Kohl’s Wild Theater Teacher Packet

Wisconsin Wonderland

Photos by

ZSM and

Richard Brodzeller

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Table of Contents

What is Kohl’s Wild Theater? ............................................................. 1

General Overview of Wisconsin Wonderland ...................................... 2

Animal Information ............................................................................ 4

Discussion Questions and Activities .................................................... 7

About the Artists ................................................................................ 8

What is Kohl’s Wild Theater?

Kohl’s Wild Theater (KWT) is made possible by a partnership among Kohl's Cares, the

Milwaukee County Zoo, and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee. This program provides

conservation-themed theater performances using drama, songs, and puppetry to children and

their families both at the Milwaukee County Zoo and within our community. Since 2011, all

performances have been offered free of charge thanks to a $2.5 million donation to the

Zoological Society from Kohl’s Cares.

The KWT outreach program, a division of the Zoological Society’s Conservation Education

Department, offers many different shows about a variety of topics. Our plays and musicals are

approximately 30-45 minutes long, performed by professional actors, and include stories about

animals and environmental conservation. KWT performances are very similar to attending a play

at a traditional theater, but there will be many times when the audience can be a part of the show

through group participation. There will not be time during the performance for the actors to go

over curriculum or to review information. After the performance, if time permits, the actors will

take a few minutes to answer questions from the audience. Please note, there are no live

animals in KWT shows.

Most of our performances are developed for an elementary school audience. Elements of our

shows are entertaining for adults and younger children, but the educational information presented

is targeted for grades 1-5. Some performance offerings are designed for middle school audiences.

For more information about all of our outreach shows, please visit www.wildtheater.org.

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Wisconsin Wonderland

Summary

This 40-minute performance includes two 15-minute musicals, each about Wisconsin animals

and how they survive during the winter. The first part of the show is called A Winter’s Tail and

features Mr. Scrooge, a greedy developer who encounters three winter ghosts. The ghosts are a

timber wolf, a black bear and massasauga rattlesnake; all animals that live in Wisconsin year-

round. Mr. Scrooge learns how his actions have an impact on Wisconsin’s wildlife.

The second musical, Journey to the Rich Coast, follows the full migration of two songbirds from

Wisconsin to Costa Rica and back again. Once in Costa Rica, the traveling birds learn about the

rainforest and all it has to offer, including a native toucan. As the birds travel to and from, they

face many challenges. Audiences help the birds by providing rest areas, food, water, and shelter

through group participation. By the end of the show, the birds learn why they travel back to

Wisconsin every year.

In addition to these two 15-minute plays, Wisconsin Wonderland also includes an “intermission”

skit about the Wisconsin seasons. The skit features a salamander and otter that put on a “Frozen”

musical revue about how they each survive through the year.

Target Age Range

Most appropriate for grades 1-5 and families with children of all ages.

Theater Etiquette

Before the performance, please take a moment to review good theater etiquette with your

students. It is important that students are respectful to the actors during the show. It is a good

idea to remind students not to talk during the performance, but encourage them to participate

when directed to do so by the actors.

Educational Concepts Related to Performance Winter Survival:

- Many animals stay in Wisconsin through the cold winters and have different adaptations

to survive.

- Female wolves create dens in or near Wisconsin’s forests to birth and raise their pups. A

wolf pack will often stay together near the den area. The wolves stay active through the

winter hunting prey such as muskrats, rabbits, or white-tailed deer.

- Black bears in Wisconsin go into a deep winter sleep that is similar to hibernation. One

difference between a black bear’s winter sleep and hibernation is that bears can be woken

up in the middle of their sleep if they are disturbed.

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- Black bears seek out dens made by other animals for their winter sleep. If they can’t find

a den, bears sometimes just fall asleep on the ground and let the snow cover them.

- Massasauga rattlesnakes are endangered animals that hibernate underground near

Wisconsin’s wetlands.

