Treasure Island”
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A Teacher’s Guide to Missoula Children’s Theatre’s “Treasure Island” Dear Educator, As you make plans for your students to attend an upcoming presentation of the Arts for Youth program at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, we invite you to prepare your students by using this guide to assure that from beginning to end; the experience is both memorable and educationally enriching. The material in this guide is for you the teacher, and will assist you in preparing your students before the day of the event, and extending the educational value to beyond the walls of the theatre. We provide activity and/or discussion ideas, and other resources that will help to prepare your students to better understand and enjoy what they are about to see, and to help them connect what they see on stage to their studies. We also encourage you to discuss important aspects of the artistic experience, including audience etiquette. We hope that your students find their imagination comes alive as lights shine, curtains open, and applause rings through Lancaster Performing Arts Center. As importantly, we hope that this Curriculum Guide helps you to bring the arts alive in your classroom! Thank you for helping us to make a difference in the lives of our Antelope Valley youth. Arts for Youth Program Lancaster Performing Arts Center, City of Lancaster Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Overview of the California Content Standards for Public Schools .......................................................................................... 3 Theatre Etiquette .................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Be a Theatre Critic ................................................................................................................................................................... 5 About Missoula Children’s Theatre ......................................................................................................................................... 5 Summary ................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Play Your Part .......................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Characters to Know ................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Suggestions for Discussion .................................................................................................................................................... 10 Arts for Youth is the title for K-12 educational programs at Lancaster Performing Arts Center 2 Treasure Island Lancaster Performing Arts Center, City of Lancaster Curriculum connections: Visual Arts, Music, Theater, and Dance. Language Arts - Literature Kindergarten: Reading 3.1 Distinguish fantasy from realistic text. 3.3 Identify characters, settings, and important events. Grade 2: Listening and Speaking - Organization and Delivery of Oral Communication 1.5 Organize presentations to maintain a clear focus. 1.7 Recount experiences in a logical sequence. 1.8 Retell stories, including characters, setting, and plot. 1.9 Report on a topic with supportive facts and details. Visual and Performing Arts - Theatre Grade 5: Creative Expression - Development of Theatrical Skills 2.1 Participate in improvisational activities to explore complex ideas and universal themes in literature and life. Grade 5: Connections, Relationships, Applications – Connections and Applications 5.1 Use theatrical skills to dramatize events and concepts from other curriculum areas, such as reenacting the signing of the Declaration of Independence in history social science. Grade 5: Connecting and Applying What Is Learned in Theatre, Film/Video, and Electronic Media to Other Art Forms and Subject Areas and to Careers - Careers and Career-Related Skills 5.2 Identify the roles and responsibilities of performing and technical artists in theatre, film, television, and electronic media. Content standards adopted by the California State Board of Education. For more information, visit: http://www.lpac.org/arts-for-youth.cfm 3 Treasure Island Lancaster Performing Arts Center, City of Lancaster Arrive on time: Plan for possible delays in travel and parking. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to show time. Students: Leave recording devices of any kind at home or in your backpack at school Video or audio recording and photography, including camera phones, are often prohibited by law and may disrupt the performance. They are not permitted and are considered very rude to the others around you. Teachers: Turn off or silence all personal electronics Beeps, clicks, tones and buzzes and light pollution emanated by personal electronics such as watches, pagers, Bluetooth devices, cell phones, etc. interrupt the performance and spoil the theatre experience. Observe the instructions of ushers The ushers are present to offer assistance, ensure rules are observed and provide guidance in the case of an emergency evacuation. Please show them consideration. You will be asked to exit to the left of the theatre at the end of the performance. Be respectful While entering and exiting the theatre: Put your hands in your pockets or behind your back. Talk very quietly. Once seated: Do not talk. Keep your feet on the ground. Put your hands in your lap or fold your arms. Abstain from eating or drinking inside the theatre Crackling wrappers and containers and food messes in the auditorium are unwelcome. Food, candy, gum and drinks should never be brought inside the theatre. Avoid talking, waving and shouting during the performance Laughing and applauding are encouraged at appropriate times. Shouting to actors/friends is disrespectful to others. Save personal conversation for after the show. If you must talk, please whisper very quietly. Do not exit the auditorium during the performance except in the case of emergency If you must leave, please wait for an appropriate break in the performance. Teachers, please arrive early enough to escort students to the restroom prior to the start of the show. Do not get onto the stage or place items on the edge of the stage To ensure the safety and security of performers and audiences, this behavior is strictly prohibited unless expressly permitted by a performer or staff member. 4 Treasure Island Lancaster Performing Arts Center, City of Lancaster Dispose of garbage in proper receptacles Help preserve a pleasant environment by depositing all debris in appropriate receptacles. Extend common courtesy and respect to your fellow audience members Civility creates a comfortable and welcoming theatre experience for all. Bring very small children only to age-appropriate performances Small children easily become restless at programs intended for older children, and may cause distractions. During the performance watch for: • Facial expressions and actions • Costumes • Props • Music and sound effects • Vivid stories and word pictures Missoula Children’s Theatre was founded in 1970 by Jim Caron, who continues serve as Executive Director. Jim and Music Director Michael McGill created the eight original musicals that are currently touring with thirty teams of MCT Tour Actor/Directors – including Treasure Island. 5 Treasure Island Lancaster Performing Arts Center, City of Lancaster The cast auditions for the show on Monday and rehearse for just a few short days. You will be amazed by what they have accomplished. Nearly 55,000 young people will participate as performers in the Missoula Children’s Theatre International Tour Project this season. Nearly 1,100 communities in all 50 states, 6 Canadian territories and provinces and 16 countries will be visited! Missoula Children's Theatre (MCT), the nation’s largest touring children’s theatre, has been touring extensively for more than 30 years now from Montana to Japan, and will visit nearly 1000 communities this year with 30 teams of Tour Actor/Directors. A tour team arrives in a given town with a set, lights, costumes, props and make-up, everything it takes to put on a play...except the cast. The team holds an open audition and casts 50- 60 local students to perform in the production. The show is rehearsed throughout the week and two public performances are presented on Friday and Saturday. All MCT shows are original adaptations of classic children’s stories and fairytales . a twist on the classic stories that you know and love. Creativity, social skills, goal achievement, communication skills and self-esteem are all characteristics that are attained through the participation in this unique, educational project. MCT's mission is the development of lifeskills in children through participation in the performing arts. 6 Treasure Island Lancaster Performing Arts Center, City of Lancaster The Missoula Children's Theatre takes pride in presenting, TREASURE ISLAND, an original adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s epic novel. Young Jim Hawkins, a mischievous lad, lives with his mother and six sisters in a seaside village on the coast of Maine. The year is 1782 and the American War for Revolution is in its last days.