In 1976, Paul Lenzi and Geraldine Ann Snyder became pioneers in theatre by creating new plays written for young audiences. They called themselves the Blue Apple Players. The company merged with Walden Theatre in 2016; together they create Commonwealth Theatre Center. The company continues to tour new plays for young audiences and has expanded its reach by providing theatre education in school classrooms and through our acting conservatory. StoryTime Theatre was developed by Blue Apple’s Education Department in 2012 as a way of introducing students to story genre. In the spirit of the Blue Apple founders, the Outreach Department has created a new, original play each year featuring a different genre of story. This year we remount the first Storytime Theatre play, A Molly Whuppy Adventure. 2012 — A Molly Whuppie Adventure (Folktales) 2013 — Native American Myths 2014 — On the Trail of Daniel Boone (Legends) 2015 — Rumpelstiltskin (Fairy Tales) 2016 — SkyHigh Tales (Tall Tales) 2017 — Fables: Anything But Aesop Guide compiled by Heather Burns and Mera Kathryn Corlett Teacher Guide & Lesson Plan Activities
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ities - commonwealththeatre.org · 2015 — Rumpelstiltskin (Fairy Tales) ... selections from the original script provided on pages 9-10. ... them write the dialogue they have with
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In 1976, Paul Lenzi and Geraldine Ann
Snyder became pioneers in theatre by creating
new plays written for young audiences. They
called themselves the Blue Apple Players. The
company merged with Walden Theatre in 2016;
together they create Commonwealth Theatre
Center. The company continues to tour new
plays for young audiences and has expanded its
reach by providing theatre education in school
classrooms and through our acting conservatory.
StoryTime Theatre was developed by Blue
Apple’s Education Department in 2012 as a way
of introducing students to story genre. In the
spirit of the Blue Apple founders, the Outreach
Department has created a new, original play
each year featuring a different genre of story.
This year we remount the first Storytime
Theatre play, A Molly Whuppy Adventure.
2012 — A Molly Whuppie Adventure
(Folktales)
2013 — Native American Myths
2014 — On the Trail of Daniel Boone
(Legends)
2015 — Rumpelstiltskin (Fairy Tales)
2016 — SkyHigh Tales (Tall Tales)
2017 — Fables: Anything But Aesop
Gu
ide c
om
piled
by
Heat
her
Bu
rns
and
Mera
Kat
hry
n C
orl
ett
Teach
er
Gu
ide &
Less
on
Pla
n A
cti
vit
ies
Omicah House recently joined the staff as an Artistic Associate for the company, but has
been seen in the previous musical tours of Three Pigs, Johnny Appleseed, The Boy Who Cried Wolf and Red Riding Hood. He received a BFA from Roosevelt University’s Chi-
cago College of Performing Arts and has performed in Chicago, NYC, and now Louisville
is where he calls home. Along with performing, Omicah is the Vice President of the Louis-
ville Pride Foundation, which celebrates diversity and contributes to art and community
organizations for youth. You may have seen him in other touring productions, performing
around town, or teaching Blue Apple Outreach Programs at your school!
Annie Smith began work with Blue Apple Players in 2000 as a cast member of touring mu-
sicals. Throughout her 15+ years with the company, she has performed lead roles in more
than thirteen musicals, including the 2017 tour of Red Riding Hood. She has brought prior
administrative & marketing experience from Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys and top hotels in
the area to lead special events, marketing, and other administrative areas. Annie volunteered
for Walden’s Slant Culture Theatre Festival for the last two years in addition to time in sup-
port of the school her young children attend. Annie is married to Corey Smith, a sound
technician she met through Blue Apple more than 14 years ago.