Wisconsin Seasons:

- Based on the changing amounts of sunlight, we have seasons and changing temperatures

in Wisconsin -- going from cold temperatures in the winter to warm temperatures in the

summer.

- Cold-blooded animals need to burrow and brumate/hibernate because their body

temperature changes with the temperature outside.

- Some warm-blooded animals can stay active through the cold weather. Most warm-

blooded animals can keep their temperature up by moving their body and using thick

coats of fur for insulation – provided they have some food source to digest and produce

heat energy within their body.

Bird Migration:

- Many species of birds migrate each year, which means they travel a long distance from

one place to another to find habitats that meet their needs for food, water, warmth and

space.

- Migratory songbirds in Wisconsin typically migrate along the “Mississippi Flyway,”

which is a flight path following the Mississippi River valley.

- Once they reach the Gulf of Mexico, many species of birds fly over the entire Gulf in one

night.

- Once the birds cross the Gulf of Mexico, they continue to fly until they find a suitable

location in the tropics. Many migratory songbirds live in the rainforest during

Wisconsin’s winter months.

- Birds fly all the way to tropical areas because there is warmth as well as water and food

throughout the year. However, after a few months, the tropical birds have chicks to feed.

This reduces the amount of food available to the migratory birds. As the tropical birds

become more territorial, the migratory birds begin to fly back north.

- Many migratory birds travel all the way back to where they started. By the time they

arrive in their northern habitat, spring begins and with it comes a new wave of food and

opportunities to nest.

- If a migratory bird travels from Wisconsin to Costa Rica, the trip is over 2,000 miles each

way. It is a dangerous trip, but people can help by planting shrubs, providing clean water,

and putting window decals on their windows at home. Many birds are injured or killed by

flying into windows they can’t see. Window decals help prevent collisions.

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Featured Animals

Gray Wolf (Canis lupus):

- The gray wolf, sometimes called the timber wolf, can be found in

the central and northern forests of Wisconsin. A wolf pack’s

territory can range from 20-80 square miles.

- Gray wolves live in Wisconsin year-round. During the cold

winter months, the wolves live in or around dens. Dens are holes

under or near trees in the forest that are dug by female wolves in

the fall before the temperature begins to drop.

- By the end of the 1950s, wolves had been completely hunted out of Wisconsin. In 1974,

the wolf was given protection under the Endangered Species Act. A small population of

Minnesota wolves was then able to slowly migrate back into Wisconsin. By 2004, wolves

were no longer considered endangered in Wisconsin. In 2012, federal protections were

dropped as the gray wolf population in Wisconsin is no longer at risk of extinction.

Black Bear (Ursus americanus):

- The American black bear can be found throughout North

America, including Wisconsin. The black bear typically

lives in or near dense forests. - Black bears are omnivores and scavengers. Their diet can

include fruit, nuts, leaves, carrion (dead animals), or small

mammals. - During the winter, black bears go into a deep winter sleep. It is similar to hibernation, but

unlike true hibernators a black bear can be awakened in the middle of their rest. - Black bears find a den before their long winter rest. Dens can be holes dug by other

animals (including humans), a hollowed out tree, or even a space where snow can cover

the bear.

Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus):

- Massasauga rattlesnakes are native to the Midwest and

endangered in the state of Wisconsin. They are typically

found near wetlands.

- During winter months, massasauga rattlesnakes will

“brumate” underground, burrowing underneath the frost

line. Brumation is a type of hibernation exhibited by

reptiles and amphibians. Because they are cold-blooded, their temperature will drop

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while they go into a deep sleep. When the ground begins to warm, they will become

active again.

- Many snakes, including massasauga rattlesnakes, are important predators of small

mammals such as rodents. Predators such as snakes provide a natural pest control.

Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum):

- One of the largest terrestrial salamanders in the world.

