NING IN T -W H D E R A T A E

W R

A

Teacher Resource Guide

Oct 28 – Nov 20, 2015

NEWMARK THEATRE 1111 SW Broadway Inside this guide: About: The Show, Author, and Playwright ...... 2 Activity: Freeze that Plot! ...... 6 Introduce or review plot and character concepts with an The Big Ideas, Questions for Discussion ...... 3 on-your-feet frozen image game.

Activity: My Own Top-Secret Personal Beeswax . . . . .4 Interview: meet cast member Kai Tomizawa Jumpstart your class’ journals with Junie B.! Includes (Junie B . Jones) ...... 8 a printable journal page and lots of prompt ideas. Reflection: After the Play ...... 9

Field Trip Info Questions? Length: 60 minutes Learn more at octc.org/schoolservices Teacher Preview: Friday, October 23 Email: [email protected] Call: 503-228-9571 Sign Interpreted Performance: Thursday, November 11, 11:45 Follow us on Facebook! Oregon Children’s Theatre posts videos, behind-the-scenes photos, and other great multimedia connected to your field trip. Teacher Resource Guide

About The Show with her two young grandsons. She died in 2013 after fighting ovarian cancer heroically for seven and Dear First Grade Journal, a half years.

First grade is hard! Last year I had two best friends. She wrote over fifty books, from the picture book Ma! This year the lunch lady is my best friend. Last year There’s Nothing to Do Here!, a love letter to her grand- I was cute. This year I need glasses. son, to middle grade novels such as Skinnybones, The Kid in the Red Jacket, Mick Harte Was Here, and The Junie B. Jones quickly learns that first grade is very Graduation of Jake Moon. Barbara won more than forty different from kindergarden. Her old friends don’t want children’s book awards, including several Children’s to sit with her in class or on the bus, and she’s dreading Choice Awards. revealing her new glasses to her classmates. Helping Mrs. Gutzman serve lunch in the cafeteria turns out to Learn more at juniebjones com/author. . have hidden consequences. Even the kickball tourna- ment is fraught with trouble—an ill-timed pinky toe injury sidelines Junie B. and suddenly she has to save The Playwrights: Marcy Heisler the day during the half-time show! However, our fearless (book and lyrics) and Zina first grader tackles each challenge with characteristic spunky style in this high-energy musical. Goldrich (composer) Longtime songwriting team Marcy Heisler and Zina The play combines several Junie B., First Grader books, Goldrich are set to make their 2015 Broadway debut most notably: with Ever After (based on the film of the same title). • Junie B., First Grader (At Last!) They were the first women ever honored with the Fred Ebb Award for Musical Theatre Songwriting. Besides • Junie B., First Grader: Boss of Lunch Junie B. Jones, other collaborations include the musical • Junie B., First Grader: One Man-Band Dear Edwina and Snow White Rose Red (and Fred), originally produced by the Kennedy Center. They have provided original songs for The Disney Channel, Disney Teacher Tip: Review key events from the Junie B. Theatricals, PBS, and Nickelodeon. As performers, they Jones series with students before your field trip! have toured domestically and internationally. Upcoming Visit Music Theatre International to find a song- theatrical projects include The Great American by-song show synopsis!] Mousical, based on the bestselling book by author/ director Julie Andrews, and Serena Bergman, a Cyrano de Bergerac story set in the Brill Building. They are both The Author active members of The Dramatist Guild, and have served as contributing writers to Dramatist magazine. Barbara Park was best-known as the creator and author of the New York Times bestselling Junie B. Jones series, Learn more at goldrichandheisler com. . the stories of an outrageously funny kindergartener who has kept kids (and their grownups) laughing — and reading — for over two decades. Book and lyrics by Marcy Heisler. Music by Zina Goldrich. Adapted Park was born in Mount Holly, New Jersey, and spent from the Junie B. Jones series of books by Barbara Park. Junie B. most of her adult life in Arizona. There she, with her Jones: The Musical is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). Directed by Isaac Lamb. Teacher husband, Richard, raised her two sons and spent time Resource Guide by Allison Davis. 2 www.octc.org Teacher Resource Guide

The Big Ideas Questions for Discussion • Changes and new situations can be scary. 1. How does Junie B. Jones feel on her first day of first • What makes a good friend? grade? • Things that make us different can also make 2. How did you feel on your first day of school this year? us special. 3. Do you think Lucille acts like a very good friend to • Sometimes disappointments can seem over- Junie B.? whelming, but we can learn to overcome them. 4. What happens when Grace doesn’t want to sit with Junie B. on the school bus? Do you think Junie B. did the right thing?

5. List two or three things that make a good friend. “I’ve never been sure 6. Why do you think Junie B. Jones doesn’t want to show her classmates her glasses? whether Junie B.’s fans 7. List two or three adjectives that describe Junie B. love her in spite of Jones. 8. How are you different from Junie B.? How are you her imperfections … similar?

or because of them. 9. What is the difference between being a good But either way, she’s leader and being bossy? gone out into the Reading List world and made more Go to www tinyurl. com/OCTJunieB. to access a Junie B. Jones book list provided by Multnomah County friends than I ever Library SchoolCorps. Includes related nonfiction titles great for Common Core connections! dreamed possible.” –Barbara Park

Junie B. Jones is a Ticket to Read title. Ticket to Read is a new program linking lit- eracy to live theater by providing students from low-income schools with a free the- ater ticket and a companion book to take home and keep. This program is supported in part by KPMG, the Community Foundation of SW Washington, and the Portland Timbers. Learn more .

3 www.octc.org Teacher Resource Guide

Activity: My Own Top-Secret Personal Beeswax Overview Junie B. Jones’ first grade journal is a way for her to w rite down thoughts, feelings, and important events throughout her school year. Use the included printable to jumpstart some journaling in your classroom!

