HEROES show companion guide_2014 by TADA! Youth Theater

(Show Companion) TABLE OF CONTENTS potential& through the unique Resource Guide for Teachers Students collaborative art form that is musical

TADA! Youth Theater p.1

Using the Show Companion p. 1 Theater Etiquette Tips p. 2 About Unsung & Heroes p. 3 Interview with the director / choreographers of Unsung p. 4 Did You Know? p. 5 Say What? (Glossary of terms) p. 6 Crossword Puzzle p. 7-8 Guide Activities p. 9-13 Theater Terms p. 14

For nearly three decades, the Drama Desk Award-winning TADA! Youth Theater has afforded young people of all backgrounds the opportunity to explore and perform musical theater together in an educational, supportive and professional environment.

theater. Through TADA!’s high-quality work, young people gain confidence and learn commitment, responsibility, communication and teamwork—skills that are critical to their success in both school and life.

TADA! focuses on four key program areas: 1. The Resident Youth Ensemble: a completely free pre-professional training & youth development program; 2. Original musicals professionally produced for family audiences at affordable prices; TADA!’s mission is two-fold: 1) to 3. Renowned in- & after-school arts present high-quality musical education residencies to enhance theater productions performed curriculum & culture at schools and by talented kids for family community centers; audiences; and 2) to provide a 4. On-site theater classes & camps for safe, creative, and nurturing children ages 2 to 14, taught by place where kids can harness seasoned theater & teaching artists, their inherent energy, build their for which need-based scholarships self-esteem, and realize their true are provided.

_______________________ P: 212-252-1619 F: 212-252-8763 education@tadatheater.com

www.tadatheater.com

Award-winning Musical Theater Shows, Classes & Camps. Singing, Dancing & Acting Since 1984!

This Show Companion is a practical, hands-on resource for teachers, parents and kids that contains background information related to TADA!’s production and curriculumbased exercises. The contents of this guide may be explored before and after attending Unsung & Heroes, which runs July 11 – August 1, 2014.

Show Companion / Page 3 of 18

1. Laugh, cry, and sigh – but don’t talk. You hear the actors; they hear

you. Any reaction that comes from your experience of the play supports the performance, but shouldn’t distract from it. 2. Please enjoy food and beverages in the lobby – not the theater – and

please put any garbage in the garbage cans before the show. Note: Actors will hear if you’re unwrapping throat lozenges or hard candy. Please do that before or after the show – not during the performance. No gum is allowed in the theater. 3. Please silence all phones, tablets and anything else that might make

noise or light up during the show. Then, after the show, be sure to like it, tweet it, post it and talk to your friends to tell them how much you enjoyed it! 4. Please stay in your assigned seat. 5. Photographs (with or without flash – and even on your phones) as well

as the recording of the show in any way are not allowed. Recording the show is distracting and potentially dangerous to the actors as well as your fellow audience members. Additionally, recording is prohibited to protect the artistic work that went into making the show.

Tips for Teachers and Group Leaders:  

Please arrive approximately 30 minutes early. Assign one chaperone for every fifteen students and ask your chaperones to disperse themselves amongst the student group to help support best behavior. We want to extend a sincere thank you to all teachers, parents, and group leaders who bring their students to TADA! Youth Theater. We greatly appreciate your supporting theater and arts education.

Unsung

Choreography by Joanna & Ryan Greer Songs by Jody Shelton “A world premiere dance-theater piece about the most daring thing for every kid: coming of age.”

