Showcase
Striking Viking Story PiratesContemporary and Historical Performances
Striking Viking Story Pirates
A diverse selection of talented artists entertain through a wide range of classic and modern-day performances.
2 Punks Puppet Theatre
2 Punks Puppet Theatre specializes in intelligent, creative children’s entertainment that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The group presents myths, legends, and fables through innovative and amazing table-top, shadow, and hand puppet shows.
Performances include: The (Aquarium) Little Mermaid (Grades PreK–3); How the Earth Got Its Color (an Aztec tale) (Grades K–4); Louie’s Fabulous Mardi Gras Adventure (or gumbo isn’t gumbo without the okra) (Grades 2–8); Poe Stories (not too scary) (Grades 4–10); and Two Lip and Posey’s Hilarious Jokes
(a kid-friendly improv) (Grades K–12).
The 3Bean Children’s Theatre Group
Blending traditional storytelling with live music, sound effects, and shadow puppets, 3Bean Children’s Theatre Group, in collaboration with Puppeteers’ Cooperative, presents unique innovative interpretations of folktales and stories.
Performances include: Wiley and the Hairy Man
An African American folktale about a young boy being chased by a magical creature called the Hairy Man. After a few close calls, Wiley eventually tricks the creature into leaving him alone for good. After the performance, students may participate in an interactive music lesson, along with a discussion about the deeper meanings behind the story.
Calabash Dance Theater
Ayanna Frederick and Abiodun McCray present a performance of African/Caribbean songs, dances, and drumming along with original compositions to educate and entertain students while encouraging them to dance and sing along. Traditional components of the culture are integrated with positive messages of community and self-worth.
Celeste Howard-Ray
Celeste Howard-Ray and company perform and demonstrate the music, dance, and instruments of Renaissance era Celtic countries. Students learn about this historic period and participate by singing the songs, dancing jig and reel, and learning about the Bowed Psaltery, a popular instrument of the time.
A Clown Show
Michael Freeman and company present an interactive program of clowning and mime specifically designed for Grades PreK–3, including special needs groups, that helps students explore such topics as hygiene, nutrition, self-esteem, and conflict issues through a funny and touching performance. Expect surprise guests, as all students are given a chance to participate along with the performers and to learn clown and mime skills.
The Dixie Rascals
Six dynamic musicians trace the origins of tap-your-feet, clap-your-hands, grin-on-your-face Dixieland music. They perform in period costume on traditional Dixieland instruments (trumpet, trombone, clarinet, banjo, tuba, and drums) and focus on the role of each instrument in the ensemble. Emphasis is given to the importance of listening to each other in music and life. Special attention is devoted to the place of the music in “life events” such as weddings, funerals, and a celebration of the human spirit.
Fintan O’Neill Quintet
Students discover the joy of music-making with the Fintan O’Neill Quintet. This wonderful jazz group gives a fun interactive musical experience in which the students take part through a series of games and clapping. It’s entertaining, high energy, and the students learn not just about jazz music but also about working as a team and being creative. As Fintan O’Neill says, “You have got to have fun while learning. That’s the key to retention and being successful.”
Folk Tales from Around the World
Get ready for an enchanting journey, as storyteller Tammy Hall weaves folk tales from across the globe and shares stories in the oral tradition that educate the listener on the art of storytelling and the lands from which the stories came.
Marc Levitt
Storyteller Marc Levitt performs stories written from what he knows best. In Stories from a NY Childhood, Marc shares childhood memoirs, touching topics relevant to students such as sibling rivalry, getting lost, and first dates. These vignettes are colored with the sights, sounds, and scents of small candy stores, automats, and stickball. Through the story of Bullies, Gossips, Diversity and Moral Choices Marc delves into many of the social/psychological issues facing students such as bullying, teasing, forgiveness, and boy/girl relationships in both humorous and thought provoking ways. These stories set up moral dilemmas where solutions are not necessarily obvious, encouraging conversation and debate. Tales from October Moon honors and acknowledges the unseen and mysterious, and provide an opportunity for students to explore their fears in a safe and humorous way. All performances encourage budding authors to write from what they know and to use their imagination to create playful and evocative stories.
Linda Russell
Using guitar, dulcimers, penny whistles, and limberjacks, Linda Russell illuminates our country’s heritage with dance tunes, ballads, broadsides, and historical anecdotes from the 18th and 19th centuries. Special programs include Christmas in Early America, Patchwork: Voices of 19th Century Women, Songs of Westward Expansion and A Musical History of New York City.
