Onstage Resource Guide

2015/16 ONSTAGE RESOURCE GUIDE DR. SUESS’S THE CAT AND THE HAT DR. SUESS’S THE CAT AND THE HAT ABOUT OVERTURE CENTER FOR THE ARTS RESIDENT ORGANIZATIONS RESOURCE GUIDE CREDITS Cirque Mechanics Overture Center – OnStage 1 Dear Teachers, In this resource guide, you will find valuable information that will help you apply your academic goals to your students’ performance experience. We have included suggestions for activities which can help you prepare students to see this performance, ideas for follow- up activities, and additional resources you can access on the web. Along with these activities and resources, we’ve also included the applicable Wisconsin Academic Standards in order to help you align the experience with your curriculum requirements. This Educator’s Resource Guide for this Onstage presentation of Cirque Mechanics is designed to: • Extend the scholastic impact of the performance by providing discussion ideas, activities and further reading that promote learning across the curriculum; • Promote arts literacy by expanding students’ knowledge of music, science, storytelling and theatre; • Illustrate that the arts are a legacy reflecting the values, custom, beliefs, expressions and reflections of a culture; • Use the arts to teach about the cultures of other people and to Table of Contents celebrate students’ own heritage through self-reflection; About Cirque Mechanics .........................2 • Maximize students’ enjoyment and appreciation of the performance. The History of the Three Ring Circus .........3 We hope this performance and the suggestions in this resource Steampunk: an Introduction ......................4 guide will provide you and your students opportunities to apply art Activity: Pantomime ................................5 learning in your curricula, expanding it in new and enriching ways. The Form & Function of Simple Machines ..6 Enjoy the Show! Activity: Let’s Lead With Our... ..................7 We Want Your Feedback! OnStage performances can be evaluated online! Evaluations are The Efficiency of the Bicycle Chain ...........8 vital to the future and funding of this program. Your feedback Books to Read educates us about the ways the program is utilized and we often ........................................9 implement your suggestions. Academic Standards .............................. 10 Follow this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/onstage_2015 About Live Performance .........................11 and fill out an evaluation. We look forward to hearing from you. Education Categories Arts Science Social Studies Cirque Mechanics Overture Center – OnStage 2 About Cirque Mechanics Cirque Mechanics was founded in 2004 by Boston native Cirque Mechanics, although inspired by modern circus, and German Wheel artist, Chris Lashua, after the success finds its roots in the mechanical and its heart in the stories of his collaborative project with the Circus Center of San of American ingenuity. The shows, rooted in realism, Francisco, Birdhouse Factory. Cirque Mechanics quickly display a raw quality, rarely found in modern circus, that established itself as a premiere American circus, with its makes their message timeless and relevant. The stories unique approach to performance, inspiring storytelling are wrapped in circus acrobatics, mechanical wonders and and innovative mechanical staging. Spectacle Magazine a bit of clowning around. hailed it as “the greatest contribution to the American circus since Cirque du Soleil”. Cirque Mechanics Overture Center – OnStage 3 The History of the Three Ring Circus The concept of a Circus can be traced all the way back to Roman Empire, in which the circus was the site of horse and chariot races, inspired by the even older Greek Hippodrom used for a variety of horse sports. While these spaces were mostly used for races, the idea of a “parade of animals” and the spectacle involved would influence the creation and style of the modern American and European circus. England in the late 1700s saw the combination of several entertainments: trick horse riding, theatrical variety shows like mime and acrobatics, and the “menagerie” - a varied collection of animals - into a vast variety show at the London Hippodrom. The space of performance was first referred to as a “circle” within an amphitheater, but later simply a “circus.” While these circuses spread across Europe in various forms, the first American circus tour was run by Englishman John Bill Ricketts, who operated out of Philadelphia in the 1890’s. But the circus tradition in the United States is associated most with later Circus Moguls like Barnum & Baily of Delavan, Wisconsin, and later, the Ringling Brothers of Baraboo, Wisconsin. Driven by the invention and expansion of the railroad, these touring companies were able to increase in size and scope to unprecedented levels of complexity and opulence. “Bigger and Better” was the name of the game, and the more sights and sounds a proprietor could pack in, the more bang he could claim he had for the viewer’s buck. The “Three Ring” Circus