Blog Musicals for Change

“Try your best to make goodness attractive. That's one of the toughest assignments you'll ever be given.” 
 
Fred Rogers
 
Goodness.  It’s a difficult word to define but we know it’s a quality we should strive for. Being “good” is a daily challenge.  As adults, we generally insist that our children “be good,” but we sometimes send the opposite message – that goodness isn’t fun. 
 
Mr. Roger’s quote seems to acknowledge that our natural inclination is NOT goodness.  None of us is truly good unless we make the effort to do good things.  And inspiring others to do the same is not an easy task.  In fact, Fred Rogers says it is “one of the toughest assignments you’ll ever be given.” But don’t we all want to live in a world that is good?  Where people are kind to each other and treat each other fairly?  
 
“Try your best…..” As music teachers and directors of children’s theater, we have a tremendous opportunity to promote kindness in our casts and empathy in the audiences who attend our shows. In your rehearsals, are cooperation and caring valued and encouraged in actionable ways? When you have completed a performance, does your audience leave feeling inspired to take positive action on a personal level or communally?
 
“Good” is contagious.  We continue to return to the example of Mr. Rogers because we know, deep down, that “good” is good for us!  And the best way to promote that message is not to lecture, but to entertain.  Why settle for mediocre stories, stereotypical characters, and “fluffy” music when you could make people laugh, cry, and come out on the other side feeling hopeful and inspired?  Goodness can be both meaningful and fun.
 
Try your best to make goodness attractive.  Our kids deserve it!

,Church is one of the rare places where people of all ages are welcomed and encouraged to form strong relationships.  However, many pews are filled with older adults and few young families, despite our best efforts to build kid’s ministry. Instead of trying to create new children’s programs, why not offer opportunities for intergenerational activity, such as a musical?
Multi-age drama intentionally gathers adults and children together to benefit both groups.* Christmas is a great time for an all-church production! Not only does this solve the problem of too few children, it also provides positive outcomes for everyone involved. 
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Benefits for kids:

• Build nurturing relationships with seniors, particularly for kids whose relatives live far away
• Gain empathy for adults and understanding of their needs
• Learn new skills and receive positive feedback

And for adults:

• Enjoyment of a creative endeavor
• Social involvement with children and other adults
• Opportunity for skill development and cognitive challenge

Merry Birthday?, a 25-minute Christmas musical from Musicals for Change, could easily be performed by a multigenerational cast.  The story is set in an unlikely place: a bus station on Christmas Eve. Eleven-year-old Elijah and his family are snowed in, jeopardizing their holiday AND Elijah's birthday, a celebration he shares with Jesus every December 25th. While he grumpily relates the many disadvantages of a Christmas birthday to Abby, a foster child on her way to a new home, fellow travelers quietly prepare a memorable surprise! 
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To perform the show intergenerationally:

• Ask church choir members (adults and/or children) to fill the role of carolers.
• Cast two kids, ages 10-14, to play the leads.
• Recruit adults (who probably know a thing or two about frustrating travel) to play fellow travelers.

*Translating Knowledge: Promoting Health Through Intergenerational Community Arts Programming
Sharon Anderson, MSc, MEd [email protected], Janet Fast, PhD, […], and David Barnet, BAHons, March 1, 2016
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1524839915625037
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​Want to produce a children’s musical but don’t have enough kids? Why not pull in a few adults and create an intergenerational production? 
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​THEATER CAMP FOR ELEMENTARY THROUGH COLLEGE

 This past July, I had the opportunity to attend a production of our newest show, Shhh! at the Sugar Cube Café, performed by the New Wilmington Theater Project, a summer collaboration between Westminster College and the New Wilmington School District. Being a new program, the numbers were small, but the college students stepped in to help these kids put on a heartwarming production.  The campers (and one high schooler) played the parts of child characters and street musicians. College students took on the role of grumpy business owners, joined in the ensemble songs, changed sets, and generally guided their young cast.  The result of this multi-age partnership was a sweet outdoor performance on a beautiful summer evening. 
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVS0dWLEVwI&t=403s) 

Said Tara Hackwelder, their director, “It was such a fun, delightful, and entertaining show, and our audience loved it! Most importantly, our cast members loved it!” 

It would have been difficult for these young actors to perform a 60-minute show had it not been for their college assistants.  Likewise, the college students gained valuable experience and directorial skill.   

Adult actors of any age can bring a new dimension to your production. Benefits of multi-age musical collaborations for kids:

• Build nurturing relationships 
• Gain empathy and understanding 
• Learn skills and receive positive feedback

The takeaway:  Don’t rule out a children’s production because you don’t have many children.   Create a positive experience for kids with a few willing adults and everybody wins!

 The Power of Emojis 

Emojis can be exceptionally useful in rehearsals with young actors. Download the attached poster and use it to:

• Find out how your kids are feeling before rehearsal starts.  Ask each one which number is most like how they currently feel.  If everyone is a number 2, you know you've got to start with an energizer!
• Identify particular emotions.  Describe each numbered in emoji in words.  
• Practice facial expressions.  Call out numbers and ask students to mimic the corresponding expressions.
• Practice body language.  How would number 4 look, not just with facial expressions, but with body language as well?
• Ask one student to mimic an emoji on the chart.  Can the rest of the cast guess which number emoji is being acted out?
• Discuss how your character may be feeling in a particular scene.  Is it one of the numbered emojis? A combination of numbers? What would that emoji look like? Look for a more accurate emoji online or create your own.

As students get comfortable with emojis 1-10, make your own poster of new emojis numbered 11 - 20 for more challenging emotions.