Step 1: Learning the Story (Page

Step 1: Learning the Story

Mission of Crayon Box

Crayon Box is an educational performance intended to teach emotional coping and communication skills.

Crayon Box follows the stories of six crayons, all based on the six primary and secondary colors. Each crayon symbolizes specific personality traits that both help and hinder their communicative process. As the crayons interact with one another, the audience will learn how to identify their emotions, communicate their needs, show empathy for others, and work together to create a safe, caring environment.

Our Story

A little girl we call The Creator is quite the artist. She loves to make art, and she can spend all day drawing and dreaming. She notices that her feelings change a bit as she uses different colors. She starts to daydream about meeting the colors and imagining how they might interact together. Some are happy, and some are sad. Some are anxious, and some are mad. Some crayons are always ready to play, and some just prefer to be by themselves. Each crayon is different, and each crayon has something to teach us. First up is poor, poor Blue. Blue is known for always being sad and can usually be found moping about or sleeping the day away. Blue may not be the best source for smiles, but they are a perfect shoulder to cry on.

Next we have Green. Green has the best vision of the whole bunch! While their big eyes help them avoid danger, Green often finds themselves paralized by the fears that surround them. Yellow is the sweetest, friendliest and kindest crayon there ever was! They radiate sunshine and are constantly making everyone smile. One must wonder where Yellow gets all of this positive energy! Orange is a bundle of fun! They are constantly bouncing off the walls and always looking for a new friend or a new adventure. Just make sure you give Orange space when they come dancing by.

Red has a tendency to be a little…. explosive. Red is very honest and always tells you exactly how they are feeling. While everyone loves red, sometimes the intensity can be a bit scary. Last but not least, we have Violet. Violet is so full of love! They just tend to keep it all for themselves. You can often find Violet sitting alone gazing into their hand mirror. Violet doesn’t share their mirror often, but if you’re lucky, you can sneak a little peak at what has got them so obsessed.

Being as each crayon is unique, they each have a unique struggle. A struggle that they can’t overcome on their own.

Violet & Orange:

Violet loves to spend time on their own, and can find all of the love they need within themselves. Orange, however, loves to be social and is constantly disturbing Violet and asking to play.

Orange enthusiastically encourages Violet to dance with them. Violet learns it is sometimes really fun to dance with their friends and get away from their comfort zone.

Blue & Violet:

While looking in the mirror, violet notices a pile on the floor behind them. After closer inspection, they saw that it was just Blue taking a nap. Violet encourages Blue to get up and start their day, even though it’s sometimes hard. Violet says, “Maybe if you could see how incredible you are, you’d learn to love yourself too.” Blue fought hard and worked tirelessly, but eventually, when they looked in the mirror, they began to feel it. Blue finally felt love.

Red & Yellow:

Red slowly paced back and forth like a tiger ready to pounce. Yellow asked Red, ‘Why are you always so angry? Yellow offered to listen to all the things that made them angry. No one had ever offered that before. Yellow said, “I knew you weren’t scary! You just needed someone to talk to!”

Green & Red:

Green was scared. Of everything. Red asked, “Oh Green, what’s the matter this time?” Green replied, “I’m just so tired of being scared! I wish I could just have my own safe space.” Red replied, “Well, that’s easy! Just use your voice!” Red teaches Green how to set boundaries by using their voice.

Orange & Green:

Orange is vibrantly dancing about the whole space and is suddenly surprised by Green’s appearance. “You’re too busy dancing to see where you’re going,” Green said. Green gives Orange a little coaching on how to use their eyes to see those around them while their dancing. Orange uses their vision to circle around Green with expert precision, keeping everyone safe, while still having fun!

Yellow & Blue:

Oh Yellow! Happy Little Yellow. Nothing ever bothers them. And when they start to feel bad, they simply smile it away!

Yellow dances gleefully around Blue, “Oh Blue, I wish you could just be happy like me. Then everyone will always like you!” “But Yellow,” Blue says, “don’t you see? Everyone has sadness within them. Even happy Crayons like you.”

Yellow tried to bury their sadness beneath a huge smile, but it was no use. Yellow had broken, and emotion was seeping out of the cracks. Blue says, “We don’t love you because you are happy. We love you because you are YOU. No matter how you feel.”

Finale:

Each Crayon offered special wisdom that helped each other grow and learn. We may all be different, but when we work together, we can color the world!