2019-766-E Arts - Emma Nadeau arts grant

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DocuSign Envelope ID:B5E8D914-BDFF-494A-A24E-A56EFFD3078E Project/Program Song and soundscape both play a critical role in enhancing theater Summary performance. For this reason, the music directors of the Curious Theatre Collective (CTC), Emma Nadeau and Julie Kaplan, both Orange County residents, are seeking $2100 to help enhance the theater company's supply of musical instruments. CTC's mission is to share the stories of remarkable women through theater performance. CTC has developed and performed two original works for grades K-5 since its founding in 2016, and is planning to have a brand new show ready to perform for the 2020/2021 school year. The first show, called "Sally's Ride: To Space and Beyond" has been performed 9 times at 5 elementary schools in the Triangle. Audience participation and sing-a-longs are an important part of helping the children understand the shows content, especially the values of teamwork, creativity, and perseverance. In "Creekside: The Journey of a Young Activist", CTC expanded the concept of audience participation in the musical aspects even further. In advance of the performance, the school's music teacher is sent one of the songs for the students to learn. Then, during the show, the students join the actors on stage, becoming the "Creekside Chorus", representing kids in the neighborhood that the main character Mia has gathered together to help raise awareness about the problems affecting the local creek. For the students that sing, playing a performance role in the play fosters a vested interest in the concepts and storyline. Additionally, the audience members feel a stronger connection to the work knowing their peers are playing an important role. All of the music in the CTC shows is original and performed live on acoustic instruments like accordion, ukulele, metallophone and trumpet. CTC is interested in expanding on the success we've had already with the musical aspects of the show by purchasing new instruments that will both add to the musical landscape and get the kids more involved in creating the music with us. The beautiful sound of a wooden Orff xylophone adds a melodic richness, making it a very versatile instrument as both percussion and tonal foundation. As we expand into residencies with smaller groups of schoolchildren, the Orff xylophones are a very kid-friendly instrument that we could teach on. The boomwhackers and various percussion instruments are all-around fun and easy to use, and could be used both by CTC actors and students during the performances. CTC is a member of CAPS and the UAC, and receive some elementary school bookings through those organizations. CTC also heavily markets the play to elementary schools in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro City school system, as well as Orange County. CTC is excited to be among the offerings through the ArtsCenter's school shows program, with a week's worth of shows in various schools in Orange County in March 2020. In addition to elementary schools, CTC is also reaching out to libraries and performing arts centers in the area.