EEKS EDNESDAY RIDAY Synopsis - Lewis Family Playhouse€¦ · 3 lewis family playhouse | 12505 cultural center drive, rancho cucamonga, ca 91739 | 909.477.2775 $ about the author

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LEWIS FAMILY PLAYHOUSE | HTTP://WWW.LEWISFAMILYPLAYHOUSE.COM 12505 CULTURAL CENTER DRIVE, RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91739 | 909.477.2775

S y n o p s i s : At the start of the play, the stage is empty. Suddenly, Gerald the Elephant enters, looking for his friend Piggie. As soon as he goes off to look for her, she comes in looking for him. This goes on for a while, with the two of them missing each other – until they bump into each other. They’re overjoyed! (LUCKY TO SEE YOU). Elephant and Piggie discuss the possibilities of what their day could entail. Piggie is excited because she doesn’t know what the day will bring, and Gerald, after some coaxing, concedes that not knowing might be exciting. They explore the possibilities, including playing ping pong, or wearing silly hats. As they’re considering their options, a Dog delivers an envelope to Piggie. Inside the envelope is an invitation to a party, being given by the Squirrelles. Gerald is happy because the invitation says that Piggie can bring a friend! Piggie realizes that there is a predicament. She has never been to a party, and doesn’t know what to wear! Gerald tells her not to worry, because he knows parties! After much zipping back and forth, he determines that it’s a Fancy, Pool, Costume Party! When they arrive, Piggie is delighted to learn that Gerald was right! (SWIMMY! FANCY!). The Squirrelles and Piggie are having a great time dancing, until they discover that Gerald doesn’t know how to dance! Piggie offers to teach him, but Gerald doesn’t quite get her moves, and does something completely different. He is defeated. The Squirrelles, who have been following Piggie’s choreography, decide that they’re ready to learn some cool new moves, and ask Gerald to teach them his Elephant Dance! (ELEPHANT DANCY). Gerald complies, and the party is more fun than ever. Wanting to show her appreciation to Gerald for helping her with her first party, Piggie brings on a trumpet, and starts to play. Piggie’s trumpet playing is atrocious! After hearing the horrible sounds from the trumpet, the Squirrelles slowly exit, leaving Gerald alone with Piggie. We discover that Piggie was not trying to make music – she was using the trumpet to try to speak in “Elephant”. Gerald tells her she needs to work on her accent. Gerald and Piggie remind themselves that they’re best, best friends, and they even have a “best-off” to prove it. Soon, Piggie announces that she has to go. Gerald is bereft, and begs her not to! (DON’T GO). Piggie, in a bit of distress, finally explains to her friend that she needs to GO (to the potty). Gerald is embarrassed, and Piggie hurries off! In Piggie’s absence, the Ice Cream Penguin enters. Gerald gets an ice cream, but before he eats it, he wonders whether or not he should wait for Piggie to return, since she might want to share it with him. After great contemplation, and a little help from the Squirrelles, Gerald decides to wait for Piggie so they can share the Ice Cream. (ICE CREAM HERO).

SHOW TIMES: OCT 10-‐25, 2015 SATURDAYS 1 :00 PM & 4 :00 PM SUNDAYS 1 :00 PM

SCHOOL PERFORMANCES: WEEK 1 : MONDAY & TUESDAY 10 :00 AM WEEKS 1 , 2 , & 3 : WEDNESDAY-‐FR IDAY 9 :15 AM & 11:15 AM

INSIDE THE GUIDE:

Synopsis ……………..…….…………………….…. 1 Author Bios …………………………………..….….. 3 About Elephants, Pigs & our characters…. 4 Discussion & Classroom Activities ……..... 5 Fun Activities………………..………………….….. 6 From the Library …………………….……….….… 9

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S y n o p s i s ( c o n t i n u e d ) : When the song is over, the ice cream has melted. Gerald is sad. Piggie returns, with her own ice cream cone, and offers to share it with Gerald. Gerald tells Piggie that she’s the real Ice Cream Hero! When they’ve finished their Ice Cream, Piggie shows Gerald her brand new toy. (ODE TO THE TOY). Gerald wants to play with it, and reluctantly, Piggie hands it to him. Gerald throws the toy up in the air – and when it lands, it breaks in two! Piggie is extremely sad, and then gets very mad, blaming Gerald for breaking her new toy. (TOY BREAKER). Gerald feels awful, and tries to apologize, but Piggie is inconsolable. Can this be the end of their friendship? The Squirrelles, who have been watching the friends fight, suddenly discover that the toy isn’t actually broken – it’s a “Snap and Break” toy! They show Piggie and Gerald how to snap it back to together, and they leave the two friends alone. There is a long silence. Piggie is embarrassed at how angry she was at Gerald, and quietly asks him if he wants to play. But now Gerald is angry, and he says no. Piggie offers to leave him alone, asks him to please not be mad, and tells him that life is more fun when he’s around. (ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM). After a while, the two best friends make up, and they hug. They are happy again. As they hug, Gerald tells Piggie that he thinks someone is watching them! Piggie turns, and they realize that there’s… an audience! And if there’s an audience, they must be in a play! Elephant and Piggie decide to make the audience clap. This is so much fun, that they ask the audience to do more things with them, including the Flippy Floppy Floory Dance – all from their seats, of course. (WE ARE IN A PLAY). When they’re done playing with the audience, they realize that a play has to end, and they discover that there are only a few pages left in the script. They wonder what happens when the show is over (WE’LL BE FRIENDS). After the song, the stage goes dark. We think it’s the end. But the lights come back up, and Elephant and Piggie are still there! (And so is the audience). Overjoyed, the entire cast sings one final song, celebrating the wonderful day they have all had together! (WE’VE BEEN LUCKY).

