Play Pretty
Productions -
Programs
Sarah
and Thom's Programs NEW FOR SUMMER 2005
"Beyond the Castle Gates"
Giants! Frogs! Princesses! Come with us as we cross the moat for tales and tunes from the far side of yesterday.
"Beast Bop-A-Loo-Bop: A show filled with animal songs and stories".
Critters, crawlers and creatures of all sorts are the theme. Which ones? Even the kids themselves get to choose some of them! Performances are especially appropriate for ages 3-7. Especially mixed groups or families, and our most popular show!
"Way Back When: Traditional American music and fun".
This program brings back the best bits of "the good old days", featuring traditional acoustic instruments, classic American stories, and sing-alongs, echo songs, and play-party songs for the kids to join in on and influence with their suggestions. Performances are appropriate for all ages and families, and can be tailored to specific age ranges.
"Sing A Song Along".
The stage never ends. Favorite songs that everyone knows are mixed with echo songs, chants, and activity songs for a whole program of sing-along fun. A few stories where the entire audience has a part may sneak in as well.
"Tuneful Tales: Stories with music".
The story is the focus of this program, with songs and music playing a part in the tale.
COMING SUMMER 2006
"A Cause to Pause for Tails, Scales and Snails"
Some of our best friends are dragons --- and turtles, snails and squirrels too. We're already writing new songs and stories for this all new tandem storytelling and musical show.
Sarah
Howard's Workshops
"Sing a Song with Sarah".
Explore traditional songs that can be used for a variety of ages.
Chants, echo songs, zipper songs, nonsense songs, rounds, etc. will be
explored and taught. The question of why we need rhythm and song
will be discussed and a variety of resources will be shared.
"Expanding the Traditional Storytime".
Enhance your storytimes with new ways to present your favorite picture
books. Learn about flannelboards, string stories, easy songs and
fingerplays. Also explore how to turn a book into an audience
participation
experience.
"Storytelling: The original
'world
wide web'
and other literature activities to motivate readers".
Participants
will learn how to find, prepare and present a story. Ideas to
incorporate
storytelling activities into their program will also be shared.
Explore
general literature activities and resources available.
Thom
Howard's Programs
"Not Just a Guitar - Solo and
Fingerstyle Guitar".
The general program, featuring a wide mixture of styles. Full of
surprises and variety.
"Fiesta! Spanish and Latin
music".
Features
flamenco, samba, merengue, tango, etc.
"Wedding Music".
A
variety
of styles to choose from for all parts of the wedding ceremony,
receptions,
rehearsal dinners, etc.
"Ragtime and Minstrel Music". With "Clarke Buehling and the
Skirtlifters",
authentic ragtime string band music.
Clarke
Buehling and the Skirtlifters' Programs
"Ragtime String Band". Authentic ragtime string band music employing arrangements collected from original publications. Music of Fred Van Eps, Scott Joplin, Gad Robinson, Kerry Mills, and others.
"Music of the Minstrels". This show keeps alive the greatest hits of America's past, with historical commentary throughout. Minstrel shows toured the Eastern and Southern states throughout the last half of the nineteenth century, popularizing the music of Paul Eno, Stephen Foster, Dan Emmett, and Tom Turpin. Features songs written as early as 1840. May also include stepdancing, stories and jokes in the style of the original shows.
"Music of the Civil War". The songs played and sung on the battlefields, in the meeting halls, and in the homes of those who lived through America's most trying time. Both a history lesson and a living document that personalizes the division, conflict and reunification of a nation.
