Preview Guide for Parents and Teachers to Childsplay’s

Production of

Sleeping Beauty

We hope you find this guide helpful in preparing your children for an enjoyable and educational By Charles Way theatrical experience. Included you’ll find things to talk about before and after seeing the performance, Directed by Samantha K. Wyer classroom activities that deal with curriculum connections and education standards, and resource Scenic Design by Robert Klingelhoffer materials.

Costume Design by Cathy Hunt The Story Similar to the Grimms’ Brothers version but with Lighting Design by Tracy Odishaw several twists! King Peredur and Queen Guinevere desperately want a baby and have all but given up Sound Design by David Temby on their wish when they discover a baby girl abandoned in the forest. Sisters (and witches) Choreography by Laurie Trygg Branwen and Modron fight over the destiny of the child. While Branwen wants the King and Queen to Fight Direction by David Barker have the child, Modron wants the child for her own. During the christening of Briar Rose, Branwen is Stage Manager: Sam Ries asked to bestow thirteen blessings upon the child. Angry that she wasn’t invited to the christening, The Cast Modron appears anyway to bestow a blessing of her Branwen...... Jodie L. Weiss own: on her sixteenth birthday, Briar Rose will Modron...... Katie McFadzen prick her finger on a spinning wheel’s spindle and Gryff...... Jon Gentry die. Branwen cannot destroy her sister’s spell but King Peredur/Spider King...... Dwayne Hartford she can amend it: instead of death, Briar Rose will Queen Guinevere/Tylwyth Teg. . . .Debra K Stevens sleep for one hundred years, to be awakened only Princess Briar Rose...... Alette Valencia by the kiss of her true love. Terrified for his Prince Owain/Bishop...... D. Scott Withers daughter’s safety, the King has all spinning wheels banished and keeps the young girl behind the castle September, 2006 walls. Branwen sends her servant Gryff, half man Herberger Theater Center half dragon, to watch over and befriend Briar Rose. Since there are no spinning wheels, there is a This production is supported in part by: shortage of cloth so the King has to rely on nearby kingdoms for cloth. As a favor to one of the cloth supplying kingdoms, the King agrees to take in a prince for the summer. Prince Owain has low self- esteem and really isn’t good at anything. He and th Briar Rose develop a strong friendship. On her 16 birthday, Briar Rose does indeed fall under Modron’s spell and is imprisoned by her. It is Arizona Commission on the Arts Owain (with the help of Gryff) who finds his inner Bashas’ Markets strength and overcomes obstacles as he makes his City of Tempe/Tempe Municipal Arts Commission way through the forest to rescue Briar Rose. In the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture and Civic Plaza end it is obvious that the two young friends will Department Theatre Division indeed live happily ever after. Things to Talk About and Do and/or watch the Disney film jealous wife is replaced by the Before Seeing the Show (internet links to Perrault’s and prince’s jealous ogress of a Grimms’ version can be found mother. Theater Etiquette: (2AT-R2, on the back page of this guide). *1729: Histories, or Tales of 3AT-R2) It’s helpful to review Talk about what you think the Past Times. Robert Samber the rules of theater etiquette live production will be like. translates Perrault’s tales to before seeing a show, English for the first time. The History of Sleeping Beauty especially since this may be the * 19th century: Little Briar The play that you and your first live theater experience for Rose. From Children’s and children will see has many some of your students. Please Household Tales (1812–1815). similarities to the familiar take a moment to discuss the Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm version of Sleeping Beauty with following pointers prior to publish their ‘sanitized’ version many twists. Variations of the seeing the performance. of Sleeping Beauty, although story have been documented ~Stay seated during the they deny the connection to since the 13th century and have performance. Perrault’s tale. Briar Rose is evolved over time into the ~ Be respectful to the awakened when a prince kneels popular version we know today. performers and other people in by her side, and the story ends * 13th century: Volsunga Saga. the audience by not talking when the Prince and his bride A Nordic tale describing the during the performance. get married. banishment of Brynhilde to the ~ Appropriate responses such * 1959: Sleeping Beauty. Walt earth. Contains the most basic as applause or laughter are Disney’s animated film based on aspects of the plot. always welcome. Perrault’s and the Grimms’ * 1528: Perceforest. An ~Use of cell phones, cameras versions of the story. or any other recording device is Arthurian romance known as not allowed