Sherlock Holmes & The Opera Mystery
Available Dates: Fall 2011, Spring and Summer 2012

The world's most famous detective is called to investigate a diamond theft at an Opera House in this original stage play based on the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  Holmes must use his skills of observation and disguise, along with Audience Participation to solve the mystery.

Curriculum Connections: Literature, Music, Character Education, History, Audience Participation

Study Guide

“Beathoven & The Big Note Band”
Available Dates: Multiple Dates
Age Group: K-5

"The Big Note Band" has fallen apart! They've lost their beat, can't remember
the melody and don't know the harmony! So their conductor, Beathoven uses comedy, magic and music to help them rediscover the essential elements of music. The band comes alive on a giant video screen with animated characters that interact with the audience. In the end, the band just can't get it together. They are fired and the audience becomes Beathoven's new band in a giant jam session. Beathoven sings and plays a vast array of musical instruments including banjo, guitar, Irish and African drums.

Curriculum Connections: Music and Theatre Arts

Study Guide (may not yet be available)

City Mouse & Country Mouse
Available Dates: Spring and Summer 2012
Age Group: K-5

An updated musical version of Aesop's Fable, filled with LESSONS IN DIVERSITY, LIVE MUSIC & AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION.  The world "Famouse" singing duo, CITY MOUSE & COUNTRY MOUSE tells the story of their adventure in search of a treasure.  With 7 original songs, this show teaches that friendship, even with someone different than you, is a true treasure.

Curriculum Connections: Literature, Music, Character Education, Diversity, Audience Participation

Study Guide

Caribbean Sound
Available Dates: Multiple Dates
Age Group: K-12

The Caribbean Sound Educational Program gives students an introduction to the magical world of steel drums and history of the instrument as well as the musical styles from the Caribbean. An educational and amusing look at the history behind steel drums beginning with the discovery of Trinidad and Tobago by Christopher Columbus in 1498 to the present. Accompanied by a storyteller, encounter the enchanting sound of African drumming and rhythms, bottle & spoon bands of the early 1900’s, the great Tamboo Bamboo bands (an instrument made from large pieces of bamboo), metal drums from the 1950’s and finally combining all these elements with the modern steel drum, the instrument in use today. This is an exciting fun filled adventure of one of the greatest musical innovations of the 20th Century.

Curriculum Connections: Social Studies, History, Music, Multi-Cultural

Study Guide (may not yet be available)

A Beatrix Potter Holiday
Available Dates: Holiday 2011
Age Group: K-5

Famous children's author, Beatrix Potter arrives to entertain the guests at her annual holiday party.  Stories such as "The Tailor Of Gloucester" and "The Rabbit's Christmas Party" come to life on stage with the help of the audience.  Her most famous character, Peter Rabbit, may even surprise the guests with an appearance.

Curriculum Connections: Literature, Music, Character Education, Audience Participation

Study Guide

Doug Berky- Gems: the World’s Wisdom Stories”
Available Dates: Call for Dates
Age Group: 1-6

The illusion of the mime, the antics of the clown, the transformation of the mask, the suspense of a good story and the excitement of improvisation, Doug inspires laughter and reflection. This performance uses storytelling styles from many cultures including masks, mime, inventive costumes and puppetry to introduce families to a collection of wisdom stories from around the world. Each performance is tailored to the audience, with performances including up to four story productions. A performance might include a selection from the following stories: "The Lion and the Mouse," "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" (Aesop's), "The Drip Nose Boy" (Native American), "The Lame Man and the Blind Man" (Middle East), and “The Tiger’s Whiskers” (Korea)

Curriculum Connections: Social Studies, Science, Global Ecology-Recycling, Environmental Studies

Study Guide

The Fairy Tales of Grimm
Available Dates: January-May, 2012
Age Group: K-5

Tales such as The Bremen Town Musicians, Rapunzel, Hansel & Gretel and Snow White come to the stage in the classical 19th Century theatrical style of “Melodrama.” Full of laughs & audience participation.

Curriculum Connections: Literature and Music

Study Guide

Glenis Redmond “Miss Poetic”
Available Dates: Call for Dates
Age Group: K-12

Glenis performs original poetry that tells stories from her life, her family and her African- American heritage – teaching audiences to claim their place and respect their own story. This is an interactive performance that gets students up on their feet and learning fun poems. Glenis is available to do creative writing workshops in addition to her performance.

Curriculum Connections: Social Studies, Language Arts, Relationships & Family

Study Guide

The Hundred Dresses
Available Dates: Spring 2012
Age Group: 2-6

Wanda Petronski, the new girl in room 13, wears the same faded blue dress to school every day, but insists that she has a hundred bright, shiny new ones at home. As Wanda’s story unfolds, her classmates learn the secret of the hundred dresses and with it, a lesson in tolerance, in taking responsibility and in living with the consequences of our actions. An endearing tale, based on the Newbery Honor Book by Eleanor Estes, “The Hundred Dresses” focuses on the difficult issue of bullying and how mistreating someone because he or she is different from oneself brings as much harm to the bully as to the victim.

