Inside this guide: Questions? Field Trip Info. Learn more at octc.org/schoolservices Call:

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1 AWARD-WINNING THEATER Teacher Resource Guide Apr 5 29, 2016 Inside this guide: About: The Show, Author and Playwright The Big Ideas, Questions for Discussion... 4 Activity: Compare and Contrast: A Sneak Peek at the Script!... 5 Using a sample of the script, introduce your students to adaptations, writing for the stage, and comparing two different styles of writing. See how author Kate DiCamillo s rich description translates into lyrical storytelling for the stage. WINNINGSTAD THEATRE Activity: The Miraculous Timeline of Edward Tulane.. 17 Students work in small groups to contribute to an illustrated class timeline of Edward s journey over the years. Online Resources Reflection: After the Play Field Trip Info Length: 70 minutes Teacher Preview: Friday, April 1 Sign Interpreted Performance: Thursday, April 14, 11:45 a.m. Questions? Learn more at octc.org/schoolservices teachers@octc.org Call: Follow us on Facebook! Oregon Children s Theatre posts videos, behind-the-scenes photos, and other great multimedia connected to your field trip.

2 Teacher Resource Guide About The Characters The actors in the script adaptation of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane change characters frequently and fluidly over the course of Edward s twenty-year journey. The Traveler. The storyteller. Also portrays Pellegrina, Society Lady, Martin, Lolly, Jack, the Watchman, the Old Lady, Marlene, Lucius Clarke. The Woman. Abilene, Nellie, Lucy the dog, various other hobos, Sarah Ruth, Neal, Doll, the Old Doll, the Shopper. The Musician is the voice of Edward s thoughts and emotions. The Man. Abilene s Father, Amos, Lawrence, Bull, various hobos, Bryce. Note: in OCT s production, the Man s roles are divided between two actors. About Edward Tulane Edward Tulane is not a puppet, per se he is not manipulated onstage to imply that he can move on his own. After seeing the play, ask students if they can guess how Edward is able to have his costumes change so quickly over the course of his journey. The Show The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane begins in a house on Egypt Street in the mid-1920s. There, a young girl named Abilene Tulane receives a large china rabbit from her grandmother, Pellegrina, on her birthday. The rabbit is exceptionally well made and handsome, with ears and a tail made of real fur and an entire wardrobe of dapper outfits. Abilene loves the rabbit very much and names him Edward. Edward, however, cares for no one but himself and doesn t respond to Abilene s declarations of love. He passes the days thinking of his magnificent appearance and little else. Years go by, and Edward s life of comfort stays the same. One day, Abilene, Edward and the Tulane family embark on a trip to England aboard a ship. Many of the passengers admire Edward, but when two young boys spot the china rabbit, they snatch him away and throw him around which eventually sends Edward overboard. Edward sinks to the bottom of the ocean, where he stays, alone with his thoughts, for quite some time. A great storm brings Edward back to the surface, where he gets caught in a fisherman s net. The fisherman, Lawrence, decides to bring Edward back to shore as a gift for his wife, Nellie. Just as Edward settles in to his new life, however, Lawrence and Nellie s arrogant adult daughter, Lolly, steals him, takes him to the town dump and throws him on the trash heap. Edward is, once again, left alone. After 180 days at the dump, a dog named Lucy digs Edward out of the garbage pile. Lucy s owner, a hobo named Bull, calls the china rabbit Malone, and for seven happy years the threesome travels the open roads. But one night, a train watchman catches them hitching a ride and throws Edward from the boxcar. An old woman picks up Edward by the train tracks and uses him as a scarecrow in her garden. All the crows frighten Edward, so he feels fortunate when a young 2

