School Programming Continues with Campfire Stories from the New World
SCOLDWATER – Tibbits’ school programming continues with Young Michigan Dances’ “Campfire Stories from the New World” on April 10, exposing students to an exciting melding of theatre, dance, and children’s literature.
In this original script by Charles Burr, a variety of stories are told: adventures, romances, funny stories, and a biographical sketch bordering on a tall tale. The common link: All of the stories have roots in the Americas. This cornucopia of tales will include such stories as “The Bee and the Aysa” from the Hopi Nation, the African American tale “Brer Terrapin’s Tug of War”, the Inca story “The Lake at the End of the World”, “The Butterfly Man” from the Tolowa Tribe, the story of Johnny Appleseed by early American settlers, and “The Princess and the Mountain Dweller” from people of the northwest coast.
ASAMA Coldwater Manufacturing has teamed with Tibbits to help the theatre present the school programming series. In addition to Young Michigan Dances’ “Campfire Stories from the New World,” Michigan Shakespeare Festival presents “Romeo and Juliet” on May 7, and Wild Swan Theatre will conclude the series with their presentation of “Jack and the Beanstalk” on May 8 and 9. Other school programming presentations this year included “ArtReach”, “JazzReach”, and “Reg Pettibone’s Authentic Native American Program” for area students. The program is also funded in part by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Michigan Humanities Council.
Targeted primarily to middle school audiences, “Campfire Stories from the New World” will be presented for two performances on April 10 at 9:30am and 12:45pm. Schools participating include Lakeland Elementary and St. Charles Borromeo School from Coldwater, St. Mary’s from Bronson, Jefferson Elementary from Quincy, East Leroy Elementary from East Leroy, and various homeschool groups. While the 12:45pm performance is already sold out, other groups, schools and individuals with children are encouraged to make reservations for the 9:30am show. The cost is $2 per person. This production will also be presented at the Franke Center in Marshall April 16, 17, 18.
For more information go online to Tibbits.org. To make reservations for any of the Tibbits school performances for your school or homeschool group, please call 517.278.6029. Arrangements should be made in advance as some performances sell out. All performances will be held at the historic Tibbits Opera House at 14 S. Hanchett St. in Coldwater, MI.