Heroes A new musical based on the play by Tom Keegan & Davidson Lloyd with book by Janine Nina Trevens Music & lyrics by Tammy Holder Direction by Janine Nina Trevens Choreography by Joanna Greer Musical Direction by Tammy Holder & Adam Jones “When the sun disappears, a group of kids learn what it takes and what it means to be brave.” CAST OF CHARACTERS JONATHAN – loner teenage boy who likes comic books JJ – Dylan’s older sister TODD – Kyla’s older brother KYLA – Todd’s younger sister DYLAN – JJ’s younger brother’s friend GEORGIA – Paula’s best friend who loves boy bands PAULA – Georgia’s best friend who loves boy bands WOMAN OF GREAT MAGIC – older teenager AQUAFINA – Vanna White-type character GUARDIAN OF THE WATER – Game show host 4WONDERS OF WINTER (4WOW) – 4 member boy band Comprised of Duke Lemmings, Cal Hood, Irving Ash and Cliff Michaels

Performed by TADA!’s Resident Youth Ensemble Recommended for audiences 3 and up Set & Lighting Designer: Steve O’Shea Costume Designer: Megan Turek Production Stage Manager: Phoebe Duncan Dates: July 11 – August 1, 2014 Running Time: approx. 60 min.

Musical Numbers for HEROES OUR DAY IN THE SUN I WANT THIS WE CAN BE HEROES JOURNEY SONG THE GUARDIAN SONG STAR YOU ARE NO HERO HEROES SUNRISE HEROES REPRISE ____________________________________ TADA! Here We Are Music & Lyrics by Joel Gelpe The Band Piano – Adam Jones Percussion – Ray Grappone Bass Guitar – Reynaldo Nunez

Production Photos 2014 Heroes (left) Unsung (right)

Joanna Greer

Ryan Greer

Unsung is described as a dance-theater piece. What is dance-theater and can you explain what we can expect when attending this performance? Joanna Greer (JG): Dance Theater is a performance genre that combines the two forms. Usually there is no plot; instead, specific situations, fears, revelations and human conflicts are presented. Audiences are stimulated to follow a train of thought as well as the emotions the dancers express through their bodies and spoken words. There is no singing. Ryan Greer (RG): With Unsung, as choreographers, we went into the first rehearsal with the music by Jody Shelton, the templates for how the dances would come to life, and the idea that we wanted the kids in TADA!’s Resident Youth Ensemble to express their feelings about coming of age. We interviewed each cast member in the piece, several questions on how they feel about growing up, and then we cut and pasted, poeticized and collaged their responses into the script of the show. The whole experience is an artistic collaboration on a theme. Can you tell us how Unsung came to life? JG: Nina Trevens, TADA!’s Executive and Artistic Director, commissioned me to create a world premiere dance-theater piece to precede the musical, Heroes. I immediately thought about asking Ryan to serve as co-choreographer. RG: I was thrilled when I was asked to join the team for this world premiere piece. We immediately knew that we wanted to construct an “exquisite corpse” around the coming-of-age theme, and use the music by our friend and talented singer-songwriter, Jody Shelton. We knew the piece would remain true to the theme and find itself when we combined the dance, the music, and the words written by the Ensemble. Unsung is a companion piece to TADA!’s summer show, Heroes. Is Unsung also based on Heroes? RG: While Unsung is not based on Heroes directly, they share the same core value. JG: Both shows are a celebration of the people who encourage and inspire us and the power to live life to the fullest. What are your roles and how did you collaborate to create Unsung? JG: We are director/choreographers, which for Unsung means we provided the base concept and created the dances together. RG: Additionally, we selected the music by Jody Shelton; cast the piece with members of the Resident Youth Ensemble as well as guided them in their choices: writing & acting the text, dancing the dances, and furthered our vision with designers to make the piece come to life. What would you like us to know about your work and achievements with this world premiere piece? JG: Unsung – and theater in general – is a true collaborative experience. This brand new piece is possible because of the great effort, passion and creativity of every individual involved. RG: We are proud to be responsible for imaging this sounding board for everyone to express their creativity.

