Archives

Freedom Stories

Gifted storyteller TAHIRA shares tales of freedom fighters in this dramatic performance. A compelling look at the people who took extraordinary risks for freedom, the program can be tailored to highlight such topics as the Civil Rights Movement, Black women in history, or the Underground Railroad. The program includes freedom songs such as “John the […]

Shadow Ball

Shadow Ball pays homage to the men who played in Negro League baseball and paints a picture of America’s suffering during the Great Depression. Rochel Garner Coleman plays Cool Papa Bell, one of the League’s most famous players. A sterling fielder and an outstanding batter (regularly averaging over .400), Bell was legendary for his uncanny […]

I, Nat Love

Playing the Black cowboy Nat Love, Rochel Garner Coleman chronicles the journey of a former slave who joined thousands of others like him to explore and settle the West. From Love’s birth into slavery to his walk to freedom to how he won his cowboy name, this performance explores an uncommon narrative of the Old […]

The Ways of the Lenape

Who were the Lenape Native Americans of New Jersey and Pennsylvania? Following years of conversation and relationships with Native people, Rob Aptaker gives students the opportunity to explore the tools, clothing, toys, games medicine and music that have historically been a part of their daily lives, building a picture of pre-colonial life. Program options: In-person […]

Harriet Tubman: The Chosen One

Available On-Demand only for the 2021-22 School Year. Gwendolyn Briley-Strand’s powerful one-woman performance takes students along on one of the many treks Harriet Tubman made on the Underground Railroad. Through rousing song, insightful history, and extraordinary acting, this program helps students understand the strength, courage, faith, and steadfastness of this remarkable American, once enslaved herself, […]

The Town that Fought Hate

When a hate group harasses young Isaac for having a menorah in his window, the townspeople band together to fight the bullies and bigotry threatening their community. Using music and an exceptional array of puppetry techniques, this play teaches students about tolerance and acceptance by re-counting the real-life events of a 1993 Billings, Montana, bias […]

Japanese Festival Drums

The music of Taikoza personifies power, grace, pulse, and driving rhythm. After decades of training in Japan, Marco Lienhard leads this electrifying aural and visual performance which captures the vitality and culture of life in Japan. Highlighted by the thunderous rhythms of ancestral Japanese Taiko drums and the sounds of bamboo flutes, this festive experience draws from […]

Eda Ne Kakati (From the Past to the Present)

This jubilant assembly introduces students to the artistry of East African cultures through dance, music, and storytelling. Sharing music from his native Uganda and authentic East African instruments, Ssuuna inspires students to compare cultures and to learn the importance of respecting cultural differences. The program ends in celebration as students play alongside Ssuuna and learn […]

Medieval Feast

Join Mary in exploring medieval music and instruments and their continuing influence today! This fascinating collection of chants, ballads, recorder melodies, troubadour songs, and stories—through Mary’s vivid interpretations—give modern audiences a glimpse into everyday life in the Middle Ages. Program options: In-person Please fill out this inquiry form or call 866-500-9265 for more information. (Virtual programs are not charged […]

Yah-Oh-Way

Yah-Oh-Way means “It is good” in Hopi. This exciting and athletic performance by the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers highlights the depth and complexity of several Native American societies. Students witness the origins and meanings of songs, dances, and traditions of many tribes that inhabited North America before the arrival of Europeans. By participating in traditional ceremonies—including […]