"Want to boost literacy? Teach your child to imagine the unimaginable? Cultivate curiosity? Get thee to the theater, and bring your kids."

~Why Children's Theatre Matters
by Danielle Wood at Education.com

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Greetings from your Act!vated Actors!

Fall is in the air and the trees are turning many shades of frog green, sizzling orange and blushing red up here in New England. It seems the colors get more vibrant each year. We'd love to bundle up the inspiration and send it out to all of the poets and painters out there.

Halloween is sneaking up on us. (Watch out, it's right behind you.) It is one of our favorite times of year because everyone has an excuse to dress up and try out a new character.

Act!vatedly Yours,
Dennis and Kimberly Goza
The Act!vated Story Theatre actors are currently performing for after school programs in Swampscott, Massachusetts.
vm/fax: 1(800)429-6576
cell: 1(818)720-3061

Announcing Stories for Summer Reading Programs

Dig into Reading (Have Book - Will Travel)

We are happy to announce that this summer we'll be kicking off summer reading programs with a show designed to highlight and promote the Dig Into Reading theme. The title of the show is "Digging Diversity" and it will feature 2 of the following stories representing different cultures and featuring scenes your audiences will dig. (Available June 2013 - May 2014)

The Treasure and the Bridge (Middle Eastern)
The tale of the man who dreams of buried treasure and seeks it in distant places is popular in several Middle Eastern countries, and even found its way into The Arabian Nights. Our rendition is based primarily on the Turkish version of the story.
Tops and Bottoms (Scandinavian)
The Bear and the Fox agree to share the crops, but the cunning Fox has a plan to get the better of the deal. Presented with lots of physical comedy.
The Iron Dragon (Chinese-American)
The Chinese railroad workers in California told this yarn about one of their comrades who died on the job, and came back to haunt them until they paid him the proper tribute. We incorporate shadow puppets into this story popularized by the book The Iron Moon Hunter.
Simple Ivan (Russian)
We bring back one of our most popular stories, the famous Russian “noodlehead” who learns the importance of reading and learning about the world before venturing out into it. Performed in mime set to music.

And to our library friends in Illinois who have the theme Have Book - Will Travel to work with, yep we do that too! Our giant book is always traveling to bring your audiences adventures. We'd be happy to "act!vate" your library in June or July.

The show will continue to be available the following school year for school assemblies, family nights and after school programs to support the core curriculum standards.

Reserve a date for your library summer reading program today call (818) 720-3061 or send us an email ActivatedStoryTheatre@gmail.com.

The Antagonist and Protagonist go Trick-or-Treating

Here is a little activity that you can use with the children in your life to help them identify the protagonist and antagonist in their favorite stories. As your little princesses, dragons and knights-in-shining armors are deciding what they want to dress up as to go Trick-or-Treating ask them to identify their favorite character as the "protagonist" (the main character of the story, often the hero) or "antagonist" (the character who causes trouble and creates obstacles for the protagonist) and tell you why. This can be done during a discussion in the classroom, at the library, or at home with your favorite fairy, goblin or ghoul. Casually continue the conversation (without overdoing it) as you stroll the streets and spy other antagonists and protagonists going door to door for treats.

Be sure to check out books from your local library starring your child's alter ego to read with your child as you get ready for the big event.

Core Curriculum Standards:

K-5: (Reading: Literature) Identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.
All Grade Levels: (Speaking and Listening) Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

For more learning activities see the current study guide.

Make a Skeleton out of recycled milk/water jugs

What you need:

string
7 milk jugs
scissors
googly eyes, glow in the dark paint (optional)

You will find instructions on the web. You can do a search for them or try these: http://www.thepartyanimal-blog.org/milk-jug-skeleton-fun-recycled-craft-decoration-halloween/

Public Performance

See Tales of Ambition currently touring the US on stage in Delaware this November. We are bringing some antagonists and protagonists to the stage, so come see the show!

November 14th at the Wilmington Library, 1325 Cedar (new location) in Wilmington, DE. The show starts at 10:00, kids (age 7 and up) who want to be in the show come at 9:30 to rehearse a part.

Crowd-sourcing to bring shows to schools

We know it is getting increasingly difficult for schools to get the funding they need to bring quality theatre to the students they serve. Brighter Horizons, a school serving the Muslim-American population in Garland, Texas, is one of those schools. So we put together a short video and partnered with them on a crowd sourcing campaign over at Indiegogo.com. If you would like to help students in need get a 2 day residency program, please tweet and post to Facebook about the campaign. And of course your financial contributions are welcome and would be greatly appreciated.

If you know of a school that would benefit from such a fundraiser please let us know. We'd like to help.

Act!vated Affiliations that may help provide funding for your program

South Carolina Arts: for November-January tour dates
League of Volunteers (LOV) Fremont, Newark and Union City, California: for April tour dates
Matchbook (New England states): for August-October tour dates

Please check our tour schedule for availability and give us a call (800) 429-6576 or (818) 720-3061 to book a show, residency program or special event for <<Name of Venue>> <<Venue Category: School/Library/Theatre/Museum?>>.

Time for Fun

October is National Arts and Humanities Month

The arts are always vital, but October is a particularly good time to commemorate them, being National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM). Act!vated Story Theatre urges you to get involved in the arts in October, or get involved in new ways. (But don't stop when October ends!) Find a NAHM event near you.

Bet you didn't know November 1st is National Men Make Dinner Day

We love obscure holidays and excuses to celebrate. Around our house (on wheels) Dennis does all of the cooking every day but if the man in your life needs a little encouragement here it is. You can read the rules and learn more about the "holiday" over at http://www.menmakedinnerday.com/home/index.php

National Men Make Dinner day inspired our latest podcast story: The Husband Who Was to Mind the House

The husband is disgruntled because he has to go to work every day, while the wife gets to stay home. So they decide to trade places. It sounds like the premise for a reality TV show, but it's the basis of “The Husband Who Was to Mind the House”, an old story from Norway that has at least inspired many sitcom episodes. It was first told in the days when it was rare for the wife to go out and work; but then, as now, housework was a fulltime job in its own right.a free folktale for your ears. Direct download: Husband.mp3 (audio file)

More Spooky Fun!

We have a special Ghost Story for you to share with the children in your life. See if you can find the ghosts hiding in the story we learned on a trip to Gettysburg.