Stuart Little

22 Pages·2013·2.06 MB·English

STUART LITTLE

Applause Series Curriculum Guide
March 28, 2014
Dear Teachers,
GUIDE CONTENTS
Thank you for joining us for the Applause Series presentation of
Stuart Little based on the classic tale by E.B. White, with About Des Moines Performing Arts
illustrations by Garth Williams. Stuart Little tells the surprising Page 3
story of a most unusual mouse who happens to be born into an
ordinary New York family. All the charm, wisdom, and joy of E. B. Going to the Theater and
White’s classic novel are brought to life as the Theater Etiquette
mild-mannered Stuart learns to survive in his super-sized Page 4
world of humans and discovers the true meaning of
family, loyalty and friendship. Civic Center Field Trip
Information for Teachers
We thank you for sharing this very special Page 5
experience with your students and hope that
this study guide helps you connect the Vocabulary
performance to your in-classroom curriculum Pages 6
in ways that you find valuable. In the
following pages, you will find contextual About the Performance
information about the performance and Page 7
related subjects, as well as a variety of
discussion questions and assessment About Dallas Children’s Theater
activities. Some pages are Page 8
appropriate to reproduce for your
students; others are About the Author and the Illustrator
designed more specifically Pages 9
with you, their teacher, in
mind. As such, we hope The People Behind the Production
that you are able to “pick and Page 10
choose” material and ideas from the study guide to meet your
class’s unique needs. All About Mice
Page 11
See you at the theater,
About New York City
Des Moines Performing Arts Education Team Page 12

Pre-Show Exploration Activities
Pages 13-14

Post-Show Discussion and

Assessment
Support for Des Moines Performing Arts education programs and
Pages 15-17
the Applause Series is provided by:

Alliant Energy, American Republic Insurance Company, Bradford and Sally Austin, Reproducilbles
Bank of America, EMC Insurance Companies, Greater Des Moines Community Pages 18-21
Foundation, Hy-Vee, John Deere Des Moines Operations, Iowa Department of

Cultural Affairs, Richard and Deborah McConnell, Pioneer Hi-Bred - a DuPont
business, Polk County, Prairie Meadows, Sargent Family Foundation, Target, Resources and Sources
U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo & Co., Willis Auto Campus, Windsor Charitable Page 22
Foundation and more than 200 individual donors.
This study guide was compiled and written by Michelle McDonald and edited by Karoline Myers.
Des Moines Performing Arts
Page 2 of 22
Stuart Little Curriculum Guide
ABOUT DES MOINES PERFORMING ARTS

Des Moines Performing Arts is a private, nonprofit organization and is an DID YOU KNOW?
important part of central Iowa’s cultural community. It is recognized

nationally for excellence as a performing arts center and is committed to
More than 350,000 people visit
engaging the Midwest in world-class entertainment, education, and cultural
Des Moines Performing Arts
activities.
venues each year.

Des Moines Performing Arts presents professional touring productions,
Des Moines Performing Arts
including theater direct from Broadway, world-renowned dance companies,
opened in 1979.
family programming, comedy, and concerts.

Des Moines Performing Arts
Education and Community Engagement programs are core to Des Moines
has three theater spaces:
Performing Arts' mission as a nonprofit performing arts center.
 Civic Center, 2744 seats

 Stoner Theater, 200 seats
Public education programs allow audience members and local artists to
Temple Theater, 299 seats
make meaningful and personal connections to the art they experience on
(located in the Temple for
our stages. Guest lectures and Q&As with company members allow
the Performing Arts)
audiences to explore the inner workings of the performance. In addition,

master classes, workshops, and summer camps taught by visiting
No seat is more than 155 feet
performers give local actors, dancers, and musicians the chance to
from center stage in the Civic
increase their skills by working directly with those who know what it takes
Center.
to succeed on the professional stage.

Cowles Commons, situated
Through its K-12 School Programs, Des Moines Performing Arts strives
just west of the Civic Center, is
to ensure that central Iowa students have affordable access to high quality
a community gathering space
arts experiences as part of their education. More than 50,000 students and
that is also part of Des Moines
educators attend curriculum-connected school matinee performances
Performing Arts. The space
through the Applause Series annually. In addition, Des Moines Performing
features the Crusoe Umbrella
Arts sends teaching artists into the schools to provide hands-on workshops
sculpture by artist Claes
and residencies in special opportunities that engage students directly in
Oldenburg.
the creative process. And, through its partnership with the John F.

