David Hohn Illustration TOURING PRODUCTION ACTIVITY GUIDE

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1 David Hohn Illustration TOURING PRODUCTION ACTIVITY GUIDE

2 ABOUT THIS GUIDE Welcome to the Arkansas Arts Center Children s Theatre on Tour Activity Guide for Snow White. This activity guide is designed for you our audience! It includes exercises that are designed for both families and classrooms. On the following pages, you will find information about the production as well as engaging activities that reinforce themes of the play. Because we are committed to providing educational opportunities to our visitors, all activities align with current Arkansas Department of Education Curriculum Frameworks and Arkansas State Standards. In general, activities in this guide address standards for Kindergarten 5th Grade. The frameworks and standards are listed beneath the activity, but the following icons provide an immediate recognition of the curriculum connections: English Language Arts Foreign Languages Library Media Math Music Physical Education & Health Science Social Studies Theatre Visual Arts NOTE: Art is an ongoing process. Scripts are used as a road map, but the final destination may change based on a variety of factors. Because the activity guides are based on the scripts, please note that the content of the educational materials may vary from the final version of the play. Content is the intellectual property of the Arkansas Arts Center.

White as snow. Red as blood. Black as starless night. ABOUT THE PLAY The wicked queen is the most beautiful lady in the land, and she has the word of a magic mirror to prove it.

3 White as snow. Red as blood. Black as starless night. ABOUT THE PLAY The wicked queen is the most beautiful lady in the land, and she has the word of a magic mirror to prove it. Obsessed with her beauty, the queen s vanity grows until one day the mirror names someone else the fairest in the land. Snow White! The queen s own step daughter! The queen vows to destroy the innocent princess but the light of a pure heart is not easily extinguished. By the power of her inner beauty Snow White is able to escape the schemes of the wicked queen and begin her path to happy ever after. ABOUT THE ORIGINAL STORY The exact origins of Snow White are unknown, but it was one of the many tales published by the Brothers Grimm in their 1812 collection of fairy tales. The tale was first titled Sneewittchen, but then translated to Schneewißchen. Many believe that the character Snow White was based on the life of Margaretha von Waldeck, a German countess born to King Philip IV in At 16 years old, Margaretha was forced by her stepmother to move to Brussels. She fell in love with a prince who later became King Philip II of Spain, but her parents disapproved of the match. When she died at the young age of 21, many believed she had been poisoned. Snow White is also compared to the Roman legend of Chione from Ovid s Metamorphoses. Chione (which translates to snow in Greek) was described as the most beautiful woman in the land, so beautiful that both gods Apollo and Mercury fell in love with her. Like Snow White, her beauty resulted in great danger. PLAY SYNOPSIS The character Seven (who represents all of the dwarves) explains that each of the diamonds they unearth has the ability to harness magic and each has a story of its own. He begins the tale of a special pendant which was made at the bidding of a king on the occasion of his daughter s birth. His wife died soon after and, overcome with grief, he hid the magical amulet. The king eventually remarried, but the beautiful new queen preferred the company of her own reflection and talked to her mirror rather than her stepdaughter. As the young princess Snow White grew older, so grew her beauty. One day, the king heard his dead wife s laughter in the castle. Though hoping by some miracle to see her again, he instead saw his daughter whose hair black as starless night, lips red as blood, and a heart as pure as the whitest snow, reminded him of the girl s mother. At once, the king sent for the amulet and placed it on his daughter s neck. Seven notes that the story of the amulet and that of Snow White were at this point forever combined and the story shifts into the present... Snow White dances with her friend Geoffrey. They are scolded by the queen who then spots the diamonds around Snow White s neck. She demands the amulet, but Snow White says her father gave it to her because it was made for the most beautiful woman in all the land. The jealous queen rips the jewelry from her stepdaughter s neck. When Geoffrey later returns to the castle, the queen intercepts him and imprisons him in her mirror. The mirror can at last tell her who is the most beautiful, but she is dismayed to learn that it is her own stepdaughter. The angry queen tells Snow White that Geoffrey was attacked on his way to the castle. Though tears stream down her face, both Snow White s beauty and the mirror s answer are unchanged. As the months pass, the queen grows more and more desperate until she commands Geoffrey to kill the princess. He leads Snow White into the woods, but cannot bring himself to fulfill the queen s wishes. Snow White runs through the forest until she happens upon the home of the dwarves. Because he cannot lie to the queen, Geoffrey reveals that Snow White is still alive. The queen visits the dwarves cottage and attempts to poison her stepdaughter first with a ribbon and then a comb. Finally, she attempts to poison Snow White with an apple. Thinking Snow White is dying, the queen gloats that Geoffrey has been alive all along and is imprisoned in her mirror. The dwarves arrive just in time to save the princess and they set off for the castle. Together, they trick the queen into destroying the amulet, the mirror, and herself.