Paula O. Lockhart is excited to return to Commonwealth Theatre Center. In the fall Paula
toured with Red Riding Hood: A Vaudeville Romp. She received her bachelor degrees in
Theatre and Communication from Wesleyan College in Macon, Ga. She is currently com-
pleting her MFA in Performance at the University of Louisville. In the past, she has directed
at Macon Montessori and toured with UOfL’s Repertory Company. When she is not on-
stage, Paula spends her time exploring Louisville, writing, and singing. Past credits include:
Rose from Fences, Abuela from Bloodline Rumba, and Playwright in This Is Not The Play, Persephone/Semele from Polaroid Stories
Jennifer Pennington—Director
Jennifer holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Michigan and a MFA in Theatre
from the University of Tennessee’s International Actor Training Academy. Jen has
worked across the country for over 20 years acting, directing and teaching with companies
such as: Kentucky Shakespeare, Theatre 502, Savage Rose Classical, P.S.Arts, EastLA
Classic Theatre, Inside Out Community Arts, Idyllwild Arts Academy, Michigan Theatre
Festival, Turner House Festival, Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival, Arizona Shakespeare
Festival, and South Coast Repertory. Jennifer has appeared in the past three StoryTime
Theatre shows: A Molly Whuppie Adventure, Native American Myths, Legends—On the
Trail of Daniel Boone, Rumpelstiltskin and SkyHigh Tales. She is currently an Artistic
Associate with Commonwealth Theatre Center.
Tony Smith is very excited to be a part of this year’s StoryTime Theatre tour. He has toured
with Commonwealth Theatre Center’s most recent musical tours of The Boy Who Cried
Wolf and Johnny Appleseed. Tony has spent many years doing Theater for young
audiences, working with companies such as Stage One, Derby Dinner Playhouse, and
American Family Theater in Philadelphia. He has also worked as a Director and Choreogra-
pher for various productions throughout the Louisville and Southern Indiana area. Tony also
delves into the arts of Stand-up Comedy, Improv, and Aesthetic Bodybuilding. He hopes to
spend as much time performing on Louisville stages as he can.
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3
Designed for Pre-K and Kindergarten Classes
In this activity students will explore the plot sequence of the
story. As a class, list moments the children remember from
the play. While often we encourage thinking about the story in
a linear way, it is best if they are allowed to brainstorm organi-
cally. Next, break into small groups and give each group a
large piece of paper. Assign each group a moment mentioned
in the brainstorm session. They should work as a team to
draw a picture of their assigned moment. As they are working,
move around the room asking students about the picture and
transcribing their answers. After pictures are complete, return
to working as a class to move the images into the order they
occurred in the play. Explain that when you put them together
correctly it creates what we call a story plot. Hang the pictures
sequentially around the room and invite students to walk the
plot of the play.
A folktale is a type of story that started out
being shared from person to person. No one
knows who first started telling the story. In
this way, the folktale is a great example of oral
storytelling tradition.
Explain to your class that, before people
had movies or television and before there
were even books, people told stories. Story-
telling happened most often with a person on
their feet and sometimes even included the
listeners to participate.
Next use this link to watch Storyteller
Anndrena Belcher tell the story “The Two
Gals” (the full URL can be found on page
__). Ask students to reflect on the play and
this new story. Then give them the handout
found on page 6. Have them list as many
similarities and differences as they can from
the two versions. You can have them work
individually or in groups.
Designed for Second Grade Classes
-
Recall: Gather Facts
What story elements
made Molly Whuppie
a folktale?
Interpret: Find Meaning
Why was Molly the
hero of the story?
Analyze: Take Things
Apart
How did Molly help
each of the characters?
Synthesize: Bring Things
Together
What lesson does this
story teach? Do you
think it is a good story
to tell?
Directly following the play,
lead a discussion using the
questions above. For older
classes you can use the
questions as writing prompts.
Designed for First Grade Classes
A colloquialism is a local or regional expression. It’s a kind
of phrase you might hear used by many people in one
particular part of the country, but you many not hear at all in
places outside of that region. Discuss with your class how in
A Molly Whuppie Adventure the actors use many colloquial-
isms from Appalachia. Naturally the students may come up
with phrases that they heard in the play or at home. Often
classrooms from students from other parts of the country, ask
if they can think of phrases that they use. Next, use the
Colloquialism Match-Up handout on page 5. You may
choose to have students work on these handouts individually,