CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.5 Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions as desired to provide additional detail.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.5 Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.5 Create audio recordings of stories or poems; add drawings or other visual displays to stories or recounts of experiences when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
Education Connection
Cause and Effect, Heritage, Spatial Thinking and Skills
Dear Educator,
Thank you for choosing Northbrook Theatre as your field trip destination. Our theatre, Northbrook Theatre, was built in 1986 and seats 268 people. We are part of the Northbrook Park District and located inside the Leisure Center in Northbrook, IL. Northbrook Theatre is known for entertaining, engaging and high-quality performances for youth and family audiences.
For this production Adam Rubin’s book Dragons Love Tacos is presented live on stage. You know what Dragons really love? Tacos of course! A boy and his dog are watching a TV show about dragons when they unexpectedly get caught up in the “Dos and Don’ts” of what to serve to dragons to eat. Dragons love tacos, but if they accidentally eat spicy salsa…watch out!
In this production, we bring Dragons Love Tacos to life with vibrant costumes, playful props, immersive sound effects, and a bit of theatre magic! We’re so excited you’ve chosen to join us at our theatre for this adventure. Thank you for being here, and we hope you have an unforgettable time with the show!
Sincerely,
Drew Kambach
Visual and Performing Arts Manager
Who Is Adam Rubin?
Adam Rubin is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of children’s books. Many of his stories feature animals or food and several contain interactive elements. His books have sold over one million copies. Rubin graduated from Washington University in St. Louis where he studied advertising and worked as an advertising creative director for ten years before leaving his day job to focus on writing books. Adam also has a background in Improv where he taught classes at iO Theater in Chicago and in New York at the Annoyance Theatre. In addition to writing and improv, he also curates and designs puzzles and magic tricks.
By Fuzheado - Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=151856594
Meet Our Actors
Quinn Kelch Man in Suit, Mom (Voiceover)
Nathan Daniel Goldberg
Nathan Goldberg Boy
Niaimani Cooper-Parker Red Dragon
Casey Wilcox White Dragon
Maya Paletta Understudy
Hannah Mary Simpson Blue Dragon
Dani Delichte Understudy
Nathan Kabara Yellow Dragon
Eliana Payne Leroy, A Dog
Meet Our Director
Kate Sullivan Coombs (Director) is thrilled to be back at Northbrook Theatre where she directed The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show and last winter’s Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: A Rock Experience. Kate served as Resident Director of Chicago’s Drunk Shakespeare from 2019–2023, crafting jokes and curating debauchery for a rotating cast. Previous directing projects include Avenue Q at Redhouse Arts Center, The Maid at the NHSI, Spring Awakening with glory|struck productions, and the immersive cabaret send-up A Day at The Beaches in Los Angeles. Kate is the creator of The Album Project, under which she created and directed Los Angeles stagings of Rumours, Jagged Little Pill, and Ed Sheeran’s +. Working with screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, Kate co-wrote 8, the Play, which debuted at Broadway’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre in 2011 (dir. Joe Mantello) followed by a Los Angeles benefit. Kate also produced and directed the Sacramento premiere of 8, which has now been performed in hundreds of cities across the world.
Production Team
Director Kate Sullivan Coombs
Choreographer Katie Denten
Stage Manager Caylie Jeruchimowitz
Costume Designer Sara Morrison
Lighting Designer Kurt Ottinger
Set Designer Shane Cinal
Sound Designer Kath Fillman
Props Master Dave Wisniewski
Master Carpenter Rob Proce
Scenic Painter Karson Palmer
Stitcher Jessica Peters
Board Operator August Tiemeyer
Board Operator Jess Curtis
Theatre Definitions
What does an Actor do?
Actors are the people who we watch on stage when the play is performed. They receive a script, or book, which tells them what to do when they are performing onstage in the play. This script is learned by heart, or memorized, so that they do not have to bring their script onstage with them when they perform.
What does an Understudy do?
An understudy is an actor who does not always perform in the show. When the actor they are understudying for cannot be there to perform their role, an understudy will perform it for them instead. Understudies rehearse and learn the script the same way all actors do.
What do Directors do?
A director is responsible for the overall vision, or message, of the play. The director helps the actors create their characters in the play. The director will tell the actors where to move on stage and give them notes on how to say their lines. Sometimes, like in our show, there may also be a movement director. Our movement director is responsible for creating the circus part of the show – telling the actors how to move in the play and creating the circus act that is part of the play with the Director and actors.
What does a Production Team do?
A production team is a group of people, led by the director, who create the look and sounds of the play. What will the stage look like during the performance? What will the items the actors sit on or the clothes the actors wear look like? How will the light look and what items, or props, the items an actor uses (like a phone or a cup), will the actors hold when they are onstage? These are all things that are designed with a production team.
What to Expect at Northbrook Theatre
What will happen when I go to the theatre?
When you come to Northbrook Theatre you will be welcomed by one of our staff members and brought into the theatre. If you need to use the bathroom, you will do that before the show. When you come into the theatre the lights will be bright, and the theatre staff will help you find your seat. Then, you will sit in your seat and watch the show.
What will I do when the show begins?
Right before the show starts there will be an announcement. Then the lights will get darker in the audience (where you are sitting). Then the lights onstage will get bright, and the show will start! During the show you will stay seated and watch. If you think something is funny, you can laugh! Our show is about one hour long with no intermission.
What will I do when the show ends?
At the end of the show, you can clap if you would like to. Clapping shows the actors that you enjoyed their performance on our stage and makes them feel good. When the clapping is over, you will stay in your seat and the actors will come out onstage to greet you. They will answer any questions you have about the show. If you have a question, you will raise your hand, and someone will come to you (with a microphone) so you can ask your question. Not everyone will be able to ask a question, so please be patient.
