Petra and the Wolf.Study Guide Civic Center.pub

15 Pages·2017·1.06 MB·English

PETRA AND THE WOLF

Applause Series Curriculum Guide
January 29, 2018
GUIDE CONTENTS

About the Applause Series
Dear Teachers,
Page 3

Thank you for joining us for the Going to the Theater and
return Applause Series Theater Etiquette
presentation of Petra and the Page 4
Wolf. Inspired by Prokofiev’s
children’s orchestral work Peter Civic Center Field Trip
and the Wolf, three Texas-based Information for Teachers
artistic companies have teamed Page 5
up to create a new tale with fresh
original music. In this tale, Peter’s Vocabulary
plucky granddaughter learns Page 6
amazing lessons of empathy and
respect for nature as she About the Performance
navigates her friendships with her Page 7
family’s animals and their
encounter with a wild wolf. About the Artists
Page 8
We hope that this study guide helps you
connect the performance to your classroom curriculum in About the Animals in the Story
ways that you find valuable. In the following pages, you will Page 9
find contextual information about the performance and
related subjects, as well as a wide variety of The Inspiration:
discussion questions and activities. As such, we hope that you Peter and the Wolf
are able to “pick and choose” material and ideas from the Page 10
study guide to meet your class’s unique needs.
Pre-Show Exploration
See you at the theater, Pages 11-12

Des Moines Performing Arts Post-show Discussion
Education Team and Assessment
Pages 13-14

Resources and Sources
Support for Des Moines Performing Arts education programs and the
Applause Series is provided by: Page 15

American Enterprise Group, Arts Midwest, Bradford and Sally Austin, Bravo
Greater Des Moines, Clive Community Foundation, EMC Insurance Companies,
DuPont Pioneer, Ernest and Florence Sargent Family Foundation, Gannett
Foundation/The Des Moines Register, Hy-Vee, Inc., Iowa Department of Cultural
Affairs, John Deere, Judith A. Lindquist Scholarship Fund, Richard and Deborah
McConnell, Meredith Corporation Foundation, Nationwide, Polk County, Prairie
Meadows, Principal, U.S. Bank, Union Pacific Foundation, Wells Fargo & Co.,
West Bancorporation Foundation, Windsor Charitable Foundation,
and more than 400 individual donors.
This study guide was compiled and written by Allison McGuire; edited by Karoline Myers.
Adapted from materials by Paramount Academy of the Arts.
Des Moines Performing Arts
Page 2 of 15
Petra and the Wolf Curriculum Guide
ABOUT THE APPLAUSE SERIES

TAKE THOUSANDS OF IOWA STUDENTS OUT OF ABOUT DES MOINES

THEIR CLASSROOMS, PLACE THEM IN A THEATER, PERFORMING ARTS

SPRINKLE THE STAGE WITH WORLD-CLASS

PERFORMERS, AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE? A D es Moines Performing Arts is
RECIPE FOR LEARNING THAT REACHES NEW central Iowa’s premier
not-for-profit performing arts
LEVELS OF POSSIBILITY—FOR STUDENTS AND
organization.
TEACHERS.

More than 300,000 guests attend
WE CALL IT THE APPLAUSE SERIES. performances and events in our
four venues each year:
 Civic Center, 2744 seats
BRINGING ARTS TICKET TO
 Stoner Theater, 200 seats
EDUCATION TO LIFE IMAGINATION
Temple Theater, 299 seats
The Applause Series is a flagship The Applause Series annually
Cowles Commons
education program of Des Moines delivers 60 age-appropriate
(outdoor plaza)
Performing Arts. Since its launch performances for pre-school to

in 1996, more than a half million high school students. The impact
Guests experience a wide variety
students and teachers have stretches far beyond the Des
of art forms and cultural activities,
attended school-time Moines metro, reaching schools in
with presentations ranging from
performances as part of the over 35 Iowa counties. The
Broadway, comedy, professional
series. You are joining us for the theater becomes the classroom.
dance, to family programming.
22nd season of school One-hour matinees energize

