Serendipity for Schools

Serendipity for Schools

"Serendipity" means finding valuable or agreeable things not sought, and the ACO offers the chance to experience it firsthand. Each season we choose several unique performances we believe will enhance our audiences' creative experiences.

Our 2007-2008 Serendipity for Schools Series lineup includes:

TAMING OF THE SHREW

SEPTEMBER 14, 9:00 a.m. or 12:00 p.m.

The lovely Bianca has no shortage of would-be suitors, but her father forbids any of them to come calling until her older sister, Katherine, is happily wed. Katherine, however, wants no part of marital bliss and would much prefer to stay blissfully single. Bianca’s suitors devise a failsafe plan to get Kate the Shrew out of their way; enter Petruchio, and the battle begins. Don’t miss this classic tale from the master of mishaps himself! Shakespeare’s battle of the sexes promises a fun-filled frolic of prolific proportions in Taming of the Shrew!

APPROPRIATE FOR 5th-12th grade

CINDERELLA & THE CHINESE SLIPPER

SEPTEMBER 28, 9:00 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m.

From the Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre comes the exotic, mysteriously beautiful tale of Cinderella and the Chinese Slipper. Based on the Mongolian version of the often-told tale, this story will come to life for the audience through giant, ten foot tall puppets. Complete with dancing, singing, and special effects, the audience will enjoy the colorful characters, and learn the common Cinderella theme—that kindness is its own reward.

APPROPRIATE FOR K-4th grade

Click here for the study guide

SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN

OCTOBER 26, 9:30 a.m.

It’s 1938 and you are cordially invited to the Mount Pleasant Church “first ever Saturday Night Sing.” The Reverend Oglethorpe is determined to light a fire under his flock by having the Sanders Family Singers join him with their inspired brand of singin’ and witnessin’. So pull up a pew and get ready for some foot stomping, hand clapping, and belly laughing as the Sanders Family shares their joyous blend of (more or less) devout story-telling and singing. In Smoke on the Mountain, the music is surpassed only by the side-splitting hilarity of the characters.

APPROPRIATE FOR 8th-12th grade only

Click Here For Study Guide

ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP

NOVEMBER 1 & 2, 9:00 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m.

Catch a carpet and fly with us to the magnificent, mystical world of hot desert days and cool Arabian nights. This is the classic story of Aladdin the street urchin finding a magical lamp and unleashing its power. Beautifully enchanting with just the right touch of comedy, Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp is sure to be a splendid afternoon of theatre.

APPROPRIATE FOR 1st-6th grade

Click Here For Study Guide

BACH TO THE FUTURE IN CONCERT

NOVEMBER 9, 9:00 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m.

Touted as “The Bach that rocks,” Bach to the Future is an exciting classical/jazz quartet that takes the master’s melodies and transforms them into the music of the future. Using brilliant, original arrangements of recognizable classics, the group plays cutting edge instruments like the Drumitar, the MIDI electric violin, the Violectra, and the Keytar synthesizer to help audiences experience a whole new look at Bach.

APPROPRIATE FOR 5th-12th grade

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER

DECEMBER 3, 4, 5 9:00 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m. daily

What do you get when you put together Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus plus a few million baby angels, shepherds, wisemen, and the notorious Herdman family? The Best Christmas Pageant Ever of course! Now in its 10th consecutive year, you won’t want to miss the mayhem and the fun! Fifty area actors of all ages make this an ACO holiday classic for the whole family

offering a refreshing look at this season of joy.

APPROPRIATE FOR 2nd-7th grade

WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION

FEBRUARY 8, 9:30 a.m.

Agatha Christie, the undisputed mistress of mystery, is at her best in the classic Witness for the Prosecution. She creates a mesmerizing, tangled tale of a criminal lawyer with a complicated case. His client is on trial for murder; and the wife of the accused is set to be the star witness in his defense. When she suddenly appears on the docket for the prosecution, the lawyer’s abilities are tested to the limit. Twists and turns in the plot will keep you questioning everyone’s guilt or innocence until the last piece of the puzzle is in place.

APPROPRIATE FOR 7th-12th grade

S, MY NAME IS SARAH...TRAVELS IN GRANNY’S TIME MACHINE

FEBRUARY 13, 9:00 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m.

