Preview Guide for Parents and Teachers to Childsplay’s Production of

Old Jake’s Skirts

We hope you find this guide helpful in preparing your children for an enjoyable and educational theatrical experience. Included you’ll find things to talk about before and after seeing the performance, classroom activities that deal with curriculum connections and education standards, and resource materials.

The Story: Jake is a cranky old farmer whose only friend it seems is his old dog Shoestring. He has his rituals including a drive to the local store to pick up his predictable grocery list as well as plenty of excuses as to why he Old Jake’s Skirts can’t sit a spell and socialize. On this particular visit, by José Cruz González he and Shoestring come across an old trunk in the road. Based on a book by C. Anne Scott He puts it in the back of his pick-up and leaves a lost- and-found note at the store. Time goes by and no one Directed by Graham Whitehead claims the trunk. Curiosity gets the best of him and he finally opens the trunk only to discover skirts-- lots and Musical Direction by Ric Averill lots of calico skirts! Being superstitious Jake wonders, in opening the trunk, did he set loose a new host of Scenic Design by Gregory Jaye mischievous spirits? Every year he is visited by a plague—there was the Year of the Crows, the Year of Costume Design by Liz Ihlenfeld the Twisters, and the Year of the First Baptist Church of Quail’s Good Samaritan Ladies’ Committee. This, it Lighting Design by Michael Eddy seems, will be the Year of the Storms. As the big storm hits, he enlists the help of the skirts to sop up the The Cast water that has leaked into his shack. As he cleverly Michael Arbuckle uses the skirts to aid him around his farm, color begins Adam Jacobson to slowly creep back into his world. When he meets Matthew Proschold the little girl who shares the secret to these skirts, he Laurie Trygg finds hope and takes the first step to connecting with his community. This tale of gentle humor is both School Tour: September through December, 2005 homespun and heartwarming, accompanied by toe tapping, live bluegrass music performed by a single musician! This production is supported in part by:

America West Airlines Education Foundation Angel’s Care About Theater Etiquette… Arizona ArtShare Arizona Commission on the Arts It’s helpful to review the rules of theater etiquette Arizona Diamondbacks Charities before seeing a show especially since this may be Arizona Republic Bashas’ the first live theater experience for some of your Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona students. Please take a moment to discuss the Boeing ECF following pointers prior to seeing the performance. City of Tempe / Tempe Municipal Arts Commission ◈Stay seated during the performance. The Medtronic Foundation ◈ Be respectful to the performers and other people National Endowment for the Arts in the audience by not talking during the Pacific Life Foundation Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture performance. Scottsdale Cultural Council ◈ Appropriate responses such as applause or The Eliot Spalding Foundation laughter are always welcome. The Stocker Foundation ◈Use of cell phones, cameras and any other Tucson/Pima Arts Council recording device is not allowed at any time during Wells Fargo the performance!

Things to Talk About writing, and much discussion, the incorporated songs and rhythms working script was created. It gospel, work songs and "shouts" of Before the Performance… was decided that there would be black laborers, country and blues