The Heroes Journey TADA!’s musical, HEROES, is based on the play by Tom Keegan and Davidson Lloyd. The musical’s book, written by Janine Nina Trevens with music/lyrics by Tammy Holder, follows the general format of a “hero's journey.” The Hero’s Journey is a basic pattern of storytelling found in many narratives from around the world. The term, “hero’s journey,” was identified and developed by Joseph Campbell – an American mythologist, writer and lecturer. Hero[es] ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow blessings on mankind. (Joseph Campbell, 1949) The journey begins with life as is. The moment before the journey begins (before change is initiated) one feels unfulfilled. This incites “The Call to Adventure” (i.e., one’s dream; desire for something better than the present). With a vision for how things could be the “Initiation” moves the expedition forward. Next, the journey is halted due to some difficulties (“Challenges”) that are often unforeseen. At this stage, doubts and fears are unearthed (e.g., monsters to fight; dragons to slay). At this point, actions employed throughout the journey are questioned and hope falters. With perseverance, a “Revelation” stage develops providing opportunities to make it less lonely and hopeless. With new found hope, the journey forges on, feeling less exhausting. Eventually, the “Transformation” occurs where there is added clarity, purpose and focus. With revitalized energy, the journey continues until the goal is achieved and the dream is realized. This achievement is cause for celebration and through reflection of the journey (the stage of “Return”) we learn from and revel in the accomplishments made.

BATMOBILE: The car used by the superhero Batman. BELATED: Late-coming. GUARDIAN: Someone who protects something or someone else. JEOPARDY: A game show on TV in which contestants are quizzed on general knowledge. OBTAIN: To get. THE PRICE IS RIGHT: A game show on TV in which contestants guess the prices of household items. QUEST: A journey with a purpose. RATED G: Appropriate for all ages. WHEEL OF FORTUNE: A game show on TV in which contestants play a word game and spin a wheel to see how much money they could win. WITS: Wisdom, knowledge, understanding. ZIPPY: Quick, lively.

Quotes

from the musical that include words from the glossary :

Woman: You must go on a journey to obtain the elements necessary to bring back the sun. Guardian: Be quick, be zippy. Spell it now, ‘Mississippi’. Woman: Use your wits and help each other. Kids: We have a quest to do and discover.

Name: _______________________

HEROES Crossword Puzzle 1

Down 1. What do the kids need to get to bring back to the sun? A: earth, water and __________. 3. JJ, Todd, Dylan and Kyle need to get what? 5. Kyla and J.J. trick the Guardian into helping them answer his own question by getting him to spell the word _______. 7. What gadget does J.J. have that just came out? 8. Kyla doesn’t believe she can be a hero because she is just a ______. 10. Jonathan realizes that sometimes, when you don’t think you’ve done anything, you’ve done the _______. 13. The Woman of Great Magic tells Jonathan that he passed his test because he had the courage to ask for _______. Across 2. Name the boy band that helps out Georgia and Paula by giving them a small bag of earth. 4. The Guardian of the Water greets the group by singing, “HEY THERE! STEP RIGHT UP! MAKE YOUR CLAIM TO FAME. THE GUARDIAN OF THE WATER WOULD LIKE TO PLAY A ______!” 6. This person is Kyla’s older brother; he uses her help to answer the Guardian of the Water’s math test. 9. What super hero does Jonathan love the most? 11. The Woman of Great Magic advises Kyla, Todd, Dylan, and J.J. to help each other and use their _______. 12. The Woman of Great Magic makes the _______ disappear when she hears the kids singing about all the things they want. 14. One of the TV game shows that The Guardian of the Water sings about is _______.

WORD BANK

GAME

MOST

WITS

MISSISSIPPI

TODD SUN

SUPERMAN

WATER

HELP

JEOPARDY

4WOW KID

iPHONE6

FIRE 8

ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES Focus: Creativity and Innovation, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Communication and Collaboration, Creative Writing and Language Arts, Theater Arts, Self-Expression, Multiple THEME 1: Arts Heroes Work Together Perspectives, Visual Whether it is a group of superheroes like the Fantastic Four or The Avengers, a group of Related Subjects: firefighters or teachers,Leadership or a groupand of regular kids (like the ones in Heroes) working together is Flexibility and Adaptability, Responsibility an important way to achieve many goals and solve many problems. We come to rely on the Level:people around us to get things done. Without team-work and collaboration the kids in eroes would School not have been able to bring back the sun! Elementary (and higher)

THEME 1: Heroes Work Together Whether it is a group of superheroes like the Fantastic Four or The Avengers, a group of firefighters or teachers, or a group of regular kids (like the ones in Heroes) working together is an important way to achieve many goals and solve many problems. We come to rely on the people around us to get things done. Without team-work and collaboration the kids in Heroes would not have been able to bring back the sun!

