Actors for Children Theatre will offer two touring shows for Tri-State Area children in the coming 2013-14 season. ACT will offer the performances at local schools, community centers, libraries and other venues which serve children and families.
A Thousand Cranes by Kathryn Shultz Miller will run a tour of six performances for children in grades 4 through 8 this fall (late September through early November.) ACT’s performances are produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois.
This true and poignant story tells of the life of 12-year old Sadako Saski, who was stricken with ‘radiation sickness’ (leukemia) a decade after the bombing of her city, Hiroshima, Japan. The girl begins to fold a thousand origami cranes at the urging of her friend while she is in the hospital; a task which legend says will make her wish for health come true. The story relates well to children as well as adults, as Sadako’s wish, “This is our cry, this is our prayer, peace in the world,” helps expand understanding of our greater relationship to one another and the world.
“We will bring a show rich in cultural education for children,” said Sarah Diamond Burroway, ACT’s director. “Actors for Children Theatre is excited to partner with Dr. Natsuki Fukunaga Anderson of the Japanese language faculty at Marshall University. “We hope our production will be culturally accurate and exciting for children,” Burroway said.
For the spring 2014 tour, ACT will present a new work, adapted from a beloved children’s book. A Gift-Bear for the King by Carl Memling and adapted by Burroway will be presented for preschool through grade 3 audiences. A Gift-Bear for the King is produced by special arrangement with Dutton Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.
A Gift-Bear for the King is a book about a poor, little bear who gives of his talents as a way of celebrating the King’s birthday. As he travels to the castle, the gift-bear stops to help others and finds the riches are in what we share of ourselves.
“Gift-Bear” is a story that will give children a fun way to learn and understand that it’s not about what we have, but rather, what we are and the talents we possess that make us rich,” Burroway explained. “It’s a fun story that I am excited for ACT to share with kids in the spring,” she said.
Actors for Children Theatre is a program of Rivertown Performing Arts League, Inc. ACT wrapped up its inaugural tour in May 2013, which resulted in an interactive performance of The Emperor’s New Clothes being shared with more than 1,200 audience members.
“We hope to provide teachers and others with an affordable alternative to offer live, local theatrical performances for children,” explained Burroway. “We were founded with a vision to reach arts-underserved children here in our region.” Curriculum materials are provided to performance hosts to enhance the educational experience for children.
ACT collaborates with the Greenup County Extension for the Fine Arts and received limited support from WSAZ Children’s Charities and Walmart Foundation, which allows the ensemble to keep performance costs affordable.
To book a performance by Actors for Children Theatre, or for more information, contact the director at 606-922-2903 or via email at intermission_sarah@yahoo.com. “Actors for Children Theatre –ACT” is on Facebook and on Twitter: @actors4children.
1 comment:
Thank you, Chuck!
Post a Comment