Loop 2.4.3—Percussion Ensemble—A Unique World of Sound
Loop 2.4.3 is an exciting and energetic duo pushing percussion music in new directions. They perform all original music on a wide range of instruments: drums, marimba, water-phone, Chinese gongs, temple blocks, prayer bowls, steel drum, and many more. The sounds they create are exciting for all, broadening their audiences’ scope of listening, combining aggressive high energy drumming with soaring melodies.
Nedra Gallegos and Company
This dynamic troupe of actors present a series of theatrical performances. Performances include: Aesop’s Fables: Pre-performance introductions to the characteristics of fables encourage students to watch and listen for each fable’s lesson, and post-performance discussions help students better understand and develop ideas relating to these lessons. (Grades K–5.) Greek Mythology: This program brings to life a variety of some of the most famous Greek myths. (Grades 3–12.) Shakespeare: This performance begins by familiarizing students with the structure and language of Shakespeare, enabling them to better understand and comprehend these works. The company then presents scenes from some of Shakespeare’s plays followed by discussions on their meaning and themes. (Grades 3–12.)
Renée Manning and Earl McIntyre
Vocalist and storyteller Renée Manning and musician Earl McIntyre perform a unique blend of musical genres. For Grades K–5, they present songs and stories from Native American, Australian Aboriginal, and African cultures, illustrated with the trombone, digiridoo, and tuba along with puppets to create a rich educational and cultural experience. For Grades 6–12, they appear with a quintet to present the music of legendary singers from Mahalia Jackson to Aretha Franklin. Jazz performances are also available with the quintet.
The Shadow Theater
Brenda Colling and company present shadow puppet plays based on traditional folktales from around the world including Africa, India, China, and Persia, as well as original productions inspired by world folk traditions. A pre-performance hands-on puppet-making workshop with the students can be scheduled for some performances for an additional fee.
The Society of the Educational Arts (SEA)
SEA, New York’s premier Latino arts in education organization, offers bilingual puppet shows for young audiences. Offerings include bilingual versions of Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs. SEA boasts an experienced staff of bilingual teaching artists in all of the arts disciplines (drama, visual arts, music, dance, puppetry), all of whom are currently working in the field of the arts discipline that they teach.
Something Positive
Founded by the late Cheryl Byron, a multi-talented artist whose specialties included dance, choreography, singing, and music composition, Something Positive presents a musical and dance performance dedicated to the understanding and continuation of the art and culture of the African Diaspora.
Striking Viking Story Pirates (SVSP)
The Story Pirates Play/Write assembly program showcases creative writing by students from New York’s five boroughs in a sketch comedy musical performed by professional actors. This award-winning show is funny enough to make the teachers laugh along with the students, while at the same time reinforcing core values of the New York State Learning Standards in the Arts and English Language Arts. When students leave the auditorium their minds are racing with their own creative ideas for story writing. SVSP encourages kids to become more thoughtful and passionate writers and speakers, in and out of school.
Talking Hands Theater
With all original rod and hand puppets, Talking Hands Theater presents a range of cultural folk tales and stories. For Grades PreK–2, choose from The Princess Who Escaped from Pirates, How the Elephant Got His Trunk, and other tales focused on building strength of character. For Grades 3–6, Speedy the Rabbit’s Around-the-World Adventure meets NY State social studies standards, as the race against the tortoise takes the hare to Ethiopia, India, and Russia, and he finds out what it means to respect different cultures.
Time for a Rhyme/b>
Award-winning actress, singer, and poet Paulette Attie presents an interactive program of poems and songs designed to both educate and entertain. For elementary school children, Ms. Attie performs original poetry and the poems of Shel Silverstein, Langston Hughes, Douglas Florin, and Marilyn Singer. For intermediate and high school students, she presents excerpts from About Time, with songs by Irving Berlin, the Gershwins, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and Rodgers and Hart, along with original poetry and poems by William Shakespeare, Robert Pinsky, and Nikki Giovanni.
The Young Hoofers®
Named one of Dance Magazine’s Top 25 to Watch, The Young Hoofers, under the direction of Traci Mann, offer exuberant yet precise unisons and virtuosi solos. Performances include: Conversations in Rhythm The Young Hoofers tap dance to the rhythms of marches, swing, Latin, bebop, and reggae. The use of bucket drums and a percussionist make an impact on any audience.
Tribute to Tap Giants
Co-written by Traci Mann and Eric Offner, this program pays tribute to the legends of tap dance including The Original Hoofers™, Maurice and Gregory Hines, Bill Bojangles Robinson, Eleanor Powell, Shirley Temple, and Anne Miller, as The Young Hoofers re-enact some
of these dancers’ memorable routines. Jazz, Taps and Drums Co-written by Traci Mann and Napoleon Revels-Bey, The Young Hoofers, accompanied by a jazz quartet, demonstrate the history of tap dance to the music of composer Duke Ellington.
