 71,873 students in 173 schools saw 259 performances of Tomás and the Library Lady. These schools were in 34 communities around the state of Arizona.  During the 2007-08 touring season, this acclaimed production will be available to presenters throughout the nation.

Most enjoyed by grades K-6th

Tall Stories Theatre Company
of London, England

Since 1996, Tall Stories has toured the world, bringing new and timeless stories to young audiences in fresh and exciting ways. Tall Stories aims to create a lively and accessible theatrical experience, telling stories in a physical, visual style that links original music with movement and humor.

For complete information on Tall Stories Theatre Company's touring,
including technical requirements, study guides, and promo materials, visit:
www.tallstories.org.uk

The Snow Dragon

Based on the story by Toby Mitchell

The night of the Snow Dragon approaches...

Following a successful American tour of The Gruffalo and a well-received appearance at Showcase with The Snow Dragon,Tall Stories returns to the U.S. with the story of Billy the Goat and the mysterious Snow Dragon.

Billy is the kid. He has everything a young goat could need - and more besides. When New Year's Eve approaches, Billy's parents tell him to leave out berries for the legendary Snow Dragon so that it will bring him even more goodies.

But collecting berries is hard work, and Billy finds it much easier to 'borrow' from his friends. As a result, New Year doesn't turn out quite how he expected...

There are wolves in the woods, and every kid has to start growing up one day...

Story-telling, comedy and songs create a magical, mysterious world for everyone aged 3 and up.

Most enjoyed by grades PreK-2nd

Omaha Theater Company

Presented each year by over 60 presenters, OTC is one of the top professional companies touring work for young audiences. From literature that lives in the hearts of children and families, OTC offers two exciting titles for the 2007-2008 season.

For complete information on OTC touring including technical requirements
and examples of study guides and promo materials, visit:
www.rosetheater.org

Old Yeller

Adapted by Brian Guehrin from the American classic by Fred Gipson

This story of courage, loyalty and one boy’s coming-of-age has been celebrated around the world for more than 50 years.  Fourteen-year-old Travis is left with his mother and younger brother in the late 1860s to care for the family ranch in Texas.  Old Yeller, a mangy one-eared mutt shows up, and Travis wants nothing to do with him until the dog helps save his family, earning Travis’ love and respect. The bond that results from their many adventures changes Travis’ life forever, especially when Old Yeller gets sick and Travis must face the most difficult decision of his young life.

Most enjoyed by grades 3rd-6th

Click here for technical requirements.

Miss Nelson Has a Field Day

Adapted by Joan Cushing, Book by Harry Allard

Miss Nelson and Viola Swamp are at it again in this musical romp of schoolhouse humor.  Everyone at Horace B. Medley School is depressed.  The school football team hasn’t won a game all year and the BIG game is approaching.  After several attempts to change the team’s outlook, Miss Nelson calls in a secret weapon to whip the team into shape: the dreaded substitute teacher, Viola Swamp! The students learn that Viola Swamp has more than a few lessons to offer.

Most enjoyed by grades 3rd-6th

Click here for technical requirements.

Dallas Children’s Theater

Named by Time Magazine as one of the top 5 children's theater companies in the US, and the only one of that group to tour nationally, this critically acclaimed company travels coast to coast with professional large-scale productions designed to stir the heart, stretch the mind and promote education. Each production is selected and designed with a youth and family audience in mind, from materials which reflect the diversity of our world community. They encompass a combination of classic and contemporary literature, mythology, folk tales, storybooks and fantasies. Study guides accompany every production and a variety of curriculum based workshops and residencies are also available to teachers and students.

For complete information on DCT touring, including technical requirements
and examples of study guides and promo materials, visit:
www.dct.org

Laura Numeroff & Felicia Bond's
If You Give a Pig a Party*

Adapted for the stage by Nancy Schaeffer, Music & Lyrics by B. Wolf,
Based on the Book IF YOU GIVE A PIG A PARTY, Text by Laura Numeroff,
Illustrations by Felicia Bond

The Mouse, the Moose, the Pig - together at last!  Join all three for the biggest party of the year. Fans will squeal with delight when this little Piggy decides to throw a party.  Because if you give a pig a party, she’s going to ask for some balloons, and then she’s going to decorate the house, and then she’ll put on her favorite party dress, and then . . .  Dallas Children’s Theater On Tour invites you to experience this World Premiere musical celebration.