The play was adapted from these “Elephant & Piggie” books:

• “I Am Invited to a Party!” • “Listen to My Trumpet!” • “I Am Going!” • “Should I Share My Ice Cream?” • “I Love My New Toy!” • “We Are in a Book!”

We’re All Ears!

Have the students write a review of the play! The students can describe the scenery, lighting, music, costumes and performers and tell us what was their favorite part of the play and why. Perhaps it will be featured it on our website!

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About the Author #1 New York Times Bestseller Mo Willems began his career as a writer and animator for PBS’ Sesame Street, where he garnered 6 Emmy Awards for his writing. During his nine seasons at Sesame Street, Mo also served as a weekly commentator for BBC Radio and created two animated series, Nickelodeon’s The Off-Beats and Cartoon Network’s Sheep in the Big City. While serving as head writer for Cartoon Network’s #1 rated show, Codename: Kids Next Door, Mo began writing and drawing books for children. His debut effort, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” became a New York Times Bestseller and was awarded a Caldecott Honor in 2004. The following year “Knuffle Bunny: a Cautionary Tale” was awarded a Caldecott Honor. The sequel, “Knuffle Bunny Too: a Case of Mistaken Identity” garnered Mo his third Caldecott Honor in 2008. In addition to picture books, Mo created the Elephant and Piggie books, a series of “Easy Readers”, which were awarded the Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal in 2008 and 2009 and Geisel Honors in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. For older audiences he has published an illustrated memoir of his year-long trip around the world in 1990-91 entitled “You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons” and “Don't Pigeonhole Me!” a collection of 20 years of his annual sketchbooks. His books have been translated into over 20 languages. Mo’s drawings, wire sculptures, and sculpture have exhibited in numerous galleries and museums across the nation, including major retrospectives at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA, the High Museum in Atlanta, GA, and the Seongnam Arts Center in Seoul, South Korea. His graphic story about his family experiences during 9-11 for DC comics resides in the Library of Congress’ permanent collection. Mo has been heard on NPR’s All Things Considered, where he briefly served as the broadcast’s ‘Radio Cartoonist’. Mo voices and produces animated cartoons based on his books with Weston Woods studios. The animated Knuffle Bunny was awarded Best Film during the New York International Children’s Film Festival in 2008 and received the Andrew Carnegie Medal in 2007. The animated Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! garnered Mo his second Carnegie Medal in 2010 Mo wrote the script and lyrics for Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical and Elephant and Piggie's: We are In a Play! Both plays were commissioned by and debuted at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and consistently run in productions around the nation. About the Composer Deborah Wicks La Puma is a composer, music director, orchestrator and choral conductor. Her work for adults and children has been seen by thousands of audience members around the globe, from Australia to the East Room of the White House, enjoying both popular and critical success. Her awards include the Jane Chambers Playwriting Award, the Robert M. Golden Award, a National Endowment for the Arts’ New American Works Grant, two Helen Hayes nominations for Outstanding New Play, two Parent’s Choice Awards, and an iParenting media award. Her work has been commissioned and premiered at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Cornerstone Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, South Coast Rep, the Alliance Theatre, The Theatre at Boston Court, Childsplay, Imagination Stage, and Olney Theatre. Her musical arranging credits include Theatre for Young Audiences hits such as Mo Willems’ Knuffle Bunny, Ken Ludwig’sTom Sawyer, and Joan Cushing’s Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business, Miss Nelson is Missing, and Petite Rouge. Ms. La Puma received her MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, her BA from Stanford University, and studied folk music with ethnomusicologist Alfredo Lopez Mondragona. A Mexican American with dual citizenship who speaks Spanish and Portuguese, her other musical works include a bilingual Mass and two Rock/Jazz albums with the Brazilian band Turba Multa. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Assitej-USA (TYA/USA), the national association for theatre for children and young people, as well as a member of ASCAP and the Dramatist Guild.