in the theater at any Histoire de Troylus et de Fairytales time! Zellandine. A vast tale linking In general, fairy tales are short, legends of Alexander the Great gripping narratives that evolved The Characters with King Arthur of Great from the oral tradition of Reviewing the list of characters Britain. The story of Zellandine, storytelling. The stories were before seeing the play will help who falls into an enchanted passed on from generation to the students to better follow the sleep while spinning flax, is generation and across cultures story: recognizably similar to Sleeping and countries. Fairytales are ~Branwen, The Bright Witch Beauty. filled with fantastical characters ~Modron, The Dark Witch, * 1636: Sun, Moon, and Talia. like witches, queens, giants, sister to Branwen Giambattista Basile’s Italian tale elves, princes, dragons, talking ~Gryff, half dragon, half man; from Il Pentamarone (Day 5. animals, ogres, princesses, and Branwen’s servant Tale 5). This tale is the most sometimes even fairies. Magic ~King Peredur & Queen explicit and violent. While she is is a big part of fairytales. The Guinevere, adoptive parents of in her enchanted sleep, Talia is plots are very improbable and Briar Rose raped by a married king and good almost always wins over ~The Bishop, performs the gives birth to twins. The king’s evil. French fairy tales were christening of Briar Rose wife finds out and is jealous, the first to be written down, but ~Princess Briar Rose (a.k.a. and attempts to eat Talia’s there are fairy tales from Sleeping Beauty) children, Sun and Moon. practically all cultures. There ~Prince Owain, Briar Rose’s * 1697: The Sleeping Beauty in are amazing similarities in fairy best friend, awkward and not the Wood. Charles Perrault’s tales from different cultures: confident tale from his book Histories ou For example, stories from two ~The Tylwyth Teg (tu-LOO- contes du temps passe. Very distant cultures, recorded uth TEG) manipulative fairy similar to Basile’s tale, except around the same time period people that Sleeping Beauty’s can be very much the same. ~The Spider King, evil, likes enchanted sleep lasts for 100 The stories probably spread riddles years, and she is rescued by a across cultures by storytellers prince instead of a king. This is and changed ever so slightly Preview the Story the first version where she is with every re-telling. Read one or more of the story awakened by a prince. The versions of Sleeping Beauty Things to Talk About And Do the Tylwyth Teg so that he improve. Write a spell that After the Performance: doesn’t have to stay with them would make that something ①(3AT-R1)All plays have three for eternity. Brainstorm ideas happen! Perform your spell P’s: People in a Place with a for the scene, rehearse and (add movements if you want) Problem. Where does the play share with the rest of the class. for the class. take place (setting)? Who are the people (or characters)? Art Activities: A Time for Bravery Owain has What are the problems Half and Half (1AV-R1, 1AV- low self-esteem and thinks he (conflicts)? What happens at R6) Gryff is half man half is not good at anything until he the beginning of the play? The dragon. What other interesting discovers his strength and middle? The end? creature/person combinations courage on his quest to find ②For older students: Identify can you come up with? If you Briar Rose. Write about a time the five components of story were half-person, half-creature when you did something brave. structure in the play: what would you look like? Exposition (character and Draw a picture of your creature Letter of Support Write Briar setting), rising action, climax, or find pictures from magazines Rose a letter encouraging her to falling action and resolution. or the internet that you can explore the world beyond the ③How is this stage version of combine to create a creature. castle. Explain to her what she Sleeping Beauty different or Give the creature a name and might see and experience. similar to the movie or any hang them in your classroom. Focus on the positive but also written version you know? make her aware of what she The 100 Year Forest (1AV-R1, ④ (3AT-F2)Throughout the should be cautious of. 1AV-F6, 1AV-E1, 3AV-R2) whole play, Briar Rose wants to Think about a forest and how leave the castle to explore the Riddles Owain guesses the much it could grow and change woods. When she finally has a answers to three riddles from in one hundred years. Using chance to do it at the end of the the Spider King in exchange for colored pencils, crayons and/or play, she is afraid. Why do you directions to the castle. A markers, draw before and after think this is so? What do you riddle is a question or statement pictures of your forest. Create think happens next? requiring analytical thought to a wall of forests in your answer or understand. For classroom. Creative Drama Activities: example, “What is most like a