Kennedy Center, Des Moines Performing Arts provides teachers with
As a nonprofit organization,
in-depth professional development training on how to use the arts in their
Des Moines Performing Arts
classrooms to better impact student learning.
depends on donor funding to
support facilities, programming,
and education programs.

The Applause Series started in
1996. You are joining us for
our 18th season of school
performances.

Des Moines Performing Arts
Page 3 of 22
Stuart Little Curriculum Guide
GOING TO THE THEATER . . .
YOUR ROLE AS AN THEATER ETIQUETTE
AUDIENCE MEMBER
Here is a checklist of general guidelines to follow

when you visit the Civic Center:
Attending a live performance is a unique and exciting

opportunity. Unlike the passive experience of
 Leave all food, drinks, and chewing gum at school
watching a movie, audience members play an
or on the bus.
important role in every live performance. As they act,
sing, dance, or play instruments, the performers on  Cameras, recording devices, and personal
stage are very aware of the audience’s mood and listening devices are not permitted in the theater.
level of engagement. Each performance calls for a
different response from audience members. Lively  Turn off and put away all cell phones, pagers, and
bands, musicians, and dancers may desire the other electronic devices before the performance
audience to focus silently on the stage and applaud begins.
only during natural breaks in the performance.
 Do not text during the performance.
Audience members can often take cues from
performers on how to respond to the performance  Respect the theater. Remember to keep your feet
appropriately. For example, performers will often off of the seats and avoid bouncing up and down.
pause or bow for applause at a specific time.
 When the house lights dim, the performance is

about to begin. Please stop talking at this time.
As you experience the performance, consider the
following questions:  Talk before and after the performance
only. Remember, the theater is designed to
 What kind of live performance is this (a play, a amplify sound. Other audience members and the
dance, a concert, etc.)? performers on stage can hear your voice!
 What is the mood of the performance? Is the  Use the restroom before the performance or wait
subject matter serious or lighthearted? until the end. If you must leave the theater during
the show, make sure the first set of doors closes
 What is the mood of the performers? Are they
before you open the second — this will keep
happy and smiling or somber and reserved?
unwanted light from spilling into the theater.
 Are the performers encouraging the audience to
 Appropriate responses such as laughing and
clap to the music or move to the beat?
applauding are appreciated. Pay attention to the
 Are there natural breaks in the performance artists on stage — they will let you know what is
where applause seems appropriate? appropriate.
 Open your eyes, ears, mind, and heart to the
A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE
entire experience. Enjoy yourself!
Seeing a live performance is a very special
experience. Although it is not required, many people
enjoy dressing up when they attend the theater.
GOING TO THE THEATER information is adapted from the Ordway Center for the
Performing Arts study guide materials.
Des Moines Performing Arts
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Stuart Little Curriculum Guide
CIVIC CENTER FIELD TRIP INFORMATION FOR TEACHERS
Thank you for choosing the Applause Series with Des Moines Performing Arts.
Below are tips for organizing a safe and successful field trip to the Civic Center.
ORGANIZING YOUR FIELD TRIP ARRIVAL TO THE CIVIC CENTER
 Please include all students, teachers, and chaperones  When arriving at the Civic Center, please have an
in your ticket request. adult lead your group for identification and check-in
 After you submit your ticket request, you will receive a purposes. You may enter the building though the East
confirmation e-mail within five business days. Your or West lobbies; a Des Moines Performing Arts staff
invoice will be attached to the confirmation e-mail. member may be stationed outside the building to direct
 Payment policies and options are located at the top of you.
the invoice. Payment (or a purchase order) for your  Des Moines Performing Arts staff will usher groups into
reservation is due four weeks prior to the date of the the building as quickly as possible. Once inside, you
performance. will be directed to the check-in area.
 Des Moines Performing Arts reserves the right to can-  Applause seating is not ticketed. Ushers will escort
cel unpaid reservations after the payment due date. groups to their seats; various seating factors including
 Tickets are not printed for Applause Series shows. group size, grade levels, arrival time, and special
Your invoice will serve as the reservation confirmation needs seating requests may be used to assign a
for your group order. group’s specific location in the hall.
 Schedule buses to arrive in downtown Des Moines at  We request that an adult lead the group into the
least 30 minutes prior to the start of the performance. theater and other adults position themselves
This will allow time to park, walk to the Civic Center, throughout the group; we request this arrangement
and be seated in the theater. for supervision purposes, especially in the event that a
 Performances are approximately 60 minutes unless group must be seated in multiple rows.
otherwise noted on the website and printed materials.  Please allow ushers to seat your entire group before
 All school groups with reservations to the show will rearranging seat locations and taking groups to the
restroom.
receive an e-mail notification when the study guide is
posted. Please note that study guides are only printed  As a reminder, children under the age of three are not
and mailed upon request. permitted in the theater for Applause performances.

