America's Oldest · Founded 1808
Touring Outreach Company

2008 · 2009 Touring Outreach Season


Boxheads

Inspiration to Think Outside the Box!
By Michael Hollinger

We have all heard of the land of make believe. But what would a land without make believe be like? In the world of Boxheads—a world not unlike the one we live in today—electronic media devices rule! Children's imaginations are removed and creativity is forbidden. "Boxes" operate on the energy taken from imaginations! Join Lauren and her friend Herman, the sock puppet, in their adventure to outwit the Boxman, recover imagination and remind everyone how rewarding an active, creative and diverse life can be.

Curriculum Connections:

  • PA Academic Standards: Arts and Humanities; Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; Family and Consumer Sciences; Health, Safety and Physical Education.
  • Extensive look at creative thinking.
  • Reading, analyzing and interpreting literature.
  • Balancing family, work and community responsibility; child development; communications; healthful living; physical activity.

FOR GRADES K–6

The Brave Little Tailor

The Grimm's Fairy Tale Brought to Life!
By Brian Guehring

Everyday, the small, meek tailor in the village is bullied by his boss, smothered by his mother, and harassed by customers. This young tailor, however, dreams of fighting dragons and saving princesses and during one vivid fantasy, he manages to kill seven flies in one blow. Rumors buzz around the village until the king hears of a tailor who can kill seven giants in one blow. The tailor is brought before the cowardly king and his beautiful daughter. This meek tailor then must find his own courage (with the help of the princess) and battle a rampaging unicorn, two troublesome giants, and a fierce dragon.

Curriculum Connections:

  • PA Academic Standards: Arts and Humanities; Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; History.
  • Extensive look at character education; based on a classic fairy tale.
  • Reading, analyzing and interpreting literature; fact from opinion; reading critically in all content areas.
  • World history; historical contexts in the arts.

FOR GRADES K–6

Martin and Malcolm – How Long Must We Wait?

The Civil Rights Movement and What It Means Today!
By Tom Quinn

Take your students on a journey that explores the explosive issues and ideas that ignited a nation in the 1960s. Through the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, our gifted actors show how their messages are as relevant today as they were in that turbulent era of race riots, bus boycotts, sit-ins and marches. This inspirational story brings your classroom history books to life.

Curriculum Connections:

  • PA Academic Standards: Arts and Humanities; Civics and Government; History.
  • Examines the Civil Rights Movement in depth.
  • Discusses today's issues of racial profiling and affirmative action.
  • US history, historical analysis and skills development; rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
  • Ideal for Black History Month or Diversity Awareness.

FOR GRADES 6–12

The Boy Who Cried Bully

The Bully-Buster is Back!
By Tom Quinn

Meet Nate, a typical third-grader with a love for telling tall tales. Nate's biggest problem is Sam, a fifth-grade bully who has it in for him and his friends. Thankfully, Bob the Bully-Buster visits to teach Nate's class what they can do to identify and prevent bullying in school. Based on the classic Aesop's fable, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, this honest, funny and engaging production looks at stretching truths and accepting differences.

Curriculum Connections:

  • PA Academic Standards: Arts and Humanities; Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; Health, Safety and Physical Education.
  • Extensive look at the dangers of bullying; based on a classic Aesop's fable.
  • Safety and injury prevention; strategies to avoid/manage conflict.
  • Reading critically in all content areas; analysis and evaluation of folktale adaptation.

FOR GRADES K – 5

Mean Girlz R Bullies 2

An Honest Look at Teenage Bullying!
By Tom Quinn

It's not easy being the new kid, navigating everything from the social cliques to the lunchroom line. Sometimes, middle school is just hard. And sometimes, teenagers are just mean. The most-requested piece of last season, this all-new musical about jocks, brains, queen bees and wannabes focuses on the realities of adolescence-gossip, body image, the nature of popularity and the challenges of being different. Join us for a powerful show for both girls and boys that explores the secret culture of teenage aggression and asks: why are teenagers mean to each other and what can we do about it?

Curriculum Connections:

  • PA Academic Standards: Arts and Humanities; Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; Health, Safety and Physical Education.
  • Extensive look at the dangers and implications of teenage bullying; discusses body image, sexuality, social hierarchy and destructive rumors; inspired by a classic Hans Christian Andersen story.
  • Safety and injury prevention; safe/unsafe practices; strategies to avoid/manage conflict.
  • Reading critically in all content areas; speaking and listening; analysis and evaluation of folktale adaptation; rights of individuals in a community.

FOR GRADES 6 – 9