Before the Show
We are so excited to have you visit Northbrook Theatre! We’ve provided some ideas for classroom activities to prepare your students for their visit.
Read the Book
Dragons Love Tacos is published by Dial Books for Young Readers. It was written by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri.
Book Discussion Questions
Before Reading
• Has anyone already read Dragons Love Tacos?
• Have you read any other books about dragons?
• What do you notice about the covers of the book?
After Reading
• What did you notice about the illustrations of Boy’s room?
• Why do you think dragons love tacos?
• What do dragons hate?
• What type of parties do dragons like?
• Where did the dragons put the spicy salsa (so no one could find it)?
• What happened when the dragons ate the tacos with “little green specks”?
• What did the dragons do to be helpful after the big disaster?
Activity Guide
Activity 1: We’re Actors Too!
Shakedown
One way we might warm up our body, or ourselves, would be to play a game like Shakedown. The warm-up game, Shakedown, gets students moving while addressing each other by name. When you introduce yourself to a new person, you would usually say hello and shake hands. In Shakedown, you introduce yourself, but don’t shake hands. Have your students spread out around the room and explain the rules:
• The Teacher will announce a way of moving around the room (creeping, tiptoeing, dancing, leaping, shuffling, crawling, etc.). and the students will move around the room in the manner that the Teacher specifies.
• When the Teacher yells “SHAKEDOWN!” the students will quickly walk (not run) and get into pairs with whoever is closest to them.
• The teacher will yell out the name of a body part such as elbow or knee.
• The student pairs will introduce themselves to each other (“Hi, I’m Amy.” “Hi, I’m Jonathon.”), then shake the body part announced by the Teacher and then they will say, “Nice to meet you!”
• Then the teacher will call out a new way of walking around the room and continue the game for another round.
Yes, Let’s!
One way we might warm up our imagination, or ability to make up new thoughts, ideas and be creative, would be to play a game like Yes, Let’s!
• In the game Yes, Let’s! everyone stands in a circle. One person suggests a simple activity. “Let’s eat ice cream!” Everyone in the circle yells out “Yes, let’s!”
• Everyone joins in and pretends to do the activity at the same time.
• Then, we continue around the circle until everyone has given an idea for a Yes, Let’s! activity.
Activity 2: Paper Plate Tacos
Supplies
• Paper plates
• Tan paint or crayon
• Colored paper
Directions
1. Cut various colors of papers into “topping” shapes like tomatoes, lettuce, cheese
2. Take thin strips of green paper and fold it back and forth to look like lettuce
3. Glue the toppings into a folded paper plate
4. Paint or color the outside of the paper plate to look like a taco shell
5. Now you have a prop and can act out a scene from the show!
Activity 3: Create a Dragon
Supplies
• Toilet paper roll
• Washable paint
• Small and medium pom poms
Directions
1. Paint the toilet paper roll
• Googly eyes
• Red and yellow construction paper
2. Glue two small pom poms on the edge of the roll (to be the nose)
3. Attach the one googly eye each on two medium pom poms
4. Glue the eye pom poms on the other edge of the tube
5. Cut the construction paper to look like flames
6. Roll the construction paper to fit into the tube and glue it in place
7. Give your dragon a name and keep them away from spicy salsa!
Activity 4: Make Some Salsa
Ingredients
• Tomatoes
• Onions
• Cilantro
Directions
• Garlic
• Limes
• Salt
• Green pepper (mild), poblano pepper (medium) or Jalapeño pepper (hot).
1. The good thing about salsa is you don’t really have to measure anything and you can just use the ingredients you like! Have an adult help you chop up the tomatoes, onions, and peppers and cut the lime into wedges.
2. You can tear the cilantro leaves off the stem yourself.
3. Combine the chopped ingredients into a bowl, add the cilantro and squeeze the lime wedges and season with salt and pepper.
4. Use a big spoon to mix all the ingredients together.
5. Salsa is best if you refrigerate it and let the ingredients mingle for an hour or so. You can of course enjoy your salsa on tacos or just scoop it up with some tortilla chips. If you chose to use the hot peppers — Whatever you do… Don’t give it to a dragon! You’ve been warned!
After the Show
Post Show Discussion Questions
• What did you like most about the show you saw? Why?
• What did you like least about the show you saw?
• What are some funny moments of the show?
• Did the actors come into the audience and talk to you or one of your friends?
• Who was your favorite Dragon? Why?
• In Dragons Love Tacos, the show has a very happy ending, what happened to make everything turn out ok?
• What character would you want to play if you were in this show?
• If you were the director of this show, what would you do differently?
References
“Dragons Love Tacos” By Adam Rubin, Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
Theatre Activities: https://www.theatrefolk.com
Paper Plate Tacos Craft: https://www.gluedtomycraftsblog.com/2015/01/ paper-plate-taco-kid-craft.html
Make a Dragon Craft: https://thenorthshoremoms.com/2020/04/21/easycraft-projects-based-on-favorite-childrens-books/
Upcoming Performances at Northbrook Theatre
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical
Presented by Northbrook Theatre Youth Company
Performed by a cast of community members ages 8–14. Suitable for ages 8 and older with an adult.
Performances: March 11 – 15
Individual Tickets: $15
School of Rock: The Musical
Presented by Northbrook Community Theatre
Performed by a cast of community members ages 9 – adult. Suitable for ages 8 and older with an adult.
Join the cast! Community members may register to participate before March 19 at nbparks.org