DIRECTIONS AND PARKING IN THE THEATER
 Directions: From I-235, take Exit 8A (Downtown Exits)  In case of a medical emergency, please notify the
and the ramp toward 3rd Street and 2nd Avenue. Turn nearest usher. A medical assistant is on duty for all
onto 3rd Street and head south. Main Hall performances.
 Police officers are stationed at the corner of 3rd and  We ask that adults handle any disruptive behavior in
their groups. If the behavior persists, an usher may
Locust Streets and will direct buses to parking areas
request your group to exit the theater.
with hooded meters near the Civic Center. Groups
traveling in personal vehicles are responsible for  Following the performance groups may exit the theater
locating their own parking in ramps or metered (non- and proceed to the their bus(es).
hooded) spots downtown.  If an item is lost at the Civic Center, please see an
 Buses will remain parked for the duration of the show. usher or contact us after the performance at
At the conclusion, bus drivers must be available to 515.246.2355.
move their bus if necessary, even if their students are
staying at the Civic Center to eat lunch or take a tour.
QUESTIONS?
 Buses are not generally permitted to drop off or pick up
Please contact the Education department at
students near the Civic Center. If a bus must return to
[email protected]
school during the performance, prior arrangements
or 515.246.2355
must be made with Des Moines Performing Arts
Thank you!
Education staff.
Des Moines Performing Arts
Stuart Little Curriculum Guide Page 5 of 22
VOCABULARY
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Central Park: mammal: warm-blooded animals schooner: a
A large park in that give birth to live young and ship that
Manhattan, half are more or less covered in hair. usually has two
a mile wide and masts with the
over two miles mouse: a small larger mast
macaulay.cuny.edu
long. mammal located toward
belonging to the center and
drain: a pipe or the rodent the shorter Schoonerman.com
channel that family with mast toward
carries off rounded ears, the front.
water. pointed snout and hairless tail.
shade: a roll
Ericsplumbinganddrain.com mouse hole: of cloth or
the entrance to a plastic that is
handkerchief: mouse’s burrow hung at the top
a small fabric or home. of a window
square used and that can
especially for Blindalley.com be pulled
wiping one's New York down to cover the window.
nose, eyes, City: a
face. seaport travel: to
city in the go on a
Anoldfashioned.com
Space.com state of journey,
ice skate: New York along the Hudson river, usually
to glide or comprised of the boroughs of by car,
propel Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the train,
Iboomer.com
oneself Bronx, and Staten Island. plane, or
over ice. ship.
Ping-Pong:
Stanfordflipside.com
Wirednewyork.com a game whiskers:
resembling the long, stiff,
illustration: a drawing, picture or tennis, bristly hairs
other type of artwork that helps played on a growing
make something clear or table with around the
attractive. Picture books use small paddles and a hollow plastic Commons.wikimedia.org mouth of
illustrations to help tell stories. ball. certain
animals.
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Stuart Little Curriculum Guide
ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE
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Fans of the book Stuart Little will SYNOPSIS Along the way, he encounters a
delight in this one act play that Stuart Little tells the surprising variety of colorful characters and
brings the pages of the classic story of a most unusual mouse exciting situations that test his
story to life. This well-loved story who happens to be born into an spirit. Hopeful and determined in
celebrates the themes of family, ordinary New York City family. In his quest to find Margalo, Stuart
loyalty and friendship. no time at all, his life becomes a discovers the true meaning of life,
series of adventures and loyalty and friendship.
Run Time: Approx. 60 minutes misadventures as he learns to
survive in his super-sized world of
DISCUSSION
humans.
PAGE TO STAGE
QUESTIONS FOR
Stuart Little was written by E.B.
White and illustrated by Garth First, the well-dressed Stuart is BEFORE THE SHOW
trapped in a window-blind while
Williams. The book was first
doing his exercises, and
published in 1945. 1. What is theater? What is
Snowbell, the malevolent family
the difference between
cat, places his little hat and cane
Over the years, there have been live theatre and a movie
outside a mouse hole, panicking
many adaptations of the beloved or television?
the whole family. Stuart then sails
story Stuart Little. These 2. Imagine you are an actor
to victory in an exciting boat race
adaptations range from film and on stage. What kind of
in Central Park.
television to theater. You will part would you like to