3 Teacher Resource Guide About cont. boy named Bryce rescues him. Bryce and his sister, Sarah Ruth, are very poor and live in a shack with their cruel father. Sarah Ruth loves Edward deeply, but she is extremely ill and even the joy that the china rabbit brings her can t cure the sickness. After she dies, both Edward and Bryce are heartbroken. Bryce, with only Edward and a few other belongings in tow, heads to Memphis to escape both his pain and his father. Soon after arriving in Memphis, Bryce runs into some trouble when he can t pay for his meal at a local diner. Neal, the owner, is furious and crushes Edward s head on the counter. The china rabbit, who has been able to weather so much, is finally destroyed. Edward awakens in the shop of doll mender Lucius Clarke; the impact broke Edward s head into 21 pieces, but Lucius, who s very skilled, found a way to repair the china rabbit. Lucius places Edward on a shelf in the shop, hoping to sell him. But Edward, heartbroken over all the loss he s faced, doesn t know if he s strong enough to love or be loved ever again. Then one day, after Edward has sat on the shelf of Lucius shop for years, a woman walks through the door, looking to buy a doll for her daughter. Edward recognizes her: it s Abilene, now all grown up. She recognizes Edward, too, and is overjoyed. And so, after many years, Edward finally returns home but this time he knows exactly how to love. Synopsis adapted from South Coast Repertory. The Author Kate DiCamillo was born in Philadelphia, the author lives in Minneapolis, where she faithfully writes two pages a day, five days a week. After moving to Minnesota from Florida in her twenties, homesickness and a bitter winter helped inspire Because of Winn-Dixie her first published novel, which, remarkably, became a runaway bestseller and snapped up a Newbery Honor. Her second novel, The Tiger Rising, went on to become a National Book Award Finalist. Since then, the master storyteller has written for a wide range of ages, including the Mercy Watson series of early chapter books, co-authoring the Bink and Gollie series, and a holiday picture book, Great Joy. Her novel Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures won the 2014 Newbery Medal and was a 2013 Parents Choice Gold Award Winner and was chosen by Amazon, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Common Sense Media as a Best Book of the Year. DiCamillo, who was named National Ambassador for Young People s Literature for , says about stories, When we read together, we connect. Together, we see the world. Together, we see one another. The Playwright Dwayne Hartford is a playwright, actor and director living in Phoenix, Ariz. He is an associate artist and playwright-in-residence at Childsplay, the nationally recognized theatre for young audiences and families. His plays have been developed through the company s Whiteman New Plays Program. Following premieres at Childsplay, his plays have gone on to productions around the country and Canada. In 2005, his play Eric and Elliot received the distinguished play award from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. The Imaginators was produced and aired by the Phoenix PBS affiliate. A Tale of Two Cities was developed through funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. The play also was chosen for further development at NYU s New Plays for Young Audiences Program at the Provincetown Playhouse in New York City. Hartford is from the small town of Smithfield, located in the Belgrade Lakes region of central Maine. He received his BFA in musical theatre from the Boston Conservatory and started writing plays in In 2012, two of Hartford s plays premiered: Rock the Presidents, a musical revue with music by Sarah Roberts, and The Color of Stars, a story that takes place in Maine during World War II. 3

4 Teacher Resource Guide The Big Ideas If we do not love and care for others, our hearts become hollow and brittle. Compassion exists in the most unlikely and forgotten places. Love and kindness endure far longer than fine clothing or luxury goods. Home can exist in many different locations or one single special location. Reading List Go to to access a Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane book list provided by Multnomah County Library SchoolCorps. Includes related nonfiction titles great for Common Core connections! Questions for Discussion and Activity Prompts 1. Imagine that you discover Edward Tulane and that he lives with you and your family for a time. What would his life be like? What do you think he would learn? Draw/write a short account. 2. Write about the loss of Edward from one of the other characters point of view. 3. Do you have a favorite toy, or did you have one when you were younger? If your toy came to life, what kind of personality would it have? 4. Why do you think Edward s journey is a miraculous one? Can you name another example of a miraculous journey? 5. Describe how Pellegrina feels about Edward at the beginning of the story. Why do you think she has this understanding of him? 6. How does Edward change over the course of the book? At what moment in the book did you feel that he was first beginning to love someone besides himself? 7. How does Edward help the people that he encounters on his journey? 8. Many times throughout the story, Edward looks at the stars. How do they make him feel? Do you think the stars represent anything? 9. What emotions does Edward learn to feel over the course of his journey? 10. Reread the epigraph at the beginning of the book. What is an example of the dark and deeper dark that Edward must endure on his journey? 11. Do you think Edward has one home, or many homes? Explain your answer. 4