is a practice in which three performances would happen simultaneously. Held in large tents, the sight of a trained elephant, a clown show, and a trapeze artist all at the same time was a feast for the eyes. In turn, the combination of these acts lead to new innovations in performance, with animals leaping through hoops in acrobatic feats, and clowns riding ponies. In the latter part of the 20th century, concern for animal welfare and a renewed interest in human ability has shifted the focus of modern circuses to acrobatics, theatricality, and music. Acts like Cirque du Soleil are mostly made up of exceptional feats of strength, agility, and speed, interspersed with a return to traditional clowning. All of these are linked together into a loose story or narrative in each performance. Cirque Mechanics Overture Center – OnStage 4 Steampunk: an Introduction “Steampunk: Yesterday’s tomorrow, today!” What is a Cyr Wheel? The term “steampunk” was originally a derivitive of “cyberpunk,” a term exemplified by authors William Gibson and Bruce Sterling. Best known for their offerings in science fiction, these authors often wrote about the synthesis of between man and machine, and the future of Internet culture. When these authors and those like them turned their attention to the later years of the 19th century, they brought the same themes to that era. But instead of wires and silicon, their imaginary worlds use steam, pipes, gears, goggles, and locomotion. In essence, steampunk exemplifies a future as imagined by the minds of those alive well over a hundred years ago, mixed with the attitude and culture of those of us alive today. Matthew Ragan, “Jeremy Cyr Wheel 1,” Flickr. Overtime, steampunk has become more than a literary trend, now including fashion, programming, engineering, One of the central aspects of Cirque Mechanics is music and cosplay. Notable recent works include the rotation and locomotion. One way this is exemplified Golden Compass. Numerous variations on the theme is in the Cyr Wheel. Like steampunk, at first glance exist, and debate still rages over exactly what the term Cyr Wheeling may look like it should be an older, more describes. But in general, the fashion sense, interest in traditional form of circus performance, the practice is mechanical motion, and counter-cultural expression actually a recent innovation, and popularized in just remain fixtures of the genre. the last few decades. Using a Cyr Wheel combines the strength of a balance beam with the acrobatic skill of a You can ask your students to identify what parts of the trapeze artist. costumes, motions, actions, and stunts they consider steampunk during Cirque Mechanic’s performance. You’ll Named for Daniel Cyr, who performed the first widely probably find a fair bit of debate! seen Cyr Wheel act in Paris, Cyr Wheels are typically made of aluminum tubing. Spinning like a top, the Cyr Wheel artist holds a variety of poses while suspended within the wheel, and in turn these posses provide momentum to continue the movement. Steampunk Know how If you’re looking for steampunk related activities, you might start with this list in School Library Journal. You can find activities for making steampunk jewelry, USB drives, clothing and more. http://www.teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2013/04/tpib-steampunk-crafts-take-2/ Cirque Mechanics Overture Center – OnStage 5 Activity: Pantomime Ages 7-11, 40-50 min. Purpose: Body awareness, non-verbal communication, teamwork, and emotional expression. Objectives: Body awareness and communicating a story using movement, dance, and accompanying music Materials: • An open space and a way to play instrumental music. Procedure: 1. Define the space students will be using and inform students that this is a silent activity. 2. Explain that you will have them “Freeze.” Inform them that this means no movement and no talking. 3. Explain pantomime: expressing meaning through gestures, often accompanied by music. 4. Begin playing the music. Have students walk around the space. They should refrain from touching anyone. Say, “Freeze” and begin with the first of the individual pantomime statements found below. After each pantomime, have the students walk through the space, freeze, and provide them with the next pantomime statement. Remind the students to show you, not tell you what they are doing. Individual Practice: Use the following prompts to have your students practice pantomime on their own. 5. A gift box is in front of you. Reach into the box and bring out an imaginary gift. How heavy is it? What shape is it? Is the box big or small? What is in it? How do you use it? 6. You have on a jacket with a zipper. Is the jacket long or short? You are having trouble zipping the jacket. 7. You are in front of a door. The door is unlocked but it is stuck. How is the door knob shaped? Do you use two hands or one? 8. You are kneeling down to tie your shoe. One of the shoestrings is in a knot. Act out the difficulty getting the knot out of the shoestring.

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