WORKSHOPS

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.

The Pied Piper Theatre 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.

Workshops offer a curriculum that incorporates improvisation, prediction, problem solving, collaboration, pantomime, story analysis and dramatic dialogue. These interactive 45-minute sessions stimulate appreciation for live theatre and are uniquely tailored to prepare students for the performance. *Workshop availability is limited!

Price: Workshops are available to any group for $75 per workshop or $100 for two, scheduled back to back. A mileage fee may apply. Workshops are FREE for qualifying groups. Call 425-740-5035 ext. 4, for details.

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.

Actor's Instrument: 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.

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.

Workshop Instructors

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.

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 her 10th 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.

Heather Nobis started at Village Theatre as a KIDSTAGE student and is excited to be back teaching for a program that brought her so much joy. Some of her favorite acting credits include Women of Lockerbie, Dear Mrs. Martin, Children of Eden and Crazy for You. Along with acting she has enjoyed directing Story of My Life and Happy No-lidays. She has completed her B.A. in theatre at Seattle Pacific University.

Lisa Nathans (Everett KIDSTAGE Programs Manager, Instructor) is honored to return to KIDSTAGE being a KIDSTAGE kid herself! Lisa is a triple-threat actor (SAG/AEA), director/producer, and instructor. A Kamiak High School graduate, her KIDSTAGE performances include The Little Mermaid: A Rock Musical Fable and Footloose. She studied abroad at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) and earned her BFA in Acting from Boston University before attending BU’s Acting in Hollywood Graduate Program, created by Nina Tassler, President of CBS Entertainment and Jason Alexander. Lisa has studied Improv at The Second City LA and The Groundlings School. Professionally, she has performed Shakespeare with Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum and in the Village Originals shows The Fabulist and The Last Star Fighter. Musical Theatre experiences include Ann Reinking’s Broadway Theatre Project where she studied under Ben Vereen and Frank Wildhorn, performing as a vocal soloist in a documentary for Francesca Zambello (director, Broadway’s The Little Mermaid), and being asked to audition to replace the role of Ariel in the Broadway Cast. She has helped cast numerous feature films, TV shows, and commercials and worked for talent agencies in Boston and LA. Most recently she collaborated with fellow BU Alums to produce the new hit show Wolf Girls for the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Lisa has instructed KIDSTAGE classes as well as been on the production teams for FAME, Godspell, and Beauty and the Beast.