4 STATEMENT FROM THE AAC CHILDREN S THEATRE Snow White is a timeless and iconic story, which is why turning it into a play can be very challenging. Everybody has their own ideas about how the play should look and feel. When you read Snow White, or any story for that matter, what do you see? When reading, do you picture colors, places, people and how they look? We all do this and that s part of what makes reading a good story magical! I was tasked with designing the set for Snow White a task that was difficult but also a lot of fun! When you design a set for a play,the first thing you do is, of course, read the play. Then you read it again and again and again. It sounds silly, but you really have to experience the words several times to be able to live in the moments of the story. Each time you visit the play, it s fun to ask yourself several questions: What does the inside of the castle look like? How about the dwarves home? The woods? Also, if you could touch the walls of the castle, how would they feel? Do the walls have a texture, like stone? In the process of designing Snow White, I experienced the play many times with these, and more, questions in mind. Then, I started to sketch with pencil and paper what I saw as I read. You should try this too. It s quite fun! You read a story and sketch out pictures of what you saw in your mind. There are no rules in this section of the process it s all about imagination. The next step was to think about colors. I was very attracted to Earth tones and stone. But at the same time, since the dwarves are miners of gems (and represent light in Snow White s life), I gave a great deal of consideration to vibrant gem-like colors that are perhaps muted by the Earth, as if they were partially buried and waiting to be found (as Snow White found the dwarves). I believe you will see my thought process when your see the set for yourself. Eventually, these thoughts and sketches turn into scale drawings and even a small model version of what will become the set. Professional carpenters, painters and lighting designers then work together to create the finished product, which you will see when we visit. It might be fun to have your own thoughts about the story before you witness the play. Which colors do you see? What about textures and shapes? What would YOU have done differently? You may not have the opportunity to create a life size version for yourself, but I highly encourage you to give this process a try. John Isner, Director and Set Designer BEFORE THE PLAY PREPARE FOR YOUR ROLE Please turn off your cell phones so you can look at all the little things that make live theatre a great big experience. Also, bright screens in a dark theater can distract actors and other audience members. Save all food, gum, candy, and drinks for after the performance. They are not allowed in the theater and can be used as a reward for good behavior! Sit like a grown up in your seat. That way you won t miss a thing! Great theatre audiences listen, laugh when something is funny, and clap at just the right time. They never talk out loud during a performance unless the performers ask them to. Keep your cameras tucked away and turned off. Photography is not allowed. Camera flashes blind the actors and can cause them to step off the stage. When the play is over, enjoy talking with your friends and grownups about all the details. See who can remember the most about the play. What were your favorite parts? Which characters did you like the most? Parents: What a great time to have a conversation about the difference between theatre, movies, and TV!