Frozen Pictures (1AT-F1, 1AT- half moon?” “The other half.” My Castle (1AV-F3, 1AV-R1, R2, 3AT-R1) In groups or three Use your imagination and write 1AV-F4) Briar Rose lives in a or four, create three frozen three riddles. Compile them all castle surrounded by beautiful pictures that each represent a into a classroom riddle book. gardens and tall walls. Design moment from the beginning, your own castle. Draw a middle and end of the play. Try Reading Activities: detailed picture of what it looks and keep your “pictures” Fairies Fairy Folk are a big part like from the outside. Then, interesting to look at by of Irish and Welsh mythology. draw a “birds-eye” view of the exploring high and low shapes The Tylwyth Teg are one type castle (as though you were as well as active body positions. of fairy folk. Find other types above the castle looking down Each picture should tell a mini- of fairy folk by reading celtic on it). Label the different areas story about what’s happening at folktales or by researching or rooms of the castle. Give that moment. Share with the them on the internet or in the your castle a regal name and class and see if they can figure library. Share your findings display in the classroom. out which moments you chose. with the class.

Dance! (1AT-R3, 1AT-F2, Writing Activities: Same But Different In small 1AT-E1, 1AT-E3, 1AT-F3) Magic Spells Branwen and groups of two or three, find at Briar Rose says “dance as if Modron use spells to change the least three versions of the same your life depended on it.” In course of action in the play. fairytale in the library or on the groups of two or three, come up Branwen’s spells are positive internet. Read them all and with a scene in which you must and Modron’s are negative. make a list of similarities and use dance to solve a problem. Think about something in our differences. Decide which one For example, Owain out dances world that you would like to you like best and why. Sleeping Beauty Booklist Arizona Academic Standards

Prepared with the help of Tim Wadham, Youth Services Coordinator Your visit to the theater as well as for the Maricopa County Library District the preparation and follow up Other versions of Sleeping Beauty activities can involve many content The Sleeping Beauty by Mercer Mayer areas from the Arizona Department of The Sleeping Beauty by Trina Schart Hyman Education K-12 Academic Standards. Chapter-book retellings: Many of the suggested discussion Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep by Gail Carson Levine topics and activities can be tied to Sleeping Beauty by Adele Geras standards in several areas. We have En español: included some standard connections The Sleeping Beauty/La bella durmiente by Miquel Desclot in the Arts that are noted in La bella durmiente by Eric Blair parenthesis. If you would like a more

detailed list of standard connections Talk Topics for your particular grade we would be Fairy Folk happy to assist. Simply email The Hidden Folk: Stories of Fairies, Dwarves, Selkies and Other Katie McFadzen at Hidden Creatures by Lisa Lunge-Larsen [email protected] The Little People: Stories of Fairies, Pixies and Other Small Folk or call 480-350-8105. by Neil Philip Friendship and Imaginary Friends My Friend the Monster by Clyde Robert Bulla The Three Funny Friends by Charlotte Zolotow Want Some Drama in Your Rosy’s Visitors by Judy Hindly Mythical Creatures Classroom? Mythica Birds and Beasts from Many Lands by Margaret Mayo If you would like help incorporating drama into your curriculum by having an actor Eric Carle’s Dragons Dragons and Other Creatures that Never Were teach in your classroom, Childsplay can by Eric Carle help. We offer a variety of artist-in- Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke residence and teacher training Island of the Aunts by Eva Ibbotson experiences. We can also help with pre No Such Things by Bill Peet and post-show activities related to the Riddles production. For more information, contact Riddles and More Riddles! by Bennett Cerf Debra K. Stevens at Self-Confidence [email protected] or Princess Academy by Shannon Hale 480-350-8105 The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine Permanent Rose by Hilary McKay About Childsplay