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Facts about Elephants

An adult African elephant's trunk is about seven feet (two meters) long! It's actually an elongated nose and upper lip. Like most noses, trunks are for smelling. When an elephant drinks, it sucks as much as 2 gallons (7.5 liters) of water into its trunk at a time. Then it curls its trunk under, sticks the tip of its trunk into its mouth, and blows. Out comes the water, right down the elephant's throat.

Facts about Pigs

Pigs are extraordinarily intelligent. They are curious and insightful animals who are widely accepted as being smarter than young children of at least 3 years of age, dogs, and even some primates.

Pigs are extremely social animals. They form close bonds with other individuals and love close contact and lying down together.

Pigs are very clean, keeping their toilet area far away from where they lie down and eat. Even newborn piglets will leave the nest to go to the toilet within hours of birth.

Characters in the Play: GERALD: A lumbering, somewhat formally attired Elephant, prone to melancholy. PIGGIE: An ebullient, inquisitive pink pig. PIGGIE is an Optimist, and Best Friends with GERALD. THE SQUIRELLES: A trio of fun loving Squirrels. DOG: A dutiful Delivery dog PENGUIN: A sarcastic ice-‐cream seller THE BAND: Musicians who accompany the action!

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Vocabulary Words and Phrases Here are some words that are used in the play. Some of them might be words the youngest kids haven’t heard before.

Maestro Trumpet

Complimentary Surprisingly

Costume Wading Pool

Attire Predicament

Discussion Questions: The Importance of Friendship. One of the themes running throughout the story is the idea that even though friends can disagree and get upset with one another, they are still going to be friends until the end. Have the children talk about their friendships in the classroom and what makes a person a good friend. What interests do they share with their friends – and what is a unique characteristic of that friend? Overcoming conflict through stories. The “Elephant and Piggie” books feature simple stories that include social and emotional themes to help resolve conflict. If you have some “Elephant and Piggie books” in your classroom, please read one to the children. Discuss what the theme was, and talk about what the friends did to solve their conflict. Pre-Show Art Project: Everyone has a friend that they enjoy spending time with. Have the children discuss their friendship. Have them draw a picture of themselves with their best friend - maybe going to a play!

U s i n g t h e P l a y i n t h e C l a s s r o o m

Elephant and Piggie’s:“We are In a Play!” exhibits great friendship bonds. It teaches children to value one another, celebrate each other and it provides conflict resolution when times are trying. By referencing the play it can be a tool to assist in the classroom to instill positive relationships and ways to deal with conflict. Imaginative play are ways for children to explore new ideas, create social bonds and work collaboratively. One way to enhance this is to create a theme of a party just like in the play. Have the students imagine what a party theme might be, and what they might wear to the party. Have them explore numerous themes and guide them with different props and costume to foster their creativity. Elephant and Piggie’s: “We are in a Play!” was inspired by the book series “Elephant and Piggie.” Just like author Mo Willems, the children can become their own author and create their own book. An extension activity from the book project would be to have the book become a mini class play, in which the student act out their very own words!

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U s i n g t h e P l a y i n t h e C l a s s r o o m w i t h M a t h a n d S c i e n c e

Math Fun “Order of the Elephants”

(Bring Gerald, the Elephant, to your student’s finger tips! Have your classroom find the order of the small

and biggest “Gerald the Elephants” Materials:

• Elephant images (different sizes)

Directions: • Have students put elephants images in

order from biggest to smallest or smallest to biggest.

• For advance or extension activity choose elephant images closer to size. Students will become challenged to better discriminate between the sizes.

Science Fun Making your Own Music - with Water! Elephant & Piggie’s: “We are in a Play!” is a musical, and has a live band. Students will see the musicians during the play. Here’s a fun way to learn to play music in your classroom, while learning a bit about science, too! Materials:

• (5) or more drinking glasses or bottles (made of glass)

• Water • Wooden stick such as a pencil

Directions: 1. Line the glasses up next to each other and fill

them with different amounts of water. The first should have just a little water while the last should be almost full. The ones in between should have slightly more than the last.

2. Hit the glass with the least amount of water and listen to the sound, then hit the glass with the most water. Which makes the higher sound?

3. Hit the other glasses and see what noise they make. See if you can get a tune going by hitting the glasses in different orders.

What’s happening??? Each of the glasses will have a different tone when hit with the pencil. The glass with the most water will have the lowest tone, while the glass with the least water will have the highest. Small vibrations are made when you hit the glass - this creates sound waves which travel through the water. More water means slower vibrations and a deeper tone.

