The Valentine proudly presents Season 11 of our Gretchen A. Zyndorf School Days Educational Theatre Series! Welcome back theatergoers for brand-new productions and old favorites, live on stage.
It’s an interdisciplinary arts
extravaganza with a troupe of eight
musicians, one of whom’s a poet,
one’s a dancer, and one’s a visual
artist. Larry Bellorin and Joe Troop,
a Venezuela/North Carolina duo are
multi-instrumentalists who sing in both English and Spanish.
Aaron Jonah Lewis is a virtuoso fiddler and banjo player from
Detroit. Lindsay McCaw is a guitarist, fiddler, and visual artist,
also from Detroit. Hannah Lewis is a Detroit musician and
dancer. Long-time Alaska resident, Ken Waldman, is a writer
with 20 books and a fiddler with 12 CDs. Two Bowling Green
musicians round out the fast-paced show.
One hour in length. Recommended Grades 7-12.
Music, Dance, Language Arts, Writing, Poetry, Creativity, Imagination, Geography, Social Justice.
Based on the book by
Andrew Clements. Nicholas Allen
has plenty of ideas. When he ends up
in Mrs. Granger’s language arts class,
he has his best idea ever. He decides
to create his own word…FRINDLE!
Before long Nick’s word creates a buzz in his school, his town
and then to his surprise it spreads all around the country, and
a power struggle erupts with the strict Mrs. Granger. Will the
word “Frindle” win? Based on the multiple award winning bestselling
novel by Andrew Clements this quirky, imaginative tale
about creative thought and the power of words will have your
young audience inventing their own words.
Play. One hour in length. Recommended: Grades 3-7.
Language Arts, Literature, Vocabulary, Spelling, Creative Writing.
When teenager Percy Jackson discovers
he’s a demigod, he and his
friends embark on an epic journey
to find Zeus’ missing lightning bolt
and prevent a war among the gods.
This dynamic musical adaptation of Rick Riordan’s bestselling
book, The Lightning Thief, features an exciting rock score.
Musical. One hour in length. Recommended: Grades 3-6.
Communication and Language Arts, Music, Science, Social Studies.
So much science, so little
time... Doktor Kaboom is
having trouble picking his
favorite science demonstrations,
so he’s bringing them
all! Unfortunately, there are
way too many to do them all in one show. The solution:
The Wheel of Science! Doktor Kaboom has built a great big
spinning wheel and labeled it with everything from optical
illusions to chemical reactions to a homemade hovercraft,
and more! At least a dozen fantastic demonstrations ready
to go. Wherever the wheel stops, that’s what’s next! Will we
turn a water bottle into a rocket or catapult bananas across
the stage? Electrocute a pickle or create artificial gravity?
Who knows? No two shows will be the same. So, step right
up, and let’s spin that wheel!
An educational, fun and comical experience. One hour in length.
Recommended: Grades 3-8.
Earth and Space Science, Physical Science, Health, Social Awareness &
Emotional Learning, Responsible Decision Making.
This stirring drama with music is a classic tribute to the
great American who freed herself and hundreds of others
from the bonds of slavery. Her courage helped to change the
world. Share her adventurous life with your students in this
accurate and deeply moving musical history lesson.
Musical. One hour in length. Recommended: Grades 3-12.
History, Language Arts, Biography, Multi-Cultural, Music, Family Ties, Self-Esteem,
Women’s Studies.
Based on the book by Jon Scieszka
and Lane Smith. Poor Jack, he’s got
to use his wits to save himself from the terrible Giant, but
a host of familiar fairytale characters keep messing up his
plans — and then there’s that annoying Stinky Cheese Man!
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
deconstructs the tradition of the fairy tale. Nothing is quite
the same as you remember it.
Play. One hour in length. Recommended: Grades PreK-3.
Language Arts, Literature, Vocabulary, Spelling, Creative Writing, Story Telling.
Written by playwright Mike Kenny and inspired by Aesop’s famous fable, this is a beautiful
wintery tale about a boy who learns that “nobody believes a liar, even when they’re telling the
truth.” A gifted ensemble of actor musicians play instruments and sing live as they embody all
the delightful characters, including hilarious sheep and perhaps a scary wolf or two... All set in a
village of knitters with fingers flicking, needles clicking and where every new jumper tells a tale!
Ultimately, Silas finds a place for himself (and his imagination) in his warm woolly community.
Play with music and song. One hour in length. Recommended: Grades PreK-5.
Fine Arts, Language Arts, Science, Emotional/Social Development.