Discussion Questions: 1) What are some groups of everyday people/individuals that we think of as being heroic? 2) Do you think that they could do their jobs or perform their roles without the help of others? Why or why not? 3) Are there times when working independently is more important that working in a group? Why or why not?

Water, Earth & Fire Dance Activity In a Large Group In the plot of Heroes, the characters must work together to bring back the sun by finding the elements: Water, Earth & Fire. Follow the directions below to create a collaborative dance inspired by these elements.

Materials Needed: paper plates, crayons, markers, music (iPod or other device) 1. Each participant should be given a paper plate to decorate with images of one of the elements (Water, Earth, & Fire).

Activity continued from p. 9

Now that each participant has their decorated plate, ask everyone to balance their plate on their hand (without grasping it) and walk around the space. If you like, play music here. 3. If anyone’s plate falls, they must freeze and wait for another participant to pick up the plate and hand it to them. You may not pick up your own plate, but may help another by picking up another’s plate should it fall. 4. While moving around the space, all the participants experiment with balancing the plate on different parts of their body – still no grasping! (e.g., elbow, shoulder, head, back, etc.). Again, if a plate falls, the participant must freeze and wait for the help of another person.

5. As the participants move around the space instruct them to exchange their plates with another person. Working together, have them all try to make the exchanges at different height levels:  High  Medium  Low With the elements you have all worked together to create a collaborative movement piece (like in Heroes companion piece, Unsung). See the extension below to take this activity to the next step! Extension: 1. Now that you have experimented with different ways to move with your element plates, break into groups by element (Water, Earth & Fire) with 3-5 participants per group. 2. In each group create an element dance using the plates and incorporating the following:  An entrance  An exit  A high exchange  A medium exchange  A low exchange 3. After rehearsing your dances and sharing them with the group, take away the plates and repeat the dance without them. Now you have small group dance pieces inspired by the elements and you did it working together!

THEME 2: Bravery “...focus on your task. Don’t let your fear overtake you.” (Woman of Great Magic) In Heroes, the Woman of Great Magic sends the characters on a journey where they must face certain tests in order to bring back the sun. The kids don’t know what to expect on this journey. Walking into an unknown situation can be scary, but despite their fears they must journey on! This is called bravery. Bravery is “possessing or showing the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty or danger.”

What does “bravery” mean to you?

Discussion: Partner or Small Group

Word Cloud: Create a word cloud with words, people or ideas that come to mind when you think about bravery. You can also add words that answer the question, “What does bravery mean to you?”

People often tell us to be “brave” when facing our fears. But what does bravery really mean? Below are some quotes about bravery. Read through them with a partner and use the discussion questions to determine the quote that best represents your idea of bravery.

“Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid.” (Franklin P. Jones) “It is easy to be brave from a safe distance.” (Aesop) “A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.” (Emerson) “The opposite of bravery is not cowardice but conformity” (Robert Anthony)

● ● ●

How is bravery related to fear? Is bravery being without fear? How would you describe bravery to another person?

Everyday Heroes Activity: Individual We all show our bravery in different ways. Think of someone who is a hero to you in your life. What do they do that is brave; that makes them a hero? Answer the questions on the worksheet below and then draw a picture of them.

Super Heros Activity: Individual The heroes in our story are just everyday kids, but there is a long history of heroes that have special abilities: Super Heroes! Use the worksheet below to create your own original super hero.

