The Literacy Program
Literacy Program Shows
Bringing books to life through live theatre for schools and libraries
The Magic Carpet Show
Inspiring Young Readers
""Your creativity is unrivaled in student assemblies. I am amazed at the enthusiasm for reading that you create in our students, both lower and upper grades."
The Magic Carpet Show is fast-paced with lots of humor and audience participation. Children engage by role-playing and creating sound effects. Children are inspired to read as they experience great literature come to life. Live theatre provokes the imagination, a key ingredient to being a good reader.
The focus of the Magic Carpet Show and Workshop is to encourage children to use their imaginations so they will become better readers.
These Stories come to life in the Magic Carpet Performance
Pierre — A Cautionary Tale
"There once was a boy named Pierre / who only would say, 'I don't care.'" In the follow-up workshop, the whole class acts out this story together.
The Fisherman & His Wife
A tale of greed told by the Brothers Grimm; the audience creates the brewing storm.
Where The Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak's American classic of a boy's journey into his imagination.
The Sneetches
Dr. Seuss' zany story-in-verse illustrates the absurdity of prejudice and discrimination. Role playing by the students brings the message home.
Magic Carpet Workshops
The workshops are designed to promote reading and unlock the imagination, a key to the reading process. Once a student outgrows picture books, they need to be able to make pictures in their minds to comprehend what they are reading. We use discussion, dramatic play, and imagery to help students tap into the precious resource of their own imaginations.
The Bridge Show
Building Bridges for Young Writers
"This is the finest representation of literature that I have ever seen."
What Do Students Experience In The Bridge Performance?
Students experience superb literature brought to life in a creative and vibrant way. Audiences joyfully participate by role playing and making rhythms. These elements of good writing are defined and explored — plot, theme, character, and language.
Horton Hears a Who
The audience becomes 'Whoville' as students join us in presenting this Dr. Seuss classic that encourages respect for all and serves as an example for character.
The Ogre with the Three Golden Hairs
A little known gem of a tale from the Brothers Grimm; used to analyze plot in the workshop.
Love You Forever
A moving contemporary piece by Robert Munsch, about love being passed on; used to discuss theme in the workshop.
Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
A folktale originating in Kenya, interpreted as a rain dance, with the children supplying the rhythm and rainstorm. Written by Michigan author Verna Aardema; used to explore language.
The Bridge Workshops
The workshops are designed to take the mystery and guesswork out of writing fiction. Using a simple diagram, we show your children how to build a great story in easy-to-understand terms. Then we apply what we've learned: the children actually create a story during the workshop. In conjunction with this, we utilize two imagination exercises, designed to both activate the children's imaginations and to illustrate how to create real and rich characters in the children's own stories. The ink flows!
Show Pricing
Show Pricing
Pricing applies to both the Magic Carpet Show and the Bridge Show.
Book a Literacy Program Performance
Perfect for school assemblies, libraries, and literacy events.