5 READ THE ORIGINAL STORY In order to prepare for the play, read the original tale of Snow White as recorded by the Grimm brothers. (Please note that the original story includes violent imagery that may not be suitable for all audiences.) After reading the story, consider these questions: What types of language were used? How did the style of writing contribute to the story? How were the characters described? What actions took place? What was the lesson of the story? CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Library Media Personal Growth: Read, Connect, Respond, Reflect; English Language Arts Reading, Literature: Key Ideas and Details, Integration of Knowledge and Ideas, Craft and Structure ABOUT ADAPTATIONS An adaptation is a change made to something so it can fit a new use or situation. This performance of Snow White is an adaptation a fairy tale (which is usually meant to be read or heard) into a play (which is meant to be performed and viewed). Keith Smith is the playwright which means he transformed the original story into a play which is now performed by the AAC Children s Theatre on Tour. Consider these questions for discussion before you attend the play: What kinds of things might a playwright have to consider when writing a script? How might the script for a live stage performance be different than a written story? Describe the characters in the story. What might the characters look like on stage? Draw a picture of your favorite character. What are some objects they might use to help tell the story? Draw a picture of one of the scenes in the original story and imagine how it might appear on stage. If you were to write an adaptation of this story into a play, what choices would you make? CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Library Media Personal Growth: Connect, Respond; Theatre Creating, Evaluating, Responding LEARN THE VOCABULARY Below is a list of words included in the play. Reviewing this list will help you gain new vocabulary and also help you better understand the performance. Try saying these words out loud so you will know them when you hear the actors say them. The emphasis should be placed on the part of the word in UPPERCASE letters. Once you know how to say the words, read the definition and try using the words in a sentence or conversation. Amulet (AM-yuh-lut) a small object worn as a charm against evil Anguish (AYN-gwish) extreme pain or distress of body or mind Dagger (DAG-ur) a short weapon for stabbing Imitation (im-uh-tay-shun) to mimic or mock; to be or appear similar to Maiden (MAYD-un) a young unmarried girl or woman Obey (oh-bay) to follow the commands or guidance of; to be obedient Pendant (PEN-dunt) something that hangs down especially as an ornament Talisman (TAL-uh-smun) a ring or stone carved with symbols and believed to have magical powers; charm Token (TOH-kun) something (as an act, gesture, or object) that serves as a sign or symbol Vanity (VAN-uht-ee) the quality or fact of being proud of one s looks or abilities CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: English Language Arts Reading, Foundational Skills: Phonological Awareness, Phonics and Word Recognition; Language: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

DURING THE PLAY It wouldn t be a play without you! Your part is to pretend that the play is real. Part of this includes accepting certain things: YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY! 1.

An actor may play several characters by changing their voice, costume, or posture. 5.

HERE S HOW TO PLAY YOUR PART: A play is different than television or a movie. The actors are right in front of you and can see your reactions, feel your attention, and hear your laughter and applause.

6 DURING THE PLAY It wouldn t be a play without you! Your part is to pretend that the play is real. Part of this includes accepting certain things: YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY! 1. Actors tell the story with words (dialogue), actions (blocking), and songs. 2. Actors may sing songs that tell about the story or their feelings. 3. Actors may speak to the audience. 4. An actor may play several characters by changing their voice, costume, or posture. 5. Locations may be suggested by painted panels or sculptural scenic elements on the stage or by props (smaller hand-held items). HERE S HOW TO PLAY YOUR PART: A play is different than television or a movie. The actors are right in front of you and can see your reactions, feel your attention, and hear your laughter and applause. Watch and listen carefully to understand the story. The story is told by the actors and comes to life through your imagination! LET S REVIEW! Thank you for being a great part of our audience and enjoy the show! AFTER THE PLAY Do you remember what you learned about adaptations? Now that you have seen the play, discuss these questions. Share your answers with friends or family who also saw the play and compare your experiences. In what ways was the play different than the original story? Why do you think these changes were made? Describe changes made to the characters in the story. What kinds of things might the costume designers and actors need to consider when bringing a character from a story to life on stage? Describe the set. Did it match the picture you drew before the play? What kinds of things might the set designers need to consider when bringing the story from page to stage? Describe the music. In what ways did the music help tell the story on stage? CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Library Media Personal Growth: Connect, Respond; Theatre Responding; Connecting CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS Read the following questions and either write your answers or tell someone in complete sentences. Make sure to use correct grammar and spelling. Why was the queen so mean to Snow White? How did the queen know that Geoffrey was coming to the castle? How do the dwarves know Snow White has been poisoned? How did Geoffrey and Snow White trick the evil queen? How was the ending of this play different than other versions of Snow White? CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: English Language Arts Writing: Text Type and Purposes; Speaking & Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration, Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas; Language: Conventions of Standard English