Most enjoyed by grades Pre-K - 3

*Title subject to change

Roseneath Theatre
of Toronto, Canada

Artist's Statement:
"We believe young people have as rich an emotional life as adults. They are limited in experience, but their joys and heartaches, victories and defeats, are felt with as much power and passion as adults. In creating theatre for them, we try to find themes that express as many of those feelings as possible. We cast a net wide into their lives (and our own), a net which becomes heavy and full and very hard to pull out of the sea. But we are never alone. There are directors and designers and actors and technicians and when we all pull, the net comes over the side full of ideas and feelings and laughter and recognition. Feast - not Fast Food. Simple - not Simplistic. Involve the audience - don’t distract it. Emotionally powerful - not superficial. Talking to - not talking down to. These are the guiding principles and tremendous challenges in creating a theatre for children." —David S. Craig, Artistic Director

For complete information on Roseneath's touring, including technical requirements
and examples of study guides and promo materials, visit:
www.roseneath.ca

For the 2007-2008 season, Roseneath Theatre offers two very special shows from its Teen Series for US audiences. These intelligently written plays of ideas reflect teenage realities and open up new avenues of thought by challenging the status quo and hitting young people “where they live.”

Dying to Be Thin

Written by Linda Carson

Dying to be Thin is a one-woman show written by Linda Carson, who herself recovered from bulimia. She worked up the courage to write about what she knew, drawing upon her experiences to create the character of Amanda Jones.

The audience watches Amanda, alone in her bedroom, as she embarks on her “Last Ever in My Whole Life Binge”. She recounts the cycle of out-of-control eating and purging that is dominating her life and affecting her mental and physical health.

This extraordinary play is funny as well as profoundly powerful and ultimately very moving. In Amanda, young people may recognize their own or someone else’s battle with an eating disorder. Through Amanda’s struggle with both denying and confronting her problem, students may see glimmers of other battles with drugs, alcohol or steroids. Amanda’s reflections on eating, dieting, and self-image could mirror many of the things they themselves think and hear everyday.

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that affects about 1-3% of women and girls. That means up to 3 out of every 100 females are struggling with the problem.

Most enjoyed by grades 7th - 12th

Click here for technical requirements.

Wrecked

Written by Chris Craddock

A PLAY ABOUT ALCOHOL & SUBSTANCE ABUSE …and its impact on a boy, his family and teens at his school.

Wrecked tackles the issues of alcohol abuse in the lives of teenagers and their families with intelligent humor, subversive wit and candid reality. Through innovative staging and contrasting performance styles, the play presents two perspectives: teenagers as victims of parental alcohol abuse and teenagers themselves as abusers. Hip to teen culture, playwright Chris Craddock has done a rare thing - he’s created an engaging and provocative theatre experience about significant social issues that is funny, entertaining and accessible to teens without compromising the power of its educational agenda.

Meet Lyle …
He’s a typical 16 year old in many ways, but like so many kids today, he lives with a terrible secret - an alcoholic parent. Embarrassed and angered by a dysfunctional mom who is wrecking his life, he avoids bringing friends home and struggles with her drinking problem on his own. Lyle juggles two part time jobs after school while protecting his little sister from his mother’s unpredictable mood swings. When the situation at home becomes too much to handle, he makes some tough decisions that ultimately force his mom to confront her drinking problem.

Meet students at Lyle’s school…
They’re into the partying scene where binge drinking and drugs are a regular part of weekend fun. Cleverly interwoven between episodes in Lyle’s more realistic story, highly theatrical "teen scenes" thrust us into teen culture with a jolt. Here we view many of the scrapes that young people get into because of irresponsible drinking and drug abuse – and the price they pay for that fun. Instantly recognizable to students, the characters in these scenes function stylistically like an out of whack Greek chorus, satirizing and yet never judging the alcohol problem being depicted. The heightened reality of these witty vignettes makes them both darkly funny and horrific; their impact is visceral.

Most enjoyed by grades 9th - 12th

Click here for technical requirements.