performances! students to imagine new ways of
Des Moines Performing Arts
creative expression, cultural
education programs serving more
MAKING A DIFFERENCE diversity and even career
than 75,000 Iowans annually.
Each year, more than 55,000 opportunities.
students and teachers attend an Programs for schools, such as
Applause Series performance. BEYOND THE STAGE the Applause Series and teacher
The actual cost per person is $8, For many Applause Series professional development, help
but thanks to the caring performances, we offer the enliven students’ learning. Public
contributions of donors, schools opportunity for schools to go education programs such as
pay just $1 per ticket. By deeper by exploring an art form or master classes, workshops, Q&A
removing the financial barriers to theme that connects with what is sessions and summer camps
participation, donors introduce a seen on stage. Invite a allow audience members and
whole new generation to the professional teaching artist into aspiring artists to make
power of arts in action. That the classroom or visit another meaningful and personal
means stronger schools and cultural destination in Des Moines connections to the art they
communities now and in the to help students make more experience on our stages.
future. meaning of a piece of theater.
Des Moines Performing Arts
Page 3 of 15
Petra and the Wolf Curriculum Guide
GOING TO THE THEATER

ATTENDING A LIVE PERFORMANCE IS A UNIQUE THEATER ETIQUETTE

AND EXCITING OPPORTUNITY! UNLIKE THE CHECKLIST

PASSIVE EXPERIENCE OF WATCHING A MOVIE,

AUDIENCE MEMBERS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE (cid:0) Do not bring food, drinks or

IN EVERY LIVE PERFORMANCE. chewing gum into the theater.
(cid:0) The use of cameras and
REMEMBER….
WHAT ROLE WILL YOU PLAY? recording devices are not
THE THEATER IS permitted.
DESIGNED TO
(cid:0) Turn off and put away cell
MAGNIFY SOUND.
YOUR ROLE AS AN phones and other electronics
EVEN WHISPERS
before the performance begins.
AUDIENCE MEMBER CAN BE HEARD!
(cid:0) Do not text during the

performance.
Artists on stage are very aware of the mood and
level of engagement of the audience. As such, each (cid:0) Respect the theater. Keep your
performance calls for a different response from audience feet off of the seats and avoid
members. bouncing up and down.

(cid:0) When the house lights dim, the
As you experience the performance, consider the following questions:
performance is about to begin.

Please stop talking at this time.
 What kind of live performance is this (a musical, dance, or concert)?
(cid:0) Talk only before and after the
 What is the mood of the performance? Is the subject matter serious
performance.
or lighthearted?
(cid:0) Use the restroom before the
 What is the mood of the artists? Are they happy and smiling or
performance or wait until the
somber and reserved?
end.
 Are the artists encouraging the audience to clap to the music, move to
(cid:0) Remember that this is a special
the beat, or participate in some other way?
experience. The artists are
 Are there natural breaks in the performance where creating something just for you.
applause seems appropriate? Appropriate responses such as
laughing and applauding are
appreciated. Pay attention to
DID YOU KNOW?
the artists — they will let you
ALTHOUGH NOT REQUIRED, SOME
know what is appropriate.
PEOPLE ENJOY DRESSING UP WHEN
THEY ATTEND THE THEATER. (cid:0) Open your eyes, ears, mind,
and heart to the entire
experience. Enjoy yourself!
Des Moines Performing Arts
Page 4 of 15
Petra and the Wolf Curriculum Guide
CIVIC CENTER FIELD TRIP INFORMATION
WE WANT YOUR FIELD DIRECTIONS/PARKING ARRIVAL/SEATING
TRIP TO BE SAFE AND
SUCCESSFUL! The Des Moines Civic Center is An usher will greet you at the
located at 221 Walnut Street, door and ask for your school
Des Moines, Iowa. name.
PLEASE READ BELOW

