Pied Piper Workshops
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Inspired by the creative sparks that fly in the KIDSTAGE classroom, Kati Nickerson, Director of Youth Education for Village Theatre, has developed the Pied Piper Theatre Appreciation Workshop. These 45 minute pre-show workshops are uniquely designed for students attending each Village Theatre Pied Piper production. |
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Pied Piper productions, as a rule, are professional stage adaptations of popular children's literature. Each workshop supports the Grade Level Requirements (GLE's) and meets the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALR's) for The Arts, Reading, Communication and often Social Studies as well.
Workshops offer a curriculum that incorporates improvisation, prediction, problem solving, collaboration, pantomime, story analysis and dramatic dialogue.
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Arts terminology is introduced and audience skills are developed. The result of this interactive workshop is that each child has an opportunity to be part of a creative undertaking resulting in an original presentation of the Pied Piper story. In one short workshop students are the actors, sound designers, directors, adaptors and audience all at once.
The Pied Piper Theatre Appreciation Workshops are a response to the lack of arts funding and limited teacher time. Increasing literacy and encouraging communication skills, these workshops convert a typical classroom into a dynamic stage for creative exploration.
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Students first participate in age appropriate exercises that illuminate the "Actor's Instrument." Voice (modulation, characterization), Body (gestures, body language) and Imagination (emotional memory, creativity) are the tools actors use to bring a character and story to life on stage. Classrooms come alive as students become the set and characters and provide sound effects during the dramatization of the Pied Piper story.
Students partake in games and exercises that explore the creative problems of adapting a story for the stage.
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For example, before attending The Mixed-Up Chameleon, students brainstormed a variety of ways the puppets might work to represent the color changes. Suddenly every child is an artist designing their own solution to this challenge. One Kindergarten student very seriously explained how the puppet could have a waterproof outer layer which had different color water pumped in and out. When workshop students see a production, they are no longer just observing a show; they are analyzing design decisions, assessing how actors are using their tool-kit to communicate character and story and observing how the script may have differed from the book. They are more engaged than ever. Custom designed classroom follow-up exercises help assure a comprehensive, yet streamlined, journey into the arts.
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The workshops are introductory and provide a safe environment within which to explore and participate in theatre. The instructors are experienced theatre arts educators with proven ability to motivate involvement from even the most reluctant children. The result is each classroom has a memorable and educational experience.
Teachers also benefit through observation of the workshop structure and may utilize this effective approach for future lessons.
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Feedback from Educators:
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Dear Kati,
Thank you for the wonderful drama workshop you did with our students on Monday, January 9th. Our students are still talking about their role playing parts and the hoops. Some said they tried the hoops at home with their own paper plates. You have them thinking. We look forward to attending the Kevin Locke Trio performance on January 20th. We enjoy working with The Village Theater organization in making drama a part of our students' lives.
Yours truly,
Kelly Erickson, Amalia Rebel, and Rick Beane
Salem Woods Elementary
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Workshop Instructors:
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Workshop Designer Profile:
Kati Knickerson is the Director of Youth Education for Village Theatre and creator of the Village Theatre Pied Piper Theatre Appreciation Workshops. Over ten years, Kati has worked with thousands of young people, teaching classes, directing (Oliver!, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Disney's Cinderella Kids, Honk! Jr., You're a Good Man Charlie Brown), and conducting Pied Piper workshops in schools throughout the region. Kati is known for her ability to engage student's involvement quickly through humor and drama. Kati's background includes public speaking training for youth and business professionals. She is the founder of SKY Theatre, and holds a BA in Sociology from Western Washington University with Minors in both Theatre and Education.
Other Workshop Instructors:
Erica Weir is the Village Theatre Pied Piper Manager and in in her ninth year as an instructor with KIDSTAGE in our PreK-5th grade classes. She is a former preschool teacher, and in addition to her current Village Theatre positions, has worked as the Production Coordinator for KIDSTAGE and Youth Education Programs Coordinator in the Everett location. She enjoys having the opportunity to take theatre into the classroom through development and presentation of our in-school workshops, as well as helping teachers and students connect the story and performance art to other areas of their curriculum.
Sydney Lanier is an instructor for KIDSTAGE, and co-directed the Teen Select production of Into The Woods for KIDSTAGE in Everett. Previous youth theatre credits include Missoula Children's Theatre, where she and a teammate taught a show to groups of 60 young actors at a time in one week. Each week was in a different location and she learned how to quickly judge the strengths of the new cast and adapt scripts, sets, and costumes to reflect those strengths. She graduated Cum Laude with a BFA in Musical Theatre from Wright State University.
Charissa Bertels has enjoyed her work for Village Theatre as a KIDSTAGE instructor, stage manager, and director, as well as former Pied Piper Manager. She loves sharing her passion for performing with her students. Favorite credits include Pippin, A Chorus Line, Love is Love, Mata Hari, Flora the Red Menace, Sweet Charity, On The Town, and Annie Get Your Gun. Ms. Bertels was recently seen in EVITA and Once Upon A Time In New Jersey on the Village Theatre Mainstage.
Mo Brady grew up as a KIDSTAGE kid working backstage, on stage, and in the administrative office. He graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA, worked as the KIDSTAGE Programs Manager Coordinator and Manager for over two years, teaches for Village Theatre KIDSTAGE, the 5th Avenue Theatre, and his own studio, and has directed two productions of High School Musical, and performed in the Seattle Children's Theatre production of the show. He was also seen in the Village Theatre's Hello Dolly, at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Sweeney Todd and will be directing the KIDSTAGE Summerstock production of Annie Get Your Gun.
Loni Kappus is in her third year of teaching with KIDSTAGE after touring with Open Door Theatre or Taproot Theatre's touring companies in the Pacific Northwest. Ms. Kappus has enjoyed teaching, instructing, and leading clinics in theatre, voice, choir, music, and band around Washington State. She is also a local theatre performer and graduate of Eastern Washington University with degrees in both Theatre and Music.
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