WRITING EXERCISE Write a brief answer to the following questions. Make sure to write in complete sentences and use correct grammar, spelling, and organization.

7 WRITING EXERCISE Write a brief answer to the following questions. Make sure to write in complete sentences and use correct grammar, spelling, and organization. Have you ever been jealous of someone for something they had? Who were you jealous of? What did they have that you wanted? Why did you want the thing they had? How did your jealousy affect the way you treated them? Have you ever tried to take something away from someone? Why? CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: English Language Arts Writing: Text Types and Purposes; Language: Conventions of Standard English FAIREST OF THEM ALL ACTIVITIES Mirror, mirror on the wall, whose is the fairest face of all? It s YOURS of course! Try drawing a mirror image of yourself, but remember: your mirror image is a reverse of how your face appears to others or in a photograph. To help you achieve the correct placement of your facial features, try looking in a mirror and drawing what you see. CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Visual Arts Creating

8 PAINTED POISON The evil queen, driven by her jealousy, repeatedly attempts to get rid of Snow White. In this activity, you will use logic and skill to solve mathematical problems and uncover the queen s next deadly design. Solve each addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problem. Use the answer to the problem to determine which color to use. Example: If the answer to the problem is 9, color that circle RED x x x x x x2 9x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Mathematics Operations & Algebraic Thinking

9 MAGICAL GEMS Snow White s story is intertwined (that is, connected) with the amulet made from the dwarves diamonds. In this activity, you will learn more about gemstones and have an opportunity to design your very own piece of magical jewelry. More than 4,000 naturally occurring minerals have been found on Earth! Minerals are typically formed when molten rock (or magma) cools, or by separating out mineral-rich water such as that in underground caverns. Many minerals form beautiful crystals, but the most prized of all are gemstones. Uncut gems often look fairly ordinary like rocks. It s only when they are cut and polished that they obtain the brilliance and luster that gives them their value. Cut diamonds, such as those in Snow White s amulet, would be valued based on the 4C s: carat, color, clarity, and cut. Pricing for colorless diamonds is fairly straightforward, but colored diamonds (like Snow White s red and black diamonds) can be worth significantly more! Did you know that damonds are mined all over the world? Russia is home to half of the world s biggest diamond mines, while Botswana has two including the world s largest diamond producing mine in Orapa. You can even search for diamonds in Arkansas at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro! Refer to some of the examples of gemstone cuts below. Then, use your imagination to create your own necklace, bracelet, ring, etc. And don t forget to think about your jewelry s magical powers! CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Visual Arts Creating; Science Earth and Space Science: Earth s Systems Processes That Shape the Earth; Social Studies Geography: Resources and Movement

It s a revolutionary recipe: an infectious new genre of poetry and a lovably modern take on classic stories. First, read the poems forward (how old-fashioned!).

You probably know her parents, Snow and Prince. Yup that Snow and Prince.

Is being the fairest in all of the land really going to give Rosie her happily-ever-after?

He finds the perfect opportunity when a princess lands in front of him, apparently from the land of Punk, as her Punk Princess t-shirt implies.