FOR IMPORTANT TIPS Directions from I-235: take Exit Each group will be assigned a
AND DETAILS TO 8A (Downtown Exits) and the specific location in the theater
ENSURE A GREAT DAY. ramp toward 3rd St and 2nd Ave. based on various factors. An
Turn onto 3rd Street and head usher will escort you to your
south. section.
GET ORGANIZED
Police officers stationed at the Your school may be seated in
Double-check that all students, corner of 3rd & Locust Streets multiple rows. Adults should
teachers, and chaperones were will direct buses to reserved position themselves throughout
included in your ticket order. street parking near the Civic the group.
Request an adjustment if your Center.
numbers have increased. We Allow ushers to seat your
want to make sure we have Buses are not allowed to drop entire group before
enough seats for you! groups off in front of the rearranging student seats or
theater. Contact us in advance taking groups to the restroom.
Tickets are not issued. Bring a if there is a special
copy of your invoice, which will circumstance. This helps us seat efficiently
serve as your group’s “ticket”. and better start the show on
Buses remain parked for the time.
Schedule arrival for 30 minutes duration of the show. Drivers
prior to the start of the must be available to move the IN THE THEATER
bus immediately following the
performance. This allows time
performance.
to park, cross streets, find your In case of a medical

seats, and go to the restroom. emergency, notify the nearest
Personal vehicles are
usher.
responsible for securing their
Let drivers know that Applause
own parking on a nearby street
performances are approximately Adults are asked to handle
or in a downtown parking ramp.
60 minutes, unless otherwise any disruptive behavior in their
noted. group. If the behavior
QUESTIONS? persists, an usher may
Remind chaperones that We are happy to help! request your group to exit the
children under the age of three theater.

are not permitted in the theater
Please contact us at:
for Applause Series events. Please wait for your group to be
[email protected]
dismissed by DMPA staff prior
515.246.2355
to exiting the theater.
Des Moines Performing Arts
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Petra and the Wolf Curriculum Guide
VOCABULARY
adaptation: food chain: a food chain shows props: an
a change or how each living thing gets food, object used
adjustment and how nutrients and energy are on stage
to improve mal.info passed from creature to creature. during a
soor mmeatkhein igt , spiritani Fanodo de ncdh awinitsh baengimina wl iltifhe .p Slaonmt leif e pIne Prfoertmraa anncde .
Adaptation also happens
suitable to a in nature. For example, animals eat plants, and some the Wolf, the The grandfather holding
different hummingbirds adapted animals eat other animals. puppets in- a newspaper is an
example of a puppet
situation. to have long beaks to teract with
interacting with a prop.
help them get food from
Petra and objects as
within flowers.
the Wolf is realistically as possible. Examples
an adaptation of Sergei include the bird picking up the
Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, a twine in its mouth or the
symphonic fairy tale set in Russia. grandfather reading the paper.
Petra and the Wolf takes place in
Texas. rod
marionette:
characterization: the act of a puppet
This example of a food chain starts with a
describing the character or controlled from
flower and ends with an animal. How
qualities of someone or many living things are part of this food above using a
something. Although Petra and chain? Image: cashmancuneo.net stick or metal
her grandfather are related and rod attached to
share similar experiences, they inspiration: the process of the center of
are two very different characters. being mentally stimulated to do or the puppet’s
feel something, especially to do head. The
collaboration: to work with something creative. Mother Can you see the rods limbs can be
on this cat puppet
another person or group in order Falcon, the band who wrote the controlled by
from Petra and the
to achieve or do something. music for Petra and the Wolf, was Wolf? smaller rods or
Lionheart Youth Theatre, the band inspired by listening to recorded strings, or a
Mother Falcon, Glass Half Full sounds of the story’s animals in combination of the two (e.g. Duck,
Theatre, and the Paramount nature. Dog). The rod marionette is
Academy of the Arts collaborated considered the ancestor of the
to create the performance of Petra manipulate: to marionette (i.e. string puppet).
and the Wolf. operate in a
skillful manner walk about:
(e.g. The a puppet that
puppeteer can be worn
manipulates the by a
duck puppet.) puppeteer to
give the
appearance of
the puppet
“walking
about”. The
musical grandfather in
How would you describe collaboration? motif: Petra and the
What are some of the ideas in this image
a short Wolf is an
about collaboration? Can you see
Image: collaborationsolution.files.wordpress.com musical composecreate.com example of a puppeteer behind the
idea and sound that has a special walk about grandfather puppet?
importance or characteristic. The puppet. Can you tell which
parts of the puppet the
original Peter and the Wolf score
puppeteer is wearing?
is often looked at to explore
musical motifs.
Des Moines Performing Arts
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Petra and the Wolf Curriculum Guide
ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE

Meet Petra, the mischievous but SYNOPSIS THE PUPPETS
fearless granddaughter of the Playful Petra and her grandfather, The story of Petra and the Wolf is
fabled Peter from the Prokofiev Peter, live in South Texas with told through a combination of
classic Peter and the Wolf. When their friends the Cat, the Duck, actors and puppets. Petra is
a wolf threatens her home and and the Bird. All is peaceful until played by the single actor, while
animal friends, Petra responds the day the red wolf intrudes on all of the animals and the
with bravery and compassion. their farm and kills one of their grandfather character are
animal friends. represented by puppets.
Using captivating large-scale
puppetry by Glass Half Full To comfort her, Peter tells Petra MUSICAL INSPIRATION
Theatre and a new instrumental about how he dealt with the wolf
Nick Gregg, the leader of the
score written and performed live that killed his pet when he was
band Mother Falcon, was
by Mother Falcon, Petra and the young. What Petra decides to do
interested in the sounds of three
Wolf creates a new sense of next will take the utmost courage.
animals native to South Texas:
empathy for the animals that
the red wolf, the chachalaca, and
share our earth.
FEMALE BRAVERY black-bellied whistling duck.
Run time: About 50 minutes “It’s important for both boys and
girls to see girl characters that are Listen to a nature recording of
brave, not by replacing male how each of these animals sound,
stereotypes with female versions then listen to the music the band
performing traditionally male composed inspired by the
actions but by representing what it animals’ sounds.
is about female bravery that
makes it unique,” says Caroline
RED WOLF
Reck, director of Petra and the
Wolf and Lionheart Youth Nature Musical Score
Theatre.
CHACHALACA

“There’s a version of bravery Nature Musical Score
which favors people who conquer
BLACK-BELLIED
and belittle their enemies,” says
WHISTLING DUCK
Reck. “But in this version, Petra’s
empathy for the female wolf and Nature Musical Score
Is the wolf a villain in the story? Or can her family leads Petra to make the
Petra see the wolf’s actions from another bravest decision of the show.”
perspective?
Des Moines Performing Arts
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Petra and the Wolf Curriculum Guide
ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Petra and the Wolf is the result of MOTHER FALCON SPOTLIGHT ON
a unique collaboration between Mother Falcon is one of Austin’s AUSTIN, TEXAS
three artistic companies based in most talked about bands and was Austin is the capital of Texas, the
Austin, Texas. recently described by NPR Music Lone Star State. It also is home to
as “sweepingly majestic.” Their all the groups who created Petra
classical-crossover pop songs and the Wolf.
LIONHEART YOUTH
and huge ensemble are starting to
THEATRE make big waves outside of Austin, Austin has 300 days of sunshine a
Lionheart Youth Theatre is a yet this incredible group of artists year and an average temperature
company is dedicated to remains dedicated to the young of 71 degrees in November.
producing and presenting work for people in their community through Creative jobs in Austin, like those
young audiences to celebrate the their summer rock camp in music, gaming, and visual arts
fearlessness and imagination of programming. bring in more than $4.35 billion
the next generation. They strive to and nearly 49,000 permanent
create collaborative experiences jobs. In 2015, Austin was the only
in all artistic mediums that spark city in the world named a
joy, ignite community, and inspire collaboration: to UNESCO Creative City of Media
young people to find their voice. Arts.
work with another

GLASS HALF FULL person or group in
THEATRE
order to achieve
Glass Half Full Theatre creates
new works of theatre using the or do something

precise physical language of both
humans and puppets to address
Think of a time you
the momentous issues that
collaborated on a
humankind confronts across the
project with someone.
globe. Their stories are designed
This could be a science
to travel across language and
experiment, a book report,
cultural boundaries to the heart of
even a piece of art!
the imagination, where together
with the audience they strive to
What advantages are there to
question, to elevate, and to
collaborating?
dream.
Image: texas-map.org
Des Moines Performing Arts
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Petra and the Wolf Curriculum Guide
ABOUT THE ANIMALS IN THE STORY
g
or
er.
nt
e
olfc ov
endangeredw tpwd.texas.g audobon.org
RED WOLVES CHACHALACAS BLACK-BELLIED
WHISTLING DUCKS
The red wolf is a distinctly The chachalaca is a large, chick-