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Theatre Game:

A popular game that anyone can play is Pig in the Middle (“Piggie in the Middle?”) – where two people try to throw a ball to each other without a third person in the middle catching it. To get the whole class involved – instead of 2 people, form a circle and throw the ball across it, trying not to let the person in the middle catch it. As a variation, use language as the ball is thrown – the person throwing the ball says a word at the same time as he/she throws. The person catching the ball repeats the word, and then uses a new word as he/she throws it to the next person. This is a great game for learning concentration as well as teamwork. If the person in the middle catches the ball, he/she gets to trade places with the person who threw it.

MainStreet’s Celebratory Kid’s Tin Can Ice Cream Recipe: In the play, Gerald wonders if he should share his ice cream. Here’s a recipe for homemade ice cream that’s fun for kids to make and share with their friends!

You’ll need:

1 (3 lb.) clean coffee can

1 (1 lb.) clean coffee can

Duct tape

2 or more kids

INGREDIENTS:

1 c. milk

1 c. whipping cream

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 egg (optional)

Fruit (smashed), chocolate, etc.

Rock salt

Ice (crushed or small cubes)

Pour all food ingredients into 1-pound coffee can. Duct tape lid on securely. Place inside 3-pound coffee can.

Layer ice and salt around sides of small can. Duct tape 3-pound lid on. Roll briskly on hard ground for 10

minutes - cement works best.

Open lid and drain ice water. Open 1-pound lid and stir, scraping sides well. Re-tape. Re-pack big can with

ice and salt. Re-tape and roll again. Makes about 3 cups of ice cream

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You are welcome to post your reviews, comments, or questions about the play, and we will answer them!

Visit us on our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/MainStreetTheatreCompany

Also we love getting letters in the mail, so please feel free to send us a letter about what you thought! You can send your letters to the address below:

MainStreet Theatre Company 12505 Cultural Center Drive. Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739

Did you know …that the MainStreet Theatre Company has a Facebook page?

Stay Up to Date with all of the MainStreet Happenings! Sign up for the “MainStreet

Scoop” to get e-mail updates on all the

goings on at MainStreet!

Did you know …that the MainStreet Theatre Company has a Newsletter?

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This Curriculum guide was prepared by the staff of the Lewis Family Playhouse. Library information compiled by Library staff. For questions, comments, or suggestions, please contact Mireya “Murry” Hepner at (909) 477-2775 ext. 3734.

LIBRARY TOUR INFORMATION As part of your class visit to the Lewis Family Playhouse, why not take a tour of the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center Library? Show your students about the wonderful, free resources they have access to and exciting library programming. The Paul A. Biane Library facility has over 100,000 volumes housed in a beautiful, 23,000 square foot facility. Among the facility’s unique features: a story theater with a star ceiling made of fiber optic lights, 20 seat technology center, teen study area, and a special performing arts collection. The Paul A. Biane Library at Victoria Gardens has over 1000 books and media in the Performing Arts collections for Adults and Children.

Pre- and post- show tours last approximately 15 minutes and are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. To arrange a tour, please call Lorena Paz, Librarian, at (909) 477-2720 ext. 5058. .

PROGRAMS AND FAMILY FUN @ THE RANCHO CUCAMONGA LIBRARIES

The Rancho Cucamonga Libraries offer a full calendar of entertaining, enriching and informative programs for the whole family.

• Weekly story times o Discovery Club – Ages 6-12

Archibald Library – Wed. @ 4 pm Biane Library – Thurs. @ 4pm

• Cultural Arts Nights o “Hispanic Heritage Cultural Arts Night”

Biane Library - Fri. Sept. 18, 7-9 pm o “Fall Into Fun”

Archibald Library - Fri. Oct. 23, 7-9 pm • Technology classes

Helpful Hints from the Library FROM THE STAGE TO THE PAGE … @ THE RANCHO CUCAMONGA LIBRARIES

Books serve as inspiration for our imagination, hearts, and for this theater performance! The library is great place for families to continue their theater experience. Families can choose from all kinds of materials including: books, audio books, CDs, magazines, and other materials. Come visit the award winning Rancho Cucamonga Libraries for all your learning and entertainment needs!

BOOKS @ THE LIBRARY

If you like Elephant and Piggie, you’ll love these! Waiting Is Not Easy!

Shelved under Beginning Readers Willems

My New Friend Is So Fun! Shelved under Beginning Readers Willems

A Big Guy Took My Ball


Listen to My Trumpet! Shelved under Beginning Readers Willems

Let’s Go For A Drive!


Happy Pig Day! Shelved under Beginning Readers Willems

_________________________________________________________ If you have any questions about finding these books

or about the library, please call the reference desk at 909.477.2720.

Documents

EEKS EDNESDAY RIDAY Synopsis - Lewis Family Playhouse€¦ · 3 lewis family playhouse | 12505 cultural center drive, rancho cucamonga, ca 91739 | 909.477.2775 $ about the author