10 IF YOU ENJOYED THIS, YOU SHOULD READ... Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reverso Poems by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Josee Masse (Ages 6-9) What s brewing when two favorites poetry and fairy tales are turned (literally) on their heads? It s a revolutionary recipe: an infectious new genre of poetry and a lovably modern take on classic stories. First, read the poems forward (how old-fashioned!). Then, reverse the lines and read again to give familiar tales a delicious new spin. Charmed, I m Sure by Sarah Darer Littman (Ages 8-12) Meet Rosie White Charming. You probably know her parents, Snow and Prince. Yup that Snow and Prince. You would think that being the only daughter of two of the most famous people in fairy tale history would be awesome, but you would be wrong. Is being the fairest in all of the land really going to give Rosie her happily-ever-after? Half Upon a Time by James Riley (Ages 8-12) Jack, son of the infamous Jack who stole the magic beans from the giant, is working hard to restore his family s reputation. He finds the perfect opportunity when a princess lands in front of him, apparently from the land of Punk, as her Punk Princess t-shirt implies. May is from our world, and she s utterly confused to find herself in the midst of fairy tale characters. But Jack and May have more in common that they realize and together, they embark on a hilarious and wild adventure. The Magic Mirror: Concerning a Lonely Princess, a Foundling Girl, a Scheming King and a Pickpocket Squirrel by Susan Hill Long (Ages 8-12) A foundling girl with a crooked leg and a crutch doesn t expect life to be easy. Indeed, Maggie s dearest wish is to simply not feel so alone. So when she spies a man behind bars in a magic mirror said to show one s truest desire, she feels sure he is the father she s always longed for and sets off on a quest to find him. Snow in Summer by Jane Yolen (Ages 10+) Summer s life in the mountains of West Virginia feels like a fairy tale her parents dote on her and she s about to get a new baby brother. But when the baby dies soon after he s born, taking their mother with him, Summer s life turns grim. Things get even worse when her father marries a woman who brings poisons and magical mirrors into Summer s world. Stepmama puts up a pretty face and Summer s father is under her spell, but Summer suspects she s up to no good and is afraid she is powerless to stop her. Visit your local library for more suggestions! CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Library Media Personal Growth: Read

IT TAKES A TEAM TO CREATE MAGIC ON THE STAGE! Did you know that the play you saw was the result of many people working together?

Below is a list of some of these roles: The DIRECTOR is the person responsible for the overall artistic vision of a production.

The COSTUME DESIGNER is the person in charge of the clothing worn by the actors in a performance.

11 IT TAKES A TEAM TO CREATE MAGIC ON THE STAGE! Did you know that the play you saw was the result of many people working together? There are many roles in the theatre department and each of the people in charge of these tasks must do their very best as a team member in order to produce a great performance. Below is a list of some of these roles: The DIRECTOR is the person responsible for the overall artistic vision of a production. The SET DESIGNER is the person responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of the stage setting. The COSTUME DESIGNER is the person in charge of the clothing worn by the actors in a performance. The TECHNICAL DIRECTOR is the person in charge of the technical requirements of a production as well as the equipment. The STAGE MANAGER is the person responsible for overseeing all the backstage elements of a production (scheduling, rehearsals, etc.) The ACTOR is the one who performs a role or represents a character in a play. The CHOREOGRAPHER is the person who designs the dance steps to be used in a play. The MUSIC DIRECTOR is the person responsible for the musical content of a production. Want to learn how to be a part of the play? Ask us about theatre camps, classes, and audition opportunities! CONTACT US ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER CHILDREN S THEATRE P.O. BOX 2137 LITTLE ROCK, AR Visit our website to enroll in children s camps and classes, learn about upcoming programs, read about the exhibitions and artworks in our galleries, view the entire Children s Theatre season, and more! SPONSORS Diane Suitt Gilleland U.S. Bank Foundation Additional support provided by The Shubert Foundation Arkansas Arts Center programs are supported in part by: the City of Little Rock; the City of North Little Rock; the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau; and the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Lesson Objectives. Core Content Objectives. Language Arts Objectives

Lesson Objectives. Core Content Objectives. Language Arts Objectives Lesson Objectives Snow White and the 8 Seven Dwarfs Core Content Objectives Students will: Describe the characters, setting, and plot in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Demonstrate familiarity with the