5 Teacher Resource Guide Activity: Compare and Contrast: A Sneak Peek at the Script! Overview The play The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is an adaptation that is written by playwright Dwane Hartford. Use excerpts from the original book by Kate DiCamillo and the script to help students explore differences between novels and plays, how adaptations can differ from original works while still retaining similarities, and how live theater can deftly represent internal monologue. Note: This activity can be done with students after they ve finished the entire book or after they ve read through Chapter 9. Common Core State Standards Language Arts: Reading: Literature: Key Ideas and Details Anchor 3: Analyze how and why individuals, events, or ideas develop and interact over the course of a text. 4.RL.3 8.RL.3 Language Arts: Reading: Literature: Craft and Structure Anchor 5: Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g. a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole. 4.RL.5 8.RL5 Anchor 6: Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text. 4.RL.6 8.RL.6 Grade Level: 3-8 Length: varies Vocabulary and Concepts Script Set Adaptation Stage directions Point of view Materials Excerpt from Edward Tulane script (class set or enough for students to share), page 7 Copies of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (class set or enough for students to share), or photocopies of chapters 7-9 Paper and pencil Activity Instructions Print copies of Edward Tulane script excerpt. Decide in advance which discussion questions or writing prompts you ll use with students. And so, for a very long time, life was sweet. Introduce the script sample to students. Point out, using the cast of characters and introduction in the script sample, the basic structure of the play Select five students to read the script excerpt out loud (Traveler, Edward, Lawrence, Nellie, stage directions). 5

6 Teacher Resource Guide Activity: Compare and Contrast: A Sneak Peek at the Script! cont. Questions for Discussion or Written Response 1. Imagine that the portion of the script you ve just read is taking place on stage. What does the set look like? 2. An adaptation takes an original work or source, like a novel, and adapts or changes that material into something different, like a script. What do the book and the play have in common? What is different? Make a list of three or four similarities and three or four differences you noticed. 3. How does Edward change over the course of this portion of the story? Point to an example in the book and an example in the script that supports your statement. 4. In the book, Edward s point of view is entirely internal his thoughts are not spoken aloud. How does the play make his point of view audible to the audience. In the play, can the other characters hear Edward? Explain your answer. 5. Why do you think Lawrence and Nellie treat Edward in the way that they do? How does Edward respond to such treatment? Longer Writing Assignments 1. Write a brief account of this scene from Nellie s point of view Lawrence bringing Edward home, sewing him some clothes, singing him lullabies, etc. 2. Independently or in small groups, draft a new scene in which Ralph, Lawrence and Nellie s son who is in the army, comes for a visit instead of Lolly. The rabbit listened to every name, to every story And his heart opened wide and then wider still. 6

7 The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane From the book by Kate DiCamillo Adapted for the stage by Dwayne Hartford 75 minute v3 January 26, 2015 Dwayne Hartford 525 West Vernon Avenue Phoenix AZ