Talk About the Book! Read the a live musician who would play music repertoires. After book Old Jake’s Skirts by C. Anne several instruments as well as experimenting with various Scott and illustrated by David play some of the characters. instrumental combinations, Bill Slonim. Pay special attention to Models of things like Jake’s truck, settled on mandolin, banjo, the illustrations. Talk about the his cabin, and the store would be fiddle, guitar and bass as the characters and what’s happening used to change the perspective format for his band. in the illustrations. What do you from real life sizes to miniatures Most believe that the classic think the play will be like? How at various points in the story, and bluegrass sound jelled in 1946, many actors do you think it will four actors would portray all of shortly after Earl Scruggs, an take to tell the story? the characters. A staged reading innovative 21 year-old banjo (limited staging with scripts in player hit the scene. Scruggs Talk About the Playwright! hand) with audience feed back wrote and recorded "Foggy José Cruz González has been the was the last step before putting Mountain Breakdown" which was Playwright in Residence at the play into our 2004-05 season! used in the soundtrack for the Childsplay since 1997. His plays film Bonnie & Clyde. include Lily Plants A Garden, The Talk About Bluegrass Music! By the 1950s, people began Red Forest, September Shoes, The musical accompaniment in using the term "bluegrass music." Always Running, Mariachi Old Jake’s Skirts is based on the Bluegrass bands began forming all Quixote, Cousin Bell Bottoms, bluegrass tradition. According to over the country and Bill Monroe Two Donuts*, Salt & Pepper*, The the International Bluegrass Music became the acknowledged "Father Highest Heaven*, Manzi (The Association, as the early of Bluegrass Music." Adventures of Young César Jamestown settlers began to In 2001, the soundtrack for the Chávez), The Magic Rainforest (An spread out into the Carolinas, Coen Brothers movie, O Brother, Amazon Adventure), Marisol's Tennessee, Kentucky and the Where Art Thou? attracted wider Christmas, La Posada, Harvest Virginias, they composed new audiences for bluegrass and Moon, Calabasas Street, Spirit songs about day-to-day life traditional country music. Dancing and Odysseus Cruz (*plays experiences in the new land. Bluegrass music is now developed with Childsplay). Mr. Since most of these people lived performed and enjoyed around González has written for PAZ, a in rural areas, the songs reflected the world. Bluegrass bands today new series produced by on the farm or in the hills and reflect influences from a variety Kids for the Ready Set Learn! this type of music was called of sources including traditional block on The Learning Channel. "mountain music" or "country and fusion jazz, contemporary He is a graduate of the University music." country music, Celtic music, rock of California, Irvine, where he The invention of the & roll ("newgrass" or progressive received his MFA in Directing. He phonograph and the onset of the bluegrass), old-time music and teaches theatre at California radio in the early 1900s brought Southern gospel music--in addition State University at Los Angeles. this old-time music out of the to lyrics translated to various José’s current project with rural Southern mountains to languages. Childsplay is an adaptation of people all over the . Tómas and The Library Lady by The Monroe Brothers were one Talk About Storytelling! Pat Mora which will tour in 2006. of the most popular duet teams of Throughout the play Old Jake’s the 1920s and 1930s. When the Skirts, various characters serve as Talk About Page to Stage! brothers split up as a team in storyteller (or narrator). Adapting a book for the stage is 1938, both went on to form their Storytelling is an ancient art form. an interesting project and, in this own bands. Since Bill Monroe was It is an oral tradition. Human case, a team project. For Old a native of Kentucky, the beings have told stories as long as Jake’s Skirts, Childsplay Bluegrass State, he decided to call they've had language for assembled a group of 5 actors, 2 his band "Bill Monroe and the Blue communication. Stories were directors, a playwright and a Grass Boys," and this band sound often used to explain the musician/composer. The book birthed a new form of country unexplainable: life and death, was read aloud and discussed and music. nature, and the spiritual world, some scenes were chosen to play Bill's new band was different for example. Stories were out. After exploring scenes, the from other traditional country handed down from one generation playwright went away and began music bands of the time because to the next. As stories passed writing, making sure he used as of its hard driving and powerful from one teller to another they much of the written story as sound, utilizing traditional gradually changed and were, in possible. The only element added acoustic instruments and many cases, written down thus to the story was music and song. featuring highly distinctive vocal preserving their content. After writing, improvising, re- harmonies. This music Things To Talk About and sentence of the story. The next women in the military. They are person picks up the story thread away from the comforts of home Do After the and continues by adding a and the people they care about. Performance… sentence. The next person adds Some of them have very tedious one and so on until the tale comes and boring jobs. Send mail or ▶ All plays have three P’s: to a resolution. Focus on working email to our troops to help them People in a Place with a Problem. together as a team to create a feel less lonely and bored. Go to Where does the play take place? story that has a beginning, middle the back page for links for sending Who are the people? What are and end and that makes sense! mail to the military. the problems? What happens in *In groups of 4, choose a scene the beginning of the play? The from the play that you can play Math: middle? The end? out in class. In teams, create 3 story problems * Old Jake’s dog, Shoestring is a on the characters and ▶How is the play similar to the based bloodhound. Using the internet, situations in Old Jake’s Skirts. book? Different? How does Jake research the bloodhound breed. Then, trade with another group change from the beginning of the Look for descriptions of the breed and see which group can solve the play to the end? including size, color, weight, life problems first! Here’s an

