2005 Winter Plays

“Amahl and the Night Visitor” by Carl Menotti

Adapted by: Nancy Monson

This beautiful opera was performed by the older children. It was both spoken and sung, bringing to life the story of a poor cripple boy and his mother who meet the Three Kings on their way to Bethlehem.

The Mystery of Evolution or the History of Rock ‘n Roll

2nd-3rd Grade

Written by Nancy Monson

This play was a result of studying the formation of the earth and the process of evolution. We took all the information the children had been learning and combined it with original music and movements they had been practicing and developing in their weekly movement/dance/yoga class. The format of the play was:

• Two scientists presented the facts.
• Then the Rock’n Rappers rapped it out.
• Then the children all acted it out in original movement and dance, much of which they created.

This play was a great way for the children to express their understanding of evolution – of the earth from the very beginning all the way to the time of humans. Theater helps children to use words, music and singing and dance to express their understanding of a topic more fully and completely.

“The dust, the dust, it spun through space, it all came together to make this place. The core, the mantle and the crust, can you believe it was made from dust?”