8 Breakdown of characters: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane The Traveler. The storyteller, who portrays: Pellegrina, Society Lady, Martin, Lolly, Jack, the Watchman, the Old Lady, Marlene, Lucius Clarke. The Woman. Abilene, Nellie, Lucy the dog, various other hobos, Sarah Ruth, Neal, Doll, the Old Doll, the Shopper. The Musician. Plays guitar, is the voice of Edward s thoughts and emotions. The Man. Abilene s Father, Amos, Lawrence, Bull, various hobos, Bryce. Plays harmonica and perhaps others instruments. The story of Edward Tulane takes place over 20 years, starting in the mid s. The Traveler is the leader of a group of timeless storytellers sharing this story. The actors and the setting are transformational. Actors change characters quickly and effortlessly. The costumes for characters within the story should be minimal pieces added to the actors base costumes. The actors never leave the stage. Set pieces should be kept to a minimum, with the same pieces being used in different configurations for the different locations. The Musician voices the thoughts of the china rabbit, Edward Tulane. The Musician and his music are, perhaps, the spirit or soul of Edward. I ve indicated some possible places for the Musician to play, however, these are just suggestions and his music shouldn t be limited to what is indicated in the script. Edward is NOT a puppet. He is never manipulated to suggest that he can move by himself. Once the Musician starts voicing Edward s thoughts, he stays close to Edward. Due to the fast costume changes and the various states of repair, the play requires a number of Edward dolls. There were seven different Edward dolls in the original production. The Traveler quickly switches from the role of storyteller to specific roles in the story, sometimes going back and forth. It is intended that these quick shifts won t always require costume adjustments, rather just a shift of focus and physicality for the actress. All storyteller lines are marked Traveler. If needed, the voice of Edward could be played by an actor separate from the Musician. In the original production, the Musician was sometimes joined by the Man playing the violin. If interested, the music from the original production is available for licensing. Contact the playwright for more information. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. 75 minute version 3 2

9 I m out of the muck! At last! Whoa! Wait - my hat! Come back! What s going on? What is this? No, no, no, no, no! Not my sailor suit! Whoa! Help! Wait! I can see light! I can see light! Up to the surface he came. For a moment he saw the angry sky, and the wind rushed through his ears. It almost sounded like laughter. The Traveler laughs like Pellegrina. Pellegrina? Is it you? Before he could hear an answer, he was tossed back down into the depths. Oh no! Help me! I can t go back there! Please! Suddenly, Edward found himself in the middle of a net. A fisherman s net. And before he knew what had happened, Edward was pulled up out of the water. The Man becomes the old fisherman, Lawrence. Eh, what s this? Lawrence picks up Edward You ain t no fish, that s for sure. You re a rabbit, I reckon. Or you were one once. A toy rabbit. I ll take you home to Nellie. She ll fix you up. Now, you sit yourself right down here, and you can have a nice view for the ride home. Lawrence sets down Edward on a crate. Don t bother. I never want to look at the ocean again. That was quite a storm we had, wasn t it. But, it s passed now. It s turned into a fine sunny day. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. 75 minute version 3 20

10 And as the fishing boat made its way back to shore, Edward felt the sun on his face and the wind blowing through the little bit of fur left on his ears. I m alive. I m alive! Looks like you re enjoying the ride. I believe I am. Back on land, the old fisherman paraded Edward through the seaside village. Wait til Nellie gets sight of you. You ll like Nellie, you will. She s had her sadness, but she s an all-right girl. Now, look up there. That s your North Star. The North Star. Do all the stars have names? You don t never have to be lost when you know where that fella is. The North Star. I didn t think I would see the stars again. Lawrence continues walking. The fisherman and Edward finally arrived at a little green cottage. Nellie, look here. I ve brought you something from the sea. I don t want nothing from the sea. Now don t be like that. Look. The Woman becomes Nellie. A rabbit! Oh, Lawrence. You brung me a rabbit. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. 75 minute version 3 21

11 Must have got churned up in the storm. Lawrence bends Edward as if Edward is bowing. Oh, my. Have you ever seen anything so fine? This is one very discerning Woman. Lawrence gives Edward to Nellie. She s beautiful! She? What shall I call her? Do I look like a girl? I was thinking Susanna. Susanna. Just right. It s not right! Not right at all! Well, Susanna, you will be needing some clothes now, won t you? Lawrence, Nellie and Edward exit the scene. And so the next morning, Nellie made some clothes for Edward Tulane who was now Susanna. The dress she made was cotton and simple. She remade his ears and tail as well, though not in real fur. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. 75 minute version 3 22