2 Punks Puppet Theatre
2 Punks Puppet Theatre specializes in intelligent, creative children’s entertainment that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The group presents myths, legends, and fables through innovative and amazing table-top, shadow, and hand puppet shows.
Performances include: The (Aquarium) Little Mermaid (Grades PreK–3); How the Earth Got Its Color (an Aztec tale) (Grades K–4); Louie’s Fabulous Mardi Gras Adventure (or gumbo isn’t gumbo without the okra) (Grades 2–8); Poe Stories (not too scary) (Grades 4–10); and Two Lip and Posey’s Hilarious Jokes
(a kid-friendly improv) (Grades K–12).
The 3Bean Children’s Theatre Group
Blending traditional storytelling with live music, sound effects, and shadow puppets, 3Bean Children’s Theatre Group, in collaboration with Puppeteers’ Cooperative, presents unique innovative interpretations of folktales and stories.
Performances include: Wiley and the Hairy Man
An African American folktale about a young boy being chased by a magical creature called the Hairy Man. After a few close calls, Wiley eventually tricks the creature into leaving him alone for good. After the performance, students may participate in an interactive music lesson, along with a discussion about the deeper meanings behind the story.
Calabash Dance Theater
Ayanna Frederick and Abiodun McCray present a performance of African/Caribbean songs, dances, and drumming along with original compositions to educate and entertain students while encouraging them to dance and sing along. Traditional components of the culture are integrated with positive messages of community and self-worth.
Celeste Howard-Ray
Celeste Howard-Ray and company perform and demonstrate the music, dance, and instruments of Renaissance era Celtic countries. Students learn about this historic period and participate by singing the songs, dancing jig and reel, and learning about the Bowed Psaltery, a popular instrument of the time.
A Clown Show
Michael Freeman and company present an interactive program of clowning and mime specifically designed for Grades PreK–3, including special needs groups, that helps students explore such topics as hygiene, nutrition, self-esteem, and conflict issues through a funny and touching performance. Expect surprise guests, as all students are given a chance to participate along with the performers and to learn clown and mime skills.
The Dixie Rascals
Six dynamic musicians trace the origins of tap-your-feet, clap-your-hands, grin-on-your-face Dixieland music. They perform in period costume on traditional Dixieland instruments (trumpet, trombone, clarinet, banjo, tuba, and drums) and focus on the role of each instrument in the ensemble. Emphasis is given to the importance of listening to each other in music and life. Special attention is devoted to the place of the music in “life events” such as weddings, funerals, and a celebration of the human spirit.
Fintan O’Neill Quintet
Students discover the joy of music-making with the Fintan O’Neill Quintet. This wonderful jazz group gives a fun interactive musical experience in which the students take part through a series of games and clapping. It’s entertaining, high energy, and the students learn not just about jazz music but also about working as a team and being creative. As Fintan O’Neill says, “You have got to have fun while learning. That’s the key to retention and being successful.”
Folk Tales from Around the World
Get ready for an enchanting journey, as storyteller Tammy Hall weaves folk tales from across the globe and shares stories in the oral tradition that educate the listener on the art of storytelling and the lands from which the stories came.
Marc Levitt
Storyteller Marc Levitt performs stories written from what he knows best. In Stories from a NY Childhood, Marc shares childhood memoirs, touching topics relevant to students such as sibling rivalry, getting lost, and first dates. These vignettes are colored with the sights, sounds, and scents of small candy stores, automats, and stickball. Through the story of Bullies, Gossips, Diversity and Moral Choices Marc delves into many of the social/psychological issues facing students such as bullying, teasing, forgiveness, and boy/girl relationships in both humorous and thought provoking ways. These stories set up moral dilemmas where solutions are not necessarily obvious, encouraging conversation and debate. Tales from October Moon honors and acknowledges the unseen and mysterious, and provide an opportunity for students to explore their fears in a safe and humorous way. All performances encourage budding authors to write from what they know and to use their imagination to create playful and evocative stories.
Linda Russell
Using guitar, dulcimers, penny whistles, and limberjacks, Linda Russell illuminates our country’s heritage with dance tunes, ballads, broadsides, and historical anecdotes from the 18th and 19th centuries. Special programs include Christmas in Early America, Patchwork: Voices of 19th Century Women, Songs of Westward Expansion and A Musical History of New York City.
Loop 2.4.3—Percussion Ensemble—A Unique World of Sound
Loop 2.4.3 is an exciting and energetic duo pushing percussion music in new directions. They perform all original music on a wide range of instruments: drums, marimba, water-phone, Chinese gongs, temple blocks, prayer bowls, steel drum, and many more. The sounds they create are exciting for all, broadening their audiences’ scope of listening, combining aggressive high energy drumming with soaring melodies.
