Artist-In-The-School Project — Part 1

Today, I attended the “artist-in-the-school” project performance at Mimi’s school.  This is a really fun project.  The children work with resident artist from Hanger Theater to develop their own play.  The theme seems to be environmentally related.  The other two classes’ performance titles were “The Tilting Zone” and “The Solar System: Will It Survive?” and Mimi’s class performance title was “The Circle Of Life”.

They each did research about the subject and have to integrate small pieces of information into the play.  Each child was assigned to their own role and developed the lines.  Mimi’s play had to do with the circle of life, the relationship between living creatures (herbivore and carnivore and of course, human being), the environment and the process that links the circle of life (such as de-composing, recycling, etc). 

 

I was really impressed with the depth of subject that they brought into the play.  Most of the children memorized their lines pretty well.  The advisors from the Hanger also apply different technics commonly seen in the theater into their play.  For example, how to make the most of the physical space and use your imagination to create what is not there.  How to develop your own sound effect and stunt using very limited resources available to you.  Of course, they learned valuable lessons on how to work with other people to accomplish something together.

 

They used “The Wheel of Fortune” as the basis of the play.  The play was staged as a game show.  Mimi was one of the hosts (along with another boy) to run the show.

 

At the end, all children sing song together.  The lyric of the song was written by the class. 

 

What an impressive project!

(Mimi’s class was waiting for their turn.  There were three performances presented by three 4th grade classrooms.  Theirs was the last performance.)

 

 

(One of the advisor from Hanger Theater)

 

 

(Mimi’s classroom teacher — Mrs. Stoff)

 

(Mimi is making a statement of her entrance, of course, with elegance)

 

 

(Mimi working with Team Blue)

 

(With Elizabeth, the girl in red shirt, a symbol of Team Red)

 

 

(Olympia serving as the “Turning Wheel”)

 

 

(The “Wheel” is asking a question that Elizabeth is about to answer)

 

 

(Mimi and another host in tie)