Standards Vocabulary Materials Language Arts: Writing: Text Types and Concepts • Personal Beeswax journal page (page 5) and Purposes journal anchor Standard 3 entry • pencils K.W.1, 1.W.1, 2.W.1 prompt anchor Standard 8 K.W.8, 1.W.8, 2.W.8 Grade Level: K-2 Length: 10+ minutes

Activity Instructions

Print a class set of Personal Beeswax journal pages.

In Chapter 1 of Junie B. Jones, First Grader (At Last!), Junie B. writes in her new first grade journal. How does Create an ‘Idea Jar’ with she feel about beginning the first grade? written or visual journal prompts — during Distribute journal pages to students and allow time for journal time, invite writing. Provide one of the journal prompts below or a different student to choose use one of your own. a prompt at random for the class. • On the first day of school • I want to learn about • In (this month), I see (or hear or smell or taste) • On a school bus • What I’m bringing for Show and Tell

Junie B.’s teacher, Mr. Scary, tells the class “it won’t be long until your journal starts feeling like an old friend.” Describe an object that feels like an old friend to you. What does it look like? Why does it feel like a friend?

4 www.octc.org From the top-secret personal-beeswax journal of ______

Toda y is ______

Teacher Resource Guide

Activity: Freeze That Plot! Overview Use an active frozen image game to review key events from Junie B. Jones and introduce or reinforce plot and charac- ter concepts.

Standards Vocabulary and sessions Language Arts: Reading: Literature: Concepts Key Ideas and Details Materials Plot: beginning, • Chart paper or white- anchor Standard 1 middle, end K.R.1, 1.R.1, 2.R.1 board space anchor Standard 3 Grade Level: K-2 • Markers K.R.3, 1.R.3, 2.R.3 • Space for students to Length: 30 minutes stand in a circle or two 15 minute

Activity Instructions

Prepare chart paper or whiteboard with three large columns labeled beginning, middle, and end.

Introduce or review plot with students. Ask them to recall when Junie B. Jones gets her glasses. As a class, map the beginning, middle, and end of the event onto your plot chart.

Guide students through the following frozen image game. 1. Gather students into a standing circle. 2. Read an event from your plot chart to the class (for example. “Junie brings her glasses to show and tell.”). 3. Ask students to close their eyes and silently imagine how Junie feels at this point in the plot. 4. With their eyes still closed, instruct students to silently use their faces and bodies to illustrate how Junie B. feels. Once they find their expression, freeze and hold that pose! 5. Count down from three and tell students to open their eyes while keeping their expressions and bodies frozen. 6. Repeat with other parts of the plot chart.

Are Junie’s feelings different in the beginning than in the end? What happens in the middle? Can students recall a time when their feelings changed a lot because of something important that happened? Discuss in class or use as a journaling prompt. 7 www.octc.org Teacher Resource Guide

Interview with Kai Meet Kai Tomizawa! Kai is a 7th grader at Beaumont Middle School in Portland and is playing the role of Junie B. Jones.

Oregon Children’s Theatre: Tell us a little about yourself – besides theater, how do you spend your spare time?

Kai: I love to read! I also like to make short films and music videos with my family. We’ve made 4 short video projects this summer. I also love to unicycle which I’ve been doing since I was 9 years old. I taught myself how to unicycle and now I am teaching myself tricks like hopping on a unicycle and going backwards.

OCT: How long have you been involved in theater?

Kai: When I was four years old, I took played the part of Leisl in The Sound of Music. Later, I was cast as Annie in Annie the Musical. I’ve done musical theater every year since then.

OCT: Tell us a little bit about what auditioning for Junie B. Jones was like.

Kai: It was really fun. I walked in feeling really nervous but at the end of the audition process I felt calm and confident. I got to meet lots of people and I learned a lot from the audition including singing technique and how to read dialogue with a partner.

OCT: Rehearsals start August 31 – can you tell us a little bit about how you’re getting ready?

Kai: I’m getting ready by reading the script and listening to the music. I’m also re-reading some of the Junie B. Jones books to get into the character.

OCT: Do you feel that you have a lot in common with your character?

Kai: Somewhat. Just like Junie B., I can be silly and speak my mind. I can also be pretty stubborn when I really want something. Other than that we are pretty different. For instance, I am much more easy going and not quite as loud as Junie B.

OCT: If you could give Junie B. Jones one piece of advice, what would it be?

Kai: I would say even though change can be scary, the end result can be much better than you could have ever expected.

OCT: Any tips for young audience members who are interested in getting involved in theater?

Kai: Get in front of an audience as much as possible and don’t be afraid to get silly and make a fool out of yourself!

Does your class have a question for Kai? Email it to teachers@octc org. and your class could be featured in an upcoming OCT blog post! 8

www.octc.org Reflection: After the Play After the Play: What did you see? Download the After the Play worksheet on the next page and print a class set. Ask students to complete the drawing and response portions of the sheet either in class or at home. Write to Oregon Children’s Theatre We love hearing student feedback and responses to our shows! Please feel free to share any letters from students with us: Oregon Children’s Theatre 1939 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland, OR 97232 Letters can also be emailed to teachers@octc org. .

9 www.octc.org Teacher Resource Guide What didWhat you see? Name and date and Name

______

What did you see on stage? Recall a scene you remember and draw it in the space above. Include scenery, characters, and props. What did you see? cont.

1. Describe what is happening in your drawing.

______

______

______

______

2. List two or three things you liked about the play.

______

______

______

______

3. If you were directing your own version of this play, what would you do differently?

______

______

______

4. Write one question you had about the play that you’d like to ask Oregon Children’s Theatre. Questions can be for actors, the director, a designer, etc.

______

______

______

______