HOLDEN & ARTS ASSOCIATES
SHARING STORIES AND CREATING PARTNERSHIPS SINCE 1983
THE SNOW DAY AND OTHER STORIES
By Jerome Hairston
Based on the books by Ezra Jack Keats
Produced by Childsplay
From Tempe, AZ
Follow Peter and his friends through winter, spring, summer and fall as they romp and play, start snow ball fights and make snow angels, journey in space and under the sea, and more, all in this imaginative musical play. Using innovative shadow puppetry, THE SNOWY DAY celebrates the magic and boundless possibilities of childhood and the challenges of growing up.
Keats’ treasured characters come to life in this humorous and fun adaptation of the collected stories: "Whistle for Willie", "Goggles!", "A Letter to Amy", and "The Snowy Day." A classic since its publication in 1962 and winner of the Caldecott Medal, "The Snowy Day" was one of the first picture books for young people to feature an African American protagonist and is still beloved today.
Resources
About the Company
Best for Grades: PreK-3rd
Audience Size: Medium to Large Venues
Trailer from 2019-2020 National Tour.
Please contact us to watch an archival full length recording.
Curriculum Connections
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Fine Arts: Performance, Design, Puppetry, Adapting a book into a play
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Language Arts: Literacy, Reading and Writing, Character, Narrative and Structure
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Science: Weather, Seasons, Properties of Matter
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Social/Emotional Learning & Development: Recognizes and Expresses Feelings of Self and others, 21st Century Learning, Independence
Outreach and Workshops
With advance notice, Childpslay is able to offer drama based workshops in your venue for students or children. Please contact your HAA agent during the booking process if this is something you'd like to explore.
Sensory Friendly Performances
This performance is available as a “sensory friendly” or “relaxed” performance if arranged with the company in advance and with specific direction as to what adjustments are necessary for your venue.
Minimum Technical Requirements
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Load In Time: 5 hours (not including prehang)
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Crew Needs: 4 stage hands, 1 sound engineer, 1 lighting supervisor, and 1 wardrobe/dresser. Roles may be combined if discussed in advance.
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Min. Stage Size: 30 ft width x 30 ft depth x 11ft height.
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Load Out Time: 1.5 hours
Artistic Team
Adapted by Jerome Hairston, based on the books by Ezra Jack Keats
Director: Katie McFadzen
Costume Design: Gail Wolfenden-Steib
Scenic Design: Douglas Clarke
Lighting Design: John D. Alexander
Music Director: Thomas Strawser
Puppet Design: Liz Ihlenfeld
Sound Design: Christopher Neumeyer
The Touring Company will consist of 3 performers , 1 stage manager and 1 technician, TBD.
Critical Acclaim
“It’s the heart and affection for the material that makes Childsplay’s production work as well as it does….your children will still relate to challenges of childhood as experienced by young Peter. It will stir the imagination and make their lives all the richer.” – Valley Screen and Stage: David Appleford’s Film and Theatre Reviews
“With a talented cast and playful direction, Childsplay's production uses various theatrical devices to help bring Keats' illustrations and characters beautifully to life on stage in a rich and rewarding way.” – Gil Benbrook, Talkin’ Broadway Review
“..The play employs music and charming shadow puppetry to hold young theatergoers’ attention. There are lovely moments, many involving Peter’s dog, a wooden dachshund on rollers.” – Kerry Lengel, The Arizona Republic
“We’ve attended many Childsplay performances in the past. This was by far the most amazing one. The acting was so incredible. The woman who played the mom and Peter’s friends had such a soothing lovely voice… it way surpassed any expectations I had. The set and effects were incredible and I felt like I was in the book. And to hear my 4 year old belly laugh several times was so touching. This was so well done on every level,” – Family Audience Patron
We LOVED the performance. You all do such a wonderful job with your plays. I am always thoroughly impressed. The children loved watching the book they had read being brought to life. – 1st grade Teacher
Company Background
Past Tours: Go, Dog. Go!, The Cat in the Hat, Schoolhouse Rock Live!, Rock the Presidents, Tomás and the Library Lady, Maddi's Fridge and The Snowy Day and Other Stories (2019-20 tour).
Since 1977, Childsplay has been committed to its mission: “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 medium, thus preserving imagination and wonder, those 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 internationally respected theatre company believes that young people deserve to experience theatre of the highest artistic quality. Childsplay has performed for more than 5 million children and adults and has grown to serve an average annual audience of 250,000 children, teachers and families. Childsplay's recent national tours include Tomás and the Library Lady in the 2007-2008 and 2013-2014 seasons, Peter and the Wolf in 2009-2010, Ferdinand the Bull in 2010-2011, Rock the Presidents in 2012 – 2013, 2016-2017, Schoolhouse Rock Live in 2014-2015 and Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat in 2015- 2016, 2016 - 2017.
In addition to Childsplay’s professional productions, it’s educational programming has expanded dramatically in response to the needs of school partners. Over 1,500 young people attend classes each year in the Childsplay Theatre Academy and nearly 5,000 students experience drama directly in their classrooms through Childsplay’s Education Outreach programs. These programs emphasize experiential learning, language acquisition and literacy competency – essential precursors to overall academic achievement and long-term success across all subject areas. Childsplay believes that by continuing to create strikingly original theatre and connecting to young people’s learning potential, we can build a generation of creative learners, innovative thinkers and dynamic leaders.
Visit the company's website!
Gallery of Past Productions
