The Valentine Theatre

School Days

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.

Season 11 Shows

Ken Waldman and the Wild Ones

 
KEN WALDMAN & THE WILD ONES

September 25, 2023 at 10 a.m. & 12:15 p.m.

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.

Frindle

Andrew Clements’s
FRINDLE

October 11, 2023 at 10 a.m. & 12:15 p.m.

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.

The Lightning Thief

Rick Riordan’s
THE LIGHTNING THIEF

November 3, 2023 at 10 a.m. & 12:15 p.m.

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.

Doktor Kaboom

David Epley’s
DOKTOR KABOOM

November 13, 2023 at 10 a.m. & 12:15 p.m.

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.

HARRIET TUBMAN AND THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

Douglas Jones’s
HARRIET TUBMAN AND THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

March 22, 2024 at 10 a.m. & 12:15 p.m.

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.

Stinky Cheese Man

Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith’s
THE STINKY CHEESE MAN AND OTHER FAIRLY STUPID TALES

February 2, 2024 at 10 a.m. & 12:15 p.m.

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.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Mike Kenny’s
THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF

February 28, 2024 at 10 a.m. & 12:15 p.m.

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.