Nedra Gallegos and Company
This dynamic troupe of actors present a series of theatrical performances. Performances include: Aesop’s Fables: Pre-performance introductions to the characteristics of fables encourage students to watch and listen for each fable’s lesson, and post-performance discussions help students better understand and develop ideas relating to these lessons. (Grades K–5.) Greek Mythology: This program brings to life a variety of some of the most famous Greek myths. (Grades 3–12.) Shakespeare: This performance begins by familiarizing students with the structure and language of Shakespeare, enabling them to better understand and comprehend these works. The company then presents scenes from some of Shakespeare’s plays followed by discussions on their meaning and themes. (Grades 3–12.)
Renée Manning and Earl McIntyre
Vocalist and storyteller Renée Manning and musician Earl McIntyre perform a unique blend of musical genres. For Grades K–5, they present songs and stories from Native American, Australian Aboriginal, and African cultures, illustrated with the trombone, digiridoo, and tuba along with puppets to create a rich educational and cultural experience. For Grades 6–12, they appear with a quintet to present the music of legendary singers from Mahalia Jackson to Aretha Franklin. Jazz performances are also available with the quintet.
The Shadow Theater
Brenda Colling and company present shadow puppet plays based on traditional folktales from around the world including Africa, India, China, and Persia, as well as original productions inspired by world folk traditions. A pre-performance hands-on puppet-making workshop with the students can be scheduled for some performances for an additional fee.
The Society of the Educational Arts (SEA)
SEA, New York’s premier Latino arts in education organization, offers bilingual puppet shows for young audiences. Offerings include bilingual versions of Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs. SEA boasts an experienced staff of bilingual teaching artists in all of the arts disciplines (drama, visual arts, music, dance, puppetry), all of whom are currently working in the field of the arts discipline that they teach.
Something Positive
Founded by the late Cheryl Byron, a multi-talented artist whose specialties included dance, choreography, singing, and music composition, Something Positive presents a musical and dance performance dedicated to the understanding and continuation of the art and culture of the African Diaspora.
Striking Viking Story Pirates (SVSP)
The Story Pirates Play/Write assembly program showcases creative writing by students from New York’s five boroughs in a sketch comedy musical performed by professional actors. This award-winning show is funny enough to make the teachers laugh along with the students, while at the same time reinforcing core values of the New York State Learning Standards in the Arts and English Language Arts. When students leave the auditorium their minds are racing with their own creative ideas for story writing. SVSP encourages kids to become more thoughtful and passionate writers and speakers, in and out of school.
Talking Hands Theater
With all original rod and hand puppets, Talking Hands Theater presents a range of cultural folk tales and stories. For Grades PreK–2, choose from The Princess Who Escaped from Pirates, How the Elephant Got His Trunk, and other tales focused on building strength of character. For Grades 3–6, Speedy the Rabbit’s Around-the-World Adventure meets NY State social studies standards, as the race against the tortoise takes the hare to Ethiopia, India, and Russia, and he finds out what it means to respect different cultures.
Time for a Rhyme/b>
Award-winning actress, singer, and poet Paulette Attie presents an interactive program of poems and songs designed to both educate and entertain. For elementary school children, Ms. Attie performs original poetry and the poems of Shel Silverstein, Langston Hughes, Douglas Florin, and Marilyn Singer. For intermediate and high school students, she presents excerpts from About Time, with songs by Irving Berlin, the Gershwins, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and Rodgers and Hart, along with original poetry and poems by William Shakespeare, Robert Pinsky, and Nikki Giovanni.
The Young Hoofers®
Named one of Dance Magazine’s Top 25 to Watch, The Young Hoofers, under the direction of Traci Mann, offer exuberant yet precise unisons and virtuosi solos. Performances include: Conversations in Rhythm The Young Hoofers tap dance to the rhythms of marches, swing, Latin, bebop, and reggae. The use of bucket drums and a percussionist make an impact on any audience.
Tribute to Tap Giants
Co-written by Traci Mann and Eric Offner, this program pays tribute to the legends of tap dance including The Original Hoofers™, Maurice and Gregory Hines, Bill Bojangles Robinson, Eleanor Powell, Shirley Temple, and Anne Miller, as The Young Hoofers re-enact some
of these dancers’ memorable routines. Jazz, Taps and Drums Co-written by Traci Mann and Napoleon Revels-Bey, The Young Hoofers, accompanied by a jazz quartet, demonstrate the history of tap dance to the music of composer Duke Ellington.
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