The largest recorded eastern tiger salamander was 13

inches long. - The eastern tiger salamander is an amphibian. It starts its

life under water, but as it matures it leaves the water and

lives under leaf litter and moist soils.

- Eastern tiger salamanders can be found throughout the eastern seaboard and the Midwest,

including the state of Wisconsin. - During the winter, salamanders find or dig holes under the frost line. As the temperature

drops, the salamander’s body temperature drops, the heart rate slows and it goes into a

type of hibernation called “brumation.” When the temperature warms in the spring, the

salamander becomes active again.

River Otter (Lontra canadensis):

- River otters are native to Wisconsin. They are semi-aquatic

and a member of the weasel family.

- River otters live near water sources and feed on fish and

crustaceans such as crayfish.

- During the winter, otters stay active. They are warm-

blooded, so they use their thick fur coat to stay warm.

- Otters will build a den underground with at least two

entrances: one on land and one in the water.

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula):

- Baltimore orioles are migratory songbirds that are native to

Wisconsin during the spring and summer months. In addition to

Wisconsin, the birds can also be found across the east side of

North America from North Dakota to Maine and as far south as

Louisiana.

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- During our cold winter months, Baltimore orioles migrate to

Central and South America, finishing their journey anywhere

from Mexico, to Venezuela, to Cuba.

- Migratory birds such as the oriole often fly at night to avoid

being seen by predators.

- The diet of the Baltimore oriole consists of insects, fruits, and

nectar. Orioles are excellent mosquito eaters.

Chestnut-Mandibled Toucan (Ramphastos swainsonii):

- The toucan is a large-billed tropical bird found in the rainforests of

Central and South America. Toucans are non-migratory, so they stay

in the rainforest all year-round.

- Toucans are “frugivores,” which means their diet consists mostly of

fruit.

- The breeding season for toucans in Costa Rica starts in March, just as

the migratory birds prepare to fly back north for springtime in the

northern hemisphere.

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Post-Performance Discussion/Extension Questions: 1) In “A Winter’s Tail” we learned about many different habitats found in Wisconsin. How

many different habitats have you visited? How many different kinds have you found in

Wisconsin? How many other types have you seen outside of the state? How were these

habitats similar? How were they different? Can you think of what types of animals were

best suited to live in those habitats?

2) Some animals have many adaptations to survive through a cold Wisconsin winter. What

adaptations did you notice in the show? What do you do to stay warm during the winter

time? Are there similarities between how humans and other animals survive during the

winter?

3) When migratory birds fly down the Mississippi flyway, what do you think they see? How

would it look to a bird? How would a bird see the world differently than a person?

4) Migratory birds make their trip every year, often traveling the same route/path and to the

same place. Do you and your family travel somewhere every year? If so, how is it similar

to a bird’s migration? How is it different?

5) What dangers do you think migratory birds face during their trip? Why do you think the

birds risk the journey?

Activities:

1) Organize a park clean-up day. If a local park isn’t accessible to the class, you can also clean

up a playground or other outdoor area.

2) Make an oriole feeder at home. Orioles love ripe fruit, so an easy way to attract orioles is to

cut an orange in half and hang the pieces from a tree. You can also add a little bit of grape

jelly. Just be sure not to put some much jelly on that it sticks to the bird’s wings.

3) Research a conservation organization that works to protect local animals and habitats. See

list below for some suggestions.

Suggested conservation organizations:

- The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: www.allaboutbirds.org

- National Audubon Society: www.audobon.org

- Bear Trust International: www.beartrust.org

- Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin: http://www.wisconservation.org/

- The World Wildlife Fund: www.worldwildlife.org

- The Zoological Society of Milwaukee: www.zoosociety.org/conservation

For more information on Kohl’s Wild Theater, see wildtheater.org or

email us at kwt@zoosociety.org. For information on other school

programs provided by the Zoological Society, see

Zoosociety.org/Education/SchoolPrograms/

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About the Artists

ZACH WOODS (Playwright – A Winter’s Tail) has been a company member of KWT since 2014. Zach is from

Oconomowoc, Wis. and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2012 with a BFA in acting.