expectancy, personality, etc. example: Jake had 17 skirts. He The Arts: Find pictures that you can print cut 3 of them up into rags, used 2 Music: out. Can you find any cartoon to dress the scarecrow and one *Listen to various bluegrass artists bloodhounds? Display your for neckerchiefs. How many does and try to identify the findings on a wall in your he have left? Try to dramatize instruments that they use. classroom. Now, create your own some of the story problems in Visual Art: bloodhound characters! Choose a class! For other examples, go to *As a class, design and build a name for your dog and decide how www.abcteach.com. scarecrow. Think about using a it would move and what kind of broomstick as a base. Decide voice it would have. Share your Foreign Language: what it will wear and how it will dog character with the rest of the If Old Jake’s Skirts took place in be stuffed. Make it big/small class. another country (like Mexico or enough so that you can use it in France), how would it be the dance activity below. Language Arts: different? Choose a country that *The trunk contains several calico Thinking about how the play ends, you would like to set the story in. (a coarse and brightly printed what do you think happens next? Research which crops Jake might cloth) skirts. Create your own Write the next chapter of Jake’s grow, car he might drive, what calico print skirt out of paper or life, starting with the final scene the weather might be like, what cardboard. Use crayons, markers of the play. kind of music and dance there or colored pencils to create the might be, what type of dog he’d pattern. Then, hang them all on Science: most likely have, which religion a clothesline in your classroom! Jake marks his years by the he might be, and anything else *Old Jake whittles little figurines plagues that visit him. This was you can think of. How would the out of wood as a hobby. An easy the Year of the Storms. What title be translated into that alternative to carving wood is to makes one year stormier or drier country’s language? create your own soap sculptures! than another? Look at the history Go to the back page for an of weather in Arizona. Which Workplace Skills: internet link on soap carving. year had the most rainfall? Which Jake lives in a community but is Dance: year had the least? We are not actively involved in it. By the *Using the scarecrow that you currently in a drought in Arizona. end of the play, he makes a created as a class, choreograph a When water is scarce, what can change and there is hope that he dance similar to the one Jake we do to help conserve it? Come will be involved with his church does. Choose music, decide on up with a water conservation plan and the circle of folks who chat at the moves, and then take turns for your school! Offer water Eb’s store. Map out your family’s dancing with the scarecrow! saving tips and create posters that involvement in your community. *Explore the history of folk you can display around the school! List each member of your family dancing in America. Which and which community dances are best suited for Social Studies: groups/activities they are bluegrass music? Learn to contra Jake is a man who spends a lot of involved in (things like church, or square dance! time alone with only his dog to scouts, PTO, Rotary, volunteering, Theater/Creative Drama: talk to. Is he lonely? Is he bored? sports, etc.). Talk about other *Create a story sitting in a circle. While some people choose to live ways that you can become Choose a subject or title for the like this, others truly have a involved in your community. story you will create. One person problem with loneliness and begins by making up the first boredom. Think of the men and Old Jake’s Skirts Booklist Interesting Internet Sites: Prepared with the help of Tim Wadham, Youth Services www.bluegrass-museum.org Coordinator for the Maricopa County Library District -a history of bluegrass music

Curriculum Keys… www.bluegrasscountry.org -listen to bluegrass music online, anytime! Storytelling: Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry www.storyarts.org Three By the Sea by Edward Marshall -lots of storytelling activities Three Up a Tree by James Marshall A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck www.abcteach.com A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck -simply a great site for all aspects of teaching

Perspective: www.bloodhound-dogs.com Close, Closer, Closest by Shelley Rotner -a wonderful place to learn about Jake’s dog, Shoestring Plain Girl by Virginia Sorensen www.gentlecycle.com/fun.htm Community: -a “how to make soap sculptures” site Old Henry by Joan Blos Family Pictures=Cuadros de Familia by Carmen Lomas www.svsu.edu/mfsm/educational/tourprogramSC.html Garza -more soap carving instructions and tips Prairie Town by Bonnie Geisert The Giver by Lois Lowry http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/ The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant -a place where you can send our troops an email

Rural Life: www.wiredkids.org/emailtheworld/troops.html Ida Early Comes Over the Mountain by Robert Burch -another link to send email to our troops Come a Tide by George Ella Lyon A Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Farming and the Elements: The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder Next from Childsplay! Let the Hurricane Roar by Rose Wilder Lane This happy, high-stepping All materials are available through your local library. Broadway musical is Check it out! based on beloved books by Dr. Seuss (including Horton Hears a Who) and adapted especially for young people by the About Childsplay: show’s creators.