Curriculum Connections: Language Arts, Character Development and Theatre Arts

Study Guide (may not yet be available)

Aesop's Fables
Multiple Dates Available
Age Group: PK-3

For centuries, the wit and wisdom of AESOP’S FABLES have been passed down from one generation to the next. ETC continues its commitment to introduce the classics to young audiences, presenting these well-loved animal tales in interactive, story-theater style. Through lively storytelling and with the help of the audience, ETC actors use physical comedy with minimal props and costumes to bring to life familiar favorites like The Lion and the Mouse, The Tortoise and the Hare and The Fox and the Grapes along with tales not so familiar. Fun and chock full of imagination, AESOP’S FABLES is a perfect introduction to some of the world’s most cherished stories and to the magic of live theatre!

Curriculum Connections: Social Studies, Science, Global Ecology-Recycling, Environmental Studies

Study Guide (may not yet be available)

The Adventures of Eco-Man
Available Dates: January-June, 2012
Age Group: K-5

A mild mannered reporter becomes the superhero...Eco-Man! Battling foes such as the electricity wasting “High Voltage,” Eco-Man teaches the importance of environmental awareness in the 21st Century.

Curriculum Connections: Science, Music, Audience Participation

Study Guide

1000 Cranes
Multiple Dates Available
Age Group: 5-12

There is a legend that says that any person who folds a thousand paper cranes will be granted a wish. Sadako Sasaki was two years old. Her mother held her in her arms and sang a lullaby. In the house, her grandmother was making tea. Suddenly, a flash of light cut across the sky. Ten years later, in 1955, when Sadako was a happy 12 year old school girl in Hiroshima, the radiation sickness came. Sadako began to fold cranes, wishing to be well again, wishing that an atom bomb like the one that took
her grandmother would never be dropped again. Before her death, Sadako folded six hundred and forty-four cranes. Her friends and classmates folded three hundred fifty-six more to make one thousand. Three years later, in Hiroshima Peace Park, they unveiled a statue of Sadako holding a golden crane in her outstretched arms with this inscription: “This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world.” Every year since then, children have sent thousands of cranes to be placed at the foot of her monument. This play tells the true story of Sadako and of how her spirit of hope and strength continues to inspire young people the world over to work for peace.

Curriculum Connections: Social Studies, History, Music, Multi-Cultural

Study Guide (may not yet be available)

“Professor Time”
Available Dates: Multiple Dates
Age Group: 3-5

Students find out what sparked the American Revolution and hear stories first hand from George Washington and Betsy Ross. The stories teach them about the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the formation of the United States government. Students watch history come alive on a giant video with animated characters and historical images. The kids also participate in interactive comedy skits to prepare them for the time travel adventure. At the end of each performance, the kids test their knowledge playing a game show where they can win prizes.

Curriculum Connections: Literature, History,and Theatre Arts

Study Guide

Just So Stories
by Rudyard Kipling
Available Dates: January 2012
Age Group: K-3

“Why? How? When? The mind of a child is ever curious and the author of The Jungle Book knew this when he wrote Just So Stories. Discover the wild imagination and fun of Rudyard Kipling’s “How the Leopard Got His Spots,” “How the First Letter Was Written” and other tales. A group of madcap actors have gathered to outdo each other in telling these intriguing stories with lots of singing, dancing and laughs.

Curriculum Connections: Literature, Theatre Arts

The Call of the Wild
by Jack London
Available Dates: January 2012
Age Group: 5-12

Kidnapped from his master’s home, the heroic dog, Buck, is forced to serve as a sled dog in the Klondike Gold Rush. In his struggle to survive, he quickly learns the “law of club and fang.” When he is facing death, a man saves Buck, and in return Buck gives his unswerving loyalty. In the end, Buck must choose between living in a man’s world and answering the call of the wild.

Curriculum Connections: Literature, Theatre Arts, History

Romeo and Juliet
Available Dates: January 2012
Age Group: 8-12

“Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona where we lay our scene…”

Thus begins one of Shakespeare’s most exciting and well-known plays: the tale of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, two star crossed lovers determined to prove that true love conquers all. Using only the language of the Bard, this one hour version is a must see for students and adults alike.

Curriculum Connections: Literature, Theatre Arts

This performance is funded in part by a grant from the South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment of the Arts and Florida State Division of Cultural Affairs.

Hobey Ford
"The Rainbow Bridge
& Other Tales"
Available Dates: October 3 & 4, 2012
Age Group: 1-4

Hobey Ford’s Golden Rod Puppets present, “The Rainbow Bridge and Other Tales.” This shadow puppetry production brings to life three folk tales through Ford’s unique presentational style combining stunning puppetry, storytelling and topical educational themes. The stories include “The Rainbow Bridge,” “El Coqui,” “The Three Billy Goats Gruff”, and a finale of his Peepers Puppet, which turn the bare hand into a myriad of creatures and his famous beautifully carved foam animal creatures called Foamies. His productions touch on themes across the curriculum with an emphasis on his art form.

Curriculum Connections: Literature, Social Science, Character Development

This performance is funded in part by a grant from the South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment of the Arts and Florida State Division of Cultural Affairs.