Recent Milwaukee acting credits include Skylight’s productions of "Les Miserables" and "Hair", First

Stage’s "Anatole” and “Big Fish", and Theatre Red’s "A Lady in Waiting". Zach maintains a working relationship

with the Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives in Honolulu, Hawaii where he serves as playwright for their

Cemetery Theatre living history program. He also works in the community as a theatre director. Recent directing

credits include "The Miss Firecracker Contest" with Musical Masquers in West Bend and "Death by Design" with

Milwaukee Entertainment Group.

MATT ZEMBROWSKI (Composer – A Winter’s Tail) began composing and writing songs as a student at

Dominican High School in Whitefish Bay. While still a student, he was commissioned by the Archdiocese of

Milwaukee to write a piece that was performed for Archbishop Weakland. In 2008, he wrote a number of original

songs for "Sunsets and S'Mores," produced by American Folklore (now Northern Sky) Theater, with Lee Becker and

Doc Heide. He and his brother, Zach, are the co-creators of the popular Zombie Jamboree series, produced by

Storyteller Theater of Milwaukee and the UWM Players Guild, and feature a number of Matt's original songs. He

has written original incidental music for many productions in Milwaukee, including "Dearly Departed" (Sunset

Playhouse), "Our Town" (Shorewood Players) and "The Crucible" (Pius XI High School). From 2007-2013, he

composed a collection of more than 60 liturgical hymns and Psalm settings, which have been used at churches all

over Milwaukee. As an actor, Matt has performed with In Tandem Theater, Next Act Theater, Sunset Playhouse and

many others. He also serves as director of the Theater program at St. Thomas More High School.

ALVARO SAAR RIOS (Playwright – Journey to the Rich Coast) holds an MFA in Writing for the Stage &

Screen from Northwestern University and is the co-founder of the national touring performance troupe—The Royal

Mexican Players. He has commissions from various theaters including Houston Grand Opera, First Stage, and The

Alley Theatre (Texas). His work has been performed in New York City, Hawaii, California, Chicago, Milwaukee,

and all over Texas! Mr. Rios is an Assistant Professor in the Theatre Department at the University of Wisconsin-

Milwaukee.

JOHN TANNER (Composer – Journey to the Rich Coast) is one of the principals of Tanner-Monagle, with years

of experience in scoring, arranging and music composition for television, radio, industrial video and theatre. His

commercial music has won numerous awards, including Golden Reel Awards; Telly Awards; national, regional and

local American Advertising Federation “Addys.” He has written original scores and designed sound for theatrical

productions at the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Yale Repertory Theatre, American Player’s Theatre, Cincinnati

Playhouse in the Park, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, First Stage Milwaukee and many others.

DAVE MCLELLAN (Director) joined the Zoological Society in 2010 to begin development of Kohl’s Wild

Theater. Since that time, Dave has directed 13 original plays and musicals for the Zoo, as well as many short skits

and exhibit interactions. Prior to moving to Milwaukee, Dave spent a year working as a conservation educator for

the Walt Disney Company in Orlando, FL. Before moving to FL, he was a company member and assistant director

with the Wildlife Theater, performing regularly at the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo and Queens Zoo in NYC. Other

selected theater credits include the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Ford’s Theater, Round House Theater,

Imagination Stage, Surflight Theater, Capital Repertory Theatre, Cape Rep Theatre, and Universal Studios Florida.

Dave now resides in Wauwatosa with his wife, Mary, and two children, Angela and Johnny.

THE ACTORS - KWT employs numerous professional actors that perform many different roles in our various shows.

Casting changes with each performance, but if you want to learn more about each individual actor you can see their

bios at http://www.zoosociety.org/Education/WildTheater/Cast.php.