A GLOSSARY OF SELECT TERMS & CAREERS IN THE THEATER 1. BLOCKING: The actor’s movement on stage is known 11. ORCHESTRA PIT: The orchestra pit is the place where the musicians perform during a musical. Usually the as “blocking.” The Stage Manager writes the blocking orchestra pit is between the front row of the audience & notation into the Prompt Script. the stage. TADA!’s orchestra pit is located on stage left. 2. BLACK BOX THEATER: The interiors of most black box 12. PROPS: Anything that the audience sees that is not theaters are painted black. The absence of color gives worn by an actor & is not a structural part of the set such the audience a sense of "anyplace" and allows as: food eaten during a play, dishes, books, phones, etc. flexibility from play to play or from scene to scene. Since almost any open space in any building can be 13. PROPS MASTER: The person who buys items that will transformed into a black box, the popularity and be used or adapted to become props. Props masters appeal for theater companies to use this type of also purchase the raw material used to build props. performance space is high. 3. COSTUME: Anything that an actor wears on stage is referred to as a costume. The Wardrobe department (the department responsible for creating costumes) provides clothes, shoes, hats, and any personal accessories such as umbrellas, purses and eyeglasses. 4. CYCLORAMA (a.k.a. CYC): A curved wall or drop at the back of a stage, used for creating an illusion of unlimited space or distance in the background of exterior scenes or for obtaining lighting effects. 5. DROP: A drop is a large piece of painted canvas that is “flown in” by the flyman (see FLYMAN). 6. DIRECTOR: The person who guides the actors during the rehearsal period as they stage the play. The director is responsible for presenting a unified vision of the play to the audience.

14. PROSCENIUM: A term describing the physical characteristics of a theater. A proscenium theater is one in which the audience & the actors are separated by a picture-frame opening that the audience looks through to see the actors. Surrounding this opening is the PROSCENIUM ARCH. If there is an acting area on the audience side of the proscenium arch, it is referred to as the APRON. 15. SCENIC ARTIST: The people who are responsible for painting & decorating the surfaces of the set. Some of the techniques they use include: wood graining, stenciling, marbling & brickwork. They also paint the drops & scrims that are flown in. 16. SCRIM: A scrim is a piece of gauze that is painted and used as part of the scenery. When a scrim is lit from in front it is opaque, you cannot see through it. When a scrim is lit from behind it is transparent, you can see through it. This allows for many different visual effects to be created by the lighting & set designers.

7. DESIGNER: The people who work with the director to decide what the production will look like. Designers must choose the color, shape and texture of everything 17. STAGE CREW: The people who ensure that you see on the stage. There are several areas that everything runs smoothly on stage during a need to have designers: costumes, set, lighting and performance. The stage crew is responsible for changing sometimes sound. The designers work very closely with the sets between scenes & acts. the director to create the environment in which the play will take place. 18. STAGE MANAGER: The person who makes sure that all rehearsals & performances run smoothly. During a 8. FLYMAN: The person responsible for the manipulation performance the stage manager also makes sure that of the scenery which is in the fly gallery (the space above the stage). The scenery is manipulated by ropes all of the technical elements (e.g., lights, sound, curtains flying in and out) happen at exactly the right time. attached to a counterweight system. 9. GREEN ROOM: The green room, usually near the entrance to the stage, is where the actors & crew sit while waiting for their turn to go on stage. 10. HEAD OF WARDROBE: Responsible for the day-today running of the wardrobe department and for unifying all aspects of production. For example, the head of wardrobe oversees the budget, tailoring (including the cutters, first-hands, stitchers, dyers, etc.), accessories, and millinery.

19. TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: The person who is responsible for coordinating all of the technical elements of a production. Technical directors work with the people who build the sets, props, costumes, wigs & special effects to make sure that everything runs smoothly. 20. THRUST STAGE: A thrust stage is a stage that is surrounded on three sides by the audience.