have the thrill of watching Stuart’s play?
Very soon, the Little family adopts
story unfold live and see how this 3. How would you like the
a beautiful bird named Margalo
little mouse made a big name for audience to respond to
who becomes Stuart’s best friend.
himself. your performance?
Unfortunately, Margalo is forced
4. Why do we applaud at
to flee the city when she is
"..many years ago I went the end of a
warned that one of Snowbell’s
to bed one night in a performance?
friends intends to eat her. Leaving
railway sleeping car, and 5. How do you think the
his home and family behind,
play Stuart Little will be
during the night I Stuart sets out in a gasoline-
like the book? How do
dreamed about a tiny boy powered model car on his most
you think it will be
who acted rather like a thrilling adventure of all—to see
different?
mouse. That's how the the country and bring Margalo
home.
story of Stuart Little got
started" -E.B. White ‘About the Performance’ information adapted from
Dallas Children’s Theater press release materials.
Des Moines Performing Arts
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Stuart Little Curriculum Guide
ABOUT DALLAS CHILDREN’S THEATER
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Stuart Little comes to Des TOURING PROGRAM PAST TOURING
Moines from a theater company Dallas Children’s Theater travels PRODUCTIONS
called Dallas Children’s Theater coast to coast with professional

from Dallas, Texas. large-scale productions designed African Tales of Earth and Sky
with the mission to stir the heart,
stretch the mind and promote And Then They Came for Me:
WHO THEY ARE education. With such a vast and Remembering the World of Anne
In response to the growing need impressionable audience to serve, Frank
DCT's productions usually target
for professional family theater,
a different age range every other Cinderella or Everyone Needs a
Robyn Flatt and Dennis Vincent
touring season. Fairy Godmother
founded Dallas Children’s Theater

in 1984. Since then, DCT has
grown to be one of the top five DCT’s local touring program Coyote Tales
began in 1985 and expanded to
family theaters in the nation. DCT
statewide and regional venues in Giggle, Giggle, Quack
serves over 250,000 young
1989. In 1996, DCT launched its
people each year through its local
first national tour. September Heidi
main-stage productions, national
2006 marked DCT’s introduction
tour, educational programming
to the world stage, as the theater If You Give a Pig A Party
and outreach activities.
was honored with an invitation to
As the only major organization in perform at the 2006 Shanghai Jack and the Giant Beanstalk
International Children’s Culture
Dallas focusing on theater for
and Arts Expo in Shanghai, A Midnight Cry The Underground
youth and families, DCT produces
China. Railroad To Freedom
literary classics, original scripts,

folk tales, myths, fantasies and
Most Valuable Player
contemporary dramas that foster
Dallas Children’s

multicultural understanding,
Theater most recently
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
confront topical issues and
appeared at the Civic
celebrate the human spirit. Each
Center in April 2013 with The Stinky Cheese Man and
season is thoughtfully chosen to
produce plays that are engaging, their adaptation of Other Fair(l)y (Stoopid) Tales
enriching, and educational. Jon Scieszka’s
Young King Arthur
The True Story of the