different species from the gray en-like bird of Mexico and Central
The black-bellied whistling duck is
wolf. They are smaller than their America. The Plain Chachalaca
a boisterous, goose-like duck with
gray wolf cousins, averaging 40 to reaches the United States only in
a long neck, long legs, and short
50 pounds. southern Texas.
tail. They are known for their

brilliant pink bill. In flight, look for
They prey on small animals such Its name comes from its loud,
their broad wings, long neck, and
as rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, raucous calls (“Chak, a lak”).
hunched back.
muskrats, and small deer.

Plain Chachalaca hens typically
Like their name, these ducks really
Red wolf pups are born between lay 3 eggs in flimsy-appearing
do have a whistle for their call.
late April and early May, with an nests constructed on tree limb

average litter size of two to six forks.
Flocks of black-bellied whistling
pups. The entire pack is involved
duck regularly feed on grain in
in raising them. The chachalaca is considered a
agricultural fields, often at night.
Foliage Gleaner. This means that
If you live in their area, you can
The red wolf is one of the world's for its food, it catches arthropods
hear their high-pitched whistles as
most endangered canids. Once like spiders, insects, and ticks by
they travel from feeding fields to
common throughout the eastern plucking them from leaves and
roosting sites.
and south central United States, the ground.

red wolf populations were wiped
For their habitat, these ducks
out by the early part of the 1900s The chachalaca can fly for short
roam edges of shallow ponds, golf
as a result of humans who hunted periods of time due to its heavy
courses, city parks, and
them and altered their habitat. weight. However, it can be very
schoolyards. They seem to readily
swift and silent during flight.
adopt human-altered habitats, and
Sadly, the red wolf was declared
this has helped them move north
extinct in the wild by 1980, with
into the southern U.S. in recent
only a few in captivity. Today,
decades.
thanks to reintroduction, more
than 50 red wolves roam their
native habitats. Nearly 200 red
The creators of Petra and the Wolf updated
wolves are maintained in captive
some of the specific animal species to reflect
breeding facilities throughout the
animals that live in their home state of Texas.
United States.
What animals would you include if you were to

update the story to be set in Iowa?

Des Moines Performing Arts
Page 9 of 15
Petra and the Wolf Curriculum Guide
THE INSPIRATION: PETER AND THE WOLF
The plot of this new version of In 1935, Sergei Prokofiev children heard the themes
Peter and the Wolf was inspired attended a couple of events at the repeated several times and
by the work of composer Sergei Moscow Children’s Musical learned to recognize the timbres
Prokofiev. The original Peter and Theater, taking his own kids of the different instruments. The
the Wolf score is often looked at along. The director invited him to text was read during the pauses in
to explore musical motifs. A write something for the theater, the music, which was
musical motif is a short musical and Prokofiev quickly accepted. disproportionately longer than the
idea and sound that has some text — for me, the story was
special importance or “I started a symphonic tale for important only as a means of
characteristic. children titled ‘Peter and the inducing the children to listen to
Wolf,’ Op. 67, to a text of my the music.”
Learn more about the creation of own,” he wrote in his dairy. “Every
Peter and the Wolf and what character in the story had its own Clearly inspired by the concept,
motivated Prokofiev to use motif played each time by the Prokofiev finished composing in
musical motifs to represent the same instrument. … Before each one week, taking just another
characters. performance, the instruments week to do the orchestration. He
were shown to the children and was so devoted to the project, that
the themes played for them; he agreed to accept whatever fee
during the performance, the the theater could afford.

In this illustration, the characters play the instruments
that represent them in Prokofiev’s original score. For
example, Peter plays the violin because he is
represented by the strings in the orchestra. Can you
match each of the characters and their instruments?

VIOLIN THE BIRD

HORN PETER

BASSOON GRANDFATHER

FLUTE CAT

CLARINET WOLF

OBOE DUCK
Image: Paramount Academy for the Arts Peter and the Wolf study guide.
Des Moines Performing Arts
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Petra and the Wolf Curriculum Guide