This one-Granny show by area actor/writer/historian, Paula Thompson, was created especially for the ACO. Paula’s motto is “You can’t hurt history by having fun with it!” Granny Breeze gallivants through time, talking with today’s young’uns about what it was like around here in the old days when she first arrived in a mule-drawn wagon.

APPROPRIATE FOR 2nd-5th grade

Click here for the study guide

**Granny is also available in the Northwest Arkansas area for intimate on-site appearances in your classroom or cafetorium for grades 2nd-5th. Contact Granny at grannybreeze@yahoo.com for details.

PINOCCHIO

FEBRUARY 27, 9:00 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m.

From the Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts comes this delightful first experience in opera. Pinocchio will feature the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, performed by a cast of outstanding young professional singers. This well-known tale of the wooden puppet who just wants to be a real boy is full of action, adventure, magic, and color, presented in the unique format of opera.

APPROPRIATE FOR 2nd-4th grade.

NOAH AND THE GREAT AUK

MARCH 6 & 7, 9:00 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:45 a.m.

Set sail on Noah’s Ark for this Child’s Play Series Production about a mother auk and her precious little egg she is protecting during the famous forty days and nights of rain. This fun and educational story focuses on 5 humorous animals located on the upper deck of the ship, and how they have to learn to live peacefully with one another and with the humans.

APPROPRIATE FOR 1st-6th grade.

El Conejito Verde

APRIL 25, 9:00 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m.

The fun of folktales from Mexico will be center stage when the Teatro de la Rosa performs for families. Founded in 2000 as Fort Worth’s only Hispanic theatre, this energetic troupe has already won numerous local and national awards for children’s theatre. Using hand-crafted masks, live music, and lots of audience participation, they will tell the tale of El Conejito Verde (the Green Rabbit). Fully bi-lingual, the story is about a mischievous prince who learns the true meaning of love and loyalty after being transformed into a rabbit. A delightful way to help build cultural and language bridges within the school community.

APPROPRIATE FOR K-4th grade

ACO YOUTH CHOIRS IN CONCERT

MAY 2 , 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m.

The ACO Youth Choirs in concert will showcase the remarkable musical talents of area youth. A terrific ensemble of students ages 8-14 will sing in two choirs and in small ensembles and solos for their peers. This spring concert will feature a variety of musical works, both fun and serious, from a variety of composers.

APPROPRIATE for 2nd-7th grade

Please note:

Reservations must be made in advance by calling Bonnie at the ACO office at (479) 751-5441
Please notify the office when reserving seats if wheelchair access or other special needs are required.
All performance events will cost $1 per person, you must reserve for every child, parent or bus driver who is staying to see the show, payable at the door. Invoices can be sent if requested in advance. We must receive payment in entirety on the day of the performance. A check may be sent in advance, but we only invoice upon request. For groups under 10 people, payment must be sent in advance by check or credit card.
Targeted grade levels are indicated, but schools may choose to send alternate grades.
Group rates for public performances are also available for school groups. Ask the box office for information.
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before performance time. This year shows are at 9:00, 10:45 & 12:45. Or if it is a single performance it will begin at 9:30 am. Most shows last 1 hour and then we have to empty the theatre of the students. If you are here more than 15 minutes early this will cause a back up and congestion in the gallery of students trying to leave and arrive at the same time. Please be here no more than 15 minutes early. If you anticipate being late please call the ACO at 751-5441. We can not hold a show for late arrivals, but we can sit the late comers in the back of the theatre if we know that you are late.
Cancellations must be received no later than three weeks prior to a performance, or the seats are considered payable. To keep our prices low, we MUST SELL EVERY SEAT. Last minute cancellations cost the ACO.
Tickets may be purchased at the door the day of the performance if seats are available. We cannot guarantee seats.
The ACO is completely handicapped accessible: and we have hearing devices available upon request. PLEASE MARK YOUR ORDER FORM IF SPECIAL NEEDS ARE REQUIRED. OUR WHEELCHAIR SEATS ARE LOCATED ON THE FRONT ROW ONLY. IF YOU DON'T TELL US YOU HAVE A WHEELCHAIR, THE STUDENT MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SIT WITH THE REST OF THEIR CLASS.
Please remind your students to promote courteous behavior that shows respect for the artists, the audience, and the facility. Remind the students NOT to touch the art work in the galleries. No food, drink, or gum allowed in the theatre.

For more information, call the ACO at (479) 751-5441 or email the ACO

2007-2008 Serendipity for Schools Sponsors