Three Little Pigs.
The True Story of the Three Little
Pigs
Des Moines Performing Arts
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Stuart Little Curriculum Guide
ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND THE ILLUSTRATOR

www.mutantspace.com
Every piece of art — a book, a E.B. WHITE, ABOVE: Artist Thomas Allen creates book
art by cutting illustrations to create a 3D
painting or a performance — is THE AUTHOR
image. Above is a piece he created using a
created by a person or a group Elwyn Brooks White was born in Garth Williams illustration from Stuart
of people. Learn about E.B. Little.
Mount Vernon, New York in 1899.
White and Garth Williams, the
For many years, he was GARTH WILLIAMS,
artists who created the book that
contributing editor of The New
inspired the show. THE ILLUSTRATOR
Yorker magazine. However, E.B.
Garth Williams was born in New
White is best known for his
York City in 1912. His parents
children’s books.
were from England and were both

artists. His father was a cartoonist
The character of Stuart Little first
and his mother was a landscape
appeared to E.B. White in a
painter. He studied architecture
dream in the 1920’s. White wrote
and worked for a time as an
a few episodes about this boy
architect's assistant before
who looked like a mouse and then
deciding to become an artist.
tucked the stories away in a

g drawer, thinking he might
a.or someday share them with his Generations of children picture
phili nieces and nephews. Some their favorite fictional characters
sso twenty years later he expanded as drawn by Garth Williams: the
o
gl dapper mouse Stuart Little; the
w. and collected the stories as Stuart
Ww Little, published in 1945. It was kindhearted spider Charlotte and
her friend Wilbur in Charlotte’s
Author E.B. White. White’s first children’s book.
Web; and characters in The Little

House on the Prairie books by
His second book was Charlotte’s
Laura Ingalls Wilder. He also
Web, in 1952, which is one of the
wrote the text for seven children's
most popular children’s books of
books, but it is primarily as an
all time and was named as “the
illustrator that his work is
best American children’s book of
cherished.
m the past two hundred years” by
o
gspot.c TAhsseo Ccihaitldiorne.n ’s Literature He said that he used his
o illustrations to try to "awaken
bl
ons. From 1933, E.B. White lived on a something of importance . . .
m
mile farm in Maine with his wife, humor, responsibility, respect for
u others, interest in the world at
g Katherine. He died in 1985.
e
m large." Garth Williams died in
Illustrator Garth Williams. 1996.
Des Moines Performing Arts
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THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PRODUCTION
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There are many jobs in the ACTORS PROPS MASTER
theater. From the people who Actors are all of the people who The props master carefully reads
develop the show to the you see on the stage. They work the script and collects, buys, or
performers on stage, it takes a lot together as a team to rehearse makes any of the objects that an
of effort and teamwork to bring a the play, memorize their lines, and actor picks up or carries.
story to the stage. tell the story.
BACKSTAGE CREW
Help your students think about SET DESIGNER There are lots of people
the many jobs in the theater by
The set designer creates the backstage who build and operate
reviewing the following about the world where the actors tell the the scenery, costumes, props,
people who work to create the
story. The set designer imagines lights, and sound during the
play Stuart Little.
and draws all of the pieces that performance. They rehearse with
you see on the stage. The set the actors to learn their "cues"
AUTHOR designer also figures out how the and make the show run smoothly.
Some musicals and plays are stage changes from scene to
inspired by books. E.B. White’s scene. STAGE MANAGER
Stuart Little was adapted for the During the show, the stage
stage production that you will see. COSTUME DESIGNER manager "calls the cues," which
The costume designer works with means he or she makes sure all
WRITER OF THE the director to create the clothes the show elements, like lights,
STAGE ADAPTATION and costumes that the actors sound, and actor entrances and
wear to help them become the exits are timed correctly.
A play based on a book has to be
characters. Each actor may have
adapted for the stage. The writer
many "costume changes.” AUDIENCE
must take the story from the book
and figure out what to keep, take There can be no performance
out, or add to make the story work LIGHTING DESIGNER without you, the audience. You
for the stage. The lighting designer makes sure are a collaborator in the
the audience can see what they performance and your polite
DIRECTOR are supposed to see and use attention and applause is one of
lighting and effects to create a the most important parts of any
The director is in charge of telling
mood or scene. live show.
the actors where to go on stage
and how to interpret their
characters. The director guides all
the designers to makes sure
everyone is telling the same story.
Des Moines Performing Arts
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Stuart Little Curriculum Guide