2013-365 Arts - Estes Hills Elementary School PTA 2013 Spring Arts Agreement $1,000

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THEAM N ORKSUMIX 151 West 26'"Street (212)647-1100 New York, NY 10001 www.theatreworksusa.org presents Felix Pitre's ,STORIES AND SONGS OF LA TIN AMERICA Study Guide Felix Pitre's Stories and Songs of Latin America is a 45 minute program which gives the audience a taste of America Latina through its stories,songs, instruments and language. Although most of the program is in English (except La Bamba), Spanish words are used and explained throughout in Felix's unique bilingual style. The students sing Mexico's La Bamba after learning its history and meaning, experience Juan Bobo and the Pig or Paco and the Witch of Puerto Rican folklore and participate in a Latin American favorite,Pollito, Chicken complete with sign language. Coqui,the lovable puppet, speaks with an accent helping others to understand that everyone has some kind of accent and what we say is more important than how we speak. An author himself, Felix encourages the students to tell stories,write them down and continue developing these skills so that maybe someday they too may write a story for others to enjoy and possibly get published. La Bamba,the well known Mexican American favorite, opens the program. Felix explains the origin of the song as a tune played at weddings in Veracruz by the mariachis, the wedding musicians. The bride and groom dance while tying a ribbon on the floor into a bow with their feet! After a brief explanation on the role of the teeth,tongue and facial areas in speaking different languages and learning the meanings of the words used,Felix introduces a folktale from Puerto Rico: (ONE of the two following stories depending on age group) K-3 Paco and the Witch-This story,based on an old legend(and Felix's second book),tells of Paco, a boy living in the mountains of Puerto Rico with his family,who is sent to the village below to buy some turr6n(a nougat and wafer candy from Spain)for that night's fiesta. The boy stops by the woods on the way to the store and meets an old woman who is the witch his grandmother had warned him about. She traps him with a spell that can only be broken by guessing her name. Luckily,the friendly crab comes to his rescue. After the story the audience is asked what lesson, if any,Paco learned from his experience. Answers have ranged from"don't talk to strangers"to"don't take drugs"to the memorable"always be nice to crabs, `cause you never know when you might need their help." 4-12 Juan Bobo and the Pig -Based on the Puerto Rican folkhero,Juan Bobo,this story (which is also Felix's first book)recounts the adventures of Juan,whom everyone calls a fool. But he manages to teach a lesson and prove he's not as foolish as others may think. Juan's mother dresses up and goes to church on Sunday leaving him in charge of the pig. As soon as she is gone the pig starts squealing and when it refuses Juan's offering of food(pork chops)and drink(soda)Juan comes to the conclusion that the pig wants to go to church too. He dresses the pig in his mother's best clothes and sends it to church. The pig, however,only wants to roll in the mud. The result,when Juan's mother returns, is the basis for a well known Puerto Rican saying that chides those who overdress and stresses the value of truth and sincerity. (OVER )