Childsplay is a non-profit professional theatre company of Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, adult actors, performing for young audiences and December 6 to 20 families. Appropriate for grades preschool through 6th grade

Our Mission is to create theatre so strikingly original in Call Beth Olson at 480-350-8107 to make your booking! form, content or both, that it instills in young people an enduring awe, love and respect for the medium, thus preserving imagination and wonder, the hallmarks of childhood, which are the keys to the future. Arizona Academic Standards:

We love to hear from our audience members! Send letters, drawings or reviews to: Your visit to the theater as well as the preparation and follow up activities can involve many content areas from Childsplay, Inc. the Arizona Department of Education K-12 Academic PO Box 517 Standards. Many of the suggested discussion topics and Tempe, AZ 85280 activities can be tied to standards in several areas. If you Call us at 480-350-8101 or would like a more detailed list of standard connections 1-800-583-7 831 (in-state) for your particular grade we would be happy to assist. Simply email Katie McFadzen at Email us at: [email protected] [email protected] Web Site: www.childsplayaz.org or call 480-350-8105. Childsplay’s Student Activity Guide for

Old Jake’s Skirts

Today you saw a production of Old Jake’s Skirts 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! •Who were the characters? Which character was your favorite and why? What did the characters do? What was your favorite part of the play? •Talk about the costumes, scenery, props and Old Jake’s Skirts music that were used in the production. Draw by José Cruz González pictures to help describe the different Based on a book by C. Anne Scott costumes and scenery.

Directed by Graham Whitehead Try this Activity With a Friend or in Class! •In the play, an actor plays a dog character. Musical Direction by Ric Averill How would you play an animal character? Scenic Design by Greg Jaye Choose an animal that you would like to play. Now, decide how the animal would move. Costume Design by Liz Ihlenfeld What does the animal eat? How does the animal eat? Where and how does the animal Lighting Design by Michael Eddy sleep? What sound does the animal make? The Cast Next, putting all of the animal traits together, Michael Arbuckle move around the space you are in. What Adam Jacobson happens when your animal interacts with Matthew Proschold Laurie Trygg another one?

School Tour- September-December, 2005 Childsplay is Arizona’s professional theatre company for young audiences. We love to hear This production is supported in part by: from our audience members! America West Airlines Education Foundation Angel’s Care You can write to us at: Arizona ArtShare Arizona Commission on the Arts Arizona Diamondbacks Charities Childsplay Arizona Republic PO Box 517 Bashas’ Tempe, AZ 85280 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Or call us at 480-350-8101 or Boeing ECF 1-800-583-7831 (in AZ only) City of Tempe / Tempe Municipal Arts Commission The Medtronic Foundation Email us at: [email protected] National Endowment for the Arts Our Web Site is: www.childsplayaz.org Pacific Life Foundation Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture Scottsdale Cultural Council

The Eliot Spalding Foundation The Stocker Foundation Tucson/Pima Arts Council

Wells Fargo k

Printing generously donated by: nswers: cross-- Crossword Puzzle A A 2. guitar 5. Shoestring 3. trunk 4. hats 6. wood 7. storm 8. girl 9. one Down-- 1. truc Draw a line from the word to the picture it matches!

guitar

harmonica skirt rain

bloodhound Can you solve trunk the crossword puzzle? banjo flood truck Can You Find the Hidden Words??

Find the hidden CALICO MUSIC words! They SCARECROW SKIRTS can go up, WHITTLE GUITAR down, across, TRUCK JAKE backwards or RAIN TRUNK diagonally! SHOESTRING

Q J R C A K Z S T C

S C A R E C R O W A

H K I K T U X H N L

W R N S E R U W S I Here are your clues: Z H Q B U T F K C C Across D B I U W M I O X O 3. found on the road 4. the church ladies wear these 6. Jake whittles this C M O T T R U N K O 7. thunder ______8. a young female G N I R T S E O H S 9. number of skirts left at the end

F A Y S C L L A T P Down 1. Jake drives this R A T I U G E T F C 2. the musician plays this 5. Jake's dog