Childsplay is a non-profit professional theatre Internet Sites of Interest company of adult actors, performing for young audiences and families. www.nationalgeographic.com/grimm/briar_rose.html Our Mission is to create theatre so strikingly original in form, content or both, that it instills An online edition of the Grimms’ Brothers version in young people an enduring awe, love and

respect for the medium, thus preserving www.surlalunefairytales.com/sleepingbeauty/index.html imagination and wonder, the hallmarks of An annotated version of Perrault’s story childhood, which are the keys to the future.

We love to hear from our audience members! www.longlongtimeago.com/llta_fairytales.html Send letters, drawings or reviews to: About fairytales Childsplay, Inc. www.sparknotes.com/film/sleepingbeauty/section1.html PO Box 517 More on the history and evolution of Sleeping Beauty Tempe, AZ 85280 Phone 480-350-8101 or www.balletmet.org/Notes/Sleeping.html 1-800-583-7831 (in-state) A synopsis of the ballet version of the story and more history Email us at: [email protected] on Sleeping Beauty Web Site: www.childsplayaz.org Childsplay’s Student Activity Guide for Today you saw a production of Sleeping Beauty performed by Childsplay. Here are some things to think about and some activities to do now that you’ve seen the show!

Tell your family and/or friends about the play you saw.

◊ Tell them about the story and the characters: What happens in the beginning, the middle and the end of the play? How many characters can you By Charles Way remember? Which character was your favorite and

why? What were some of the things the characters Directed by Samantha K. Wyer did? What was your favorite part of the play? Scenic Design by Robert Klingelhoffer ◊ Tell them about the costumes, scenery, props, Costume Design by Cathy Hunt lights, and sound effects from the production. Draw pictures to help describe things you talk about. Lighting Design by Tracy Odishaw ◊Tell them about something new that you learned Sound Design by David Temby from the play.

Choreography by Laurie Trygg Crossword Puzzle Fight Direction by David Barker Try this puzzle by yourself or with a friend or

Stage Manager: Sam Ries family member! Just read the clues and then fill in the blanks.

The Cast Branwen...... Jodie L. Weiss Modron...... Katie McFadzen Gryff...... Jon Gentry King Peredur/Spider King...... Dwayne Hartford Queen Guinevere/Tylwyth Teg. . . .Debra K Stevens Princess Briar Rose...... Alette Valencia Prince Owain/Bishop...... D. Scott Withers

September, 2006 Herberger Theater Center

This production is supported in part by:

Across 4. Prince Owain meets the ______King 5. Prince Owain finds Briar Rose in the ______Down Arizona Commission on the Arts 1. The King and Queen find Briar Rose in the City of Tempe/Tempe Municipal Arts Commission ______Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture and Civic Plaza 2. Briar Rose pricks this on the spindle Department Theatre Division 3. Gryff is half man, half this 4. Modron casts a _____ on Briar Rose Printing generously donated by:

We love to hear from our audience members! Send your questions, Color the dragons and comments, drawings or reviews to:

the castle! Childsplay PO Box 517 Tempe, AZ 85280

or email us at [email protected]

Dear,

At the beginning of the play, Prince Owain has low self- Sincerely, esteem. By the end, with the help of he discovers his courage and becomes more confident. Write down 5 positive things you could say to a friend to help them feel good about who they are. Help the Prince find his way through the For example, maze to the castle!

You are kind to others

You are

You are

You are

You are Start here You are