12 Nellie returns with the dressed and repaired Edward. Susanna, if I don t get that bread going we won t have any for supper. Now, you sit right there and keep me company. Nellie sets him down on the counter and begins kneading bread. No. Don t set me by the window. Anyone walking by will see me in this ridiculous dress. It gets lonely here all day while Lawrence is out to sea. Back when the children were little, I had my hands full, you can be sure. But now the days can seem awful empty. At least you re not on the bottom of the ocean with your head in the muck. I wonder, Susanna, how you ever came to be in the ocean. Pellegrina. You poor thing. Stuck down there in the cold and dark. Separated from the ones you love. Love? I guess you know a thing or two about loneliness, yourself. Loneliness. Yes. But now you re here, Susanna from the sea. Do you like the dress? I never was much of a seamstress, but it s the best I could do. It doesn t really matter what I wear. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. 75 minute version 3 23

13 My daughter, Lolly, always makes fun of the clothes I make. She s a working girl, my Lolly. She is a secretary in one of those tall buildings up in Boston. She works on the ninth floor. She rides up and down in an elevator every day, can you imagine? You ll never see me in one of those things. No. I don t suppose I will. Lolly is the oldest, then there is Ralph. He s working in a lumber mill up north. Then there was Raymond, our youngest. He died, you see, when he was just five years old. Pneumonia. He drowned inside of himself. It is a horrible, terrible thing the worst thing to watch somebody you love die right in front of you, and not be able to do nothing about it. You ve had your sadness. I dream about him most nights. What is it like to dream? I suppose you think I m daft, talking to a toy. But it seems to me that you re listening, Susanna. I am, Nellie. I am. One night before supper, Lawrence went digging in the attic. Lawrence appears carrying an old highchair. What are you doing with that highchair? You know that I don t want to see anything... It s for Susanna. Susanna? The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. 75 minute version 3 24

14 Me? I, sir, am not a baby. I m a rabbit. I thought she d like to sit at the table with us. I ve been feeling bad about ignoring her at supper. Oh, Lawrence. You re right. Come, Susanna. Let s try it out. Nellie lifts Edward. No. Now, I ve put up with Susanna and the dress, but I must draw the line at... Nellie places Edward in the highchair. There you are. I mean really, would you like it if... Oh. You have quite a nice view from here, don t you? I think she looks happy there. Ayuh. I believe she likes feeling a part of things. I do. Well then, what s for supper? We re having a stew. Though I don t think Susanna is hungry herself. That s right. None for me. You set yourself down, and I ll dish it up. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. 75 minute version 3 25

15 After supper, Lawrence would lift Edward onto his shoulder and go out for a walk. Lawrence sets Edward on his shoulder. Every sailor needs to know his constellations, Susanna. That s Andromeda, you see? And over there is Pegasus. Andromeda. Pegasus. Right there is Cassiopeia. Cassiopeia. And there s Ursa Major. Ursa Major. I find comfort in the stars. There s comfort in knowing my old friends are out there watching. Yes. The rabbit stayed with the old fisherman and his wife for many weeks, listening to their stories and memories. And when his own troubling memories haunted him... Warthogs. Witches. Oceans. Darkness.... Nellie was always able to comfort him. Lawrence hands Edward to Nellie, who rocks Edward in a chair. Perhaps Lawrence plays a banjo or some other instrument to accompany her. (singing) The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. 75 minute version 3 26

16 Hush, little baby, don't say a word, Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird don't sing, Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring. The music continues under the following. The Musician joins in the playing. Night after night, Nellie sang to the rabbit, gently allowing him to let go of those dark thoughts. (singing) And if that diamond ring turns brass, Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass. And if that looking glass gets broke, Mama's gonna buy you a billy goat. And so, for a very long time, life was sweet. And then, one day, they had a visitor. The music continues under the following. The music ends. Lawrence moves away from the scene. The Traveler becomes Lolly. Hello, ma. Lolly! What a surprise! LOLLY LOLLY I just had to get out of the city, you know? It just gets to be too much sometimes. You know what I mean? Just too much. I m sure it does, dear. LOLLY So I thought I d surprise you and pop, and spend a weekend in the old hometown. You know what I mean? The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. 75 minute version 3 27

17 Teacher Resource Guide Activity: The Miraculous Timeline of Edward Tulane Overview Edward s journey lasts many years, as he travels from person to person, becoming lost, then found, and then lost again. As he travels, he also begins to experience emotion fear, love, heartbreak, and many more. Students work in small groups to create a class timeline that illustrates the rich settings and characters created by Kate DiCamillo, while also creating a learning tool to discuss change and sequence. Common Core State Standards Language Arts: Reading: Literature: Key Ideas and Details Anchor 2: Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas. 4.RL.2 6.RL.2 Anchor 3: Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text. 3.RL.3 6.RL.2 Anchor 5: Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text relate to each other and the whole. 3.RL.5, 5.RL.5 6.RL.5 Vocabulary and Concepts Plot Setting Sequence Character Point of view Grade Level: 3-6 Length: minutes Materials Blank paper and lined writing paper Pencils Colored pencils, crayons, or other art materials Space on a wall or a large sheet of butcher paper (for class timeline) Activity Instructions Divide students into small groups, one group for each of the following stages of Edward s journey: Abilene, Lawrence and Nellie, Bull and Lucy, Bryce and Sarah Ruth, Lucius. Explain to students that they will be creating a class timeline of Edward s journey. In groups, instruct students to answer the following questions: How does this person find Edward? What name do they give him? How do they treat him, and what do they do together? Do you know where this part of the story takes place geographically? How does Edward feel? How does Edward become lost again, or move to the next phase of his journey? 17

18 Teacher Resource Guide Activity: The Miraculous Timeline of Edward Tulane cont. Instruct each group member to create an illustration with an accompanying summary of this stage of Edward s journey. Encourage them to recall phrases from the book or words that jump out at them. When groups have completed their drawing and writing, have them arrange their work in story order. We are all on our own journeys, my lady. We can t always be with those we love. Collect students work and create a class timeline with all the writing and illustrations displayed in the order of the novel. As a class, compare and contrast Edward at the beginning of the story to the end. Where are points in the story where Edward begins to change? As a journal activity, have students choose a moment on the timeline other than their own, and reflect on Edward s emotions at that point in the story. 18

19 Teacher Resource Guide Online Resources Candlewick Press Edward Tulane Study Guide Kate dicamillo s website Kate dicamillo on writing Kate dicamillo on writing kate-dicamillo-reading-aloud-binds-us-together-in- unanticipated-ways/2015/11/18/c880e32c-83be-11e5-8ba6-cec48b74b2a7_story.html Article by Kate DiCamillo on writing, reading, and community. Within the confines of a story shared aloud, we get to see one another in new ways. Our hearts are open to the story and open to one another and because of this, some kind of subterranean magic occurs. Reading aloud binds us together in unanticipated ways. It brings us home. Kate DiCamillo 19

20 After the Play: What did you see? Download the After the Play worksheet on the next page and print a class set. Ask students to complete the drawing and response portions of the sheet either in class or at home. Write to Oregon Children s Theatre We love hearing student feedback and responses to our shows! Please feel free to share any letters from students with us: Oregon Children s Theatre 1939 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland, OR Letters can also be ed to teachers@octc.org. Reflection: After the Play I have found it much more agreeable to be lost in the company of others. 20

21 What did you see? Name and date What did you see on stage? Recall a scene you remember and draw it in the space above. Include scenery, characters, and props.

22 What did you see? cont. 1. Describe what is happening in your drawing. 2. List two or three things you liked about the play. 3. If you were directing your own version of this play, what would you do differently? 4. Write one question you had about the play that you d like to ask Oregon Children s Theatre. Questions can be for actors, the director, a designer, etc.