Arts Alive! March 2021
Kevin McKillip Leads Shakespeare Acting Workshop for Teens
Exploring Shakespeare: Love! Death! Language!
Verse! Violence! Prose! Swords! Character!
Power! Tears! Comedy!
On March 13, Addison teens had the Zoomortunity to master a monologue from one of Shakespeare’s plays with the help of award-winning actor and director,
Kevin McKillip. He provided one-on-one coaching to help actors conquer the language and meaning behind scenes of love, envy, violence, and sorrow.
During the class, everyone explored and got a better understanding of the works of the greatest poet in the history of the English language. After a brief look at Shakespeare’s writing and history, each student was given a speech from one of his plays, and coached through a way to make this monologue real and fun, with techniques from the masters.
Elizabeth Lynch of the Addison Public Library had this to say about how McKillip worked masterfully with an ESL student:
"Kevin did an incredible job and I really think he helped our participant gain confidence with her English. I was really impressed with the way he integrated ESL. He helped her to find natural pauses, emphasize the right words, and understand the meaning behind the symbols and metaphors. She seemed to have a lot of fun and also strengthened her reading and speaking in English. I was also able to connect her with some of our ongoing conversation and reading groups for English Language Learners, so hopefully her experience has also made her a regular library user. "
Verse! Violence! Prose! Swords! Character!
Power! Tears! Comedy!
On March 13, Addison teens had the Zoomortunity to master a monologue from one of Shakespeare’s plays with the help of award-winning actor and director,
Kevin McKillip. He provided one-on-one coaching to help actors conquer the language and meaning behind scenes of love, envy, violence, and sorrow.
During the class, everyone explored and got a better understanding of the works of the greatest poet in the history of the English language. After a brief look at Shakespeare’s writing and history, each student was given a speech from one of his plays, and coached through a way to make this monologue real and fun, with techniques from the masters.
Elizabeth Lynch of the Addison Public Library had this to say about how McKillip worked masterfully with an ESL student:
"Kevin did an incredible job and I really think he helped our participant gain confidence with her English. I was really impressed with the way he integrated ESL. He helped her to find natural pauses, emphasize the right words, and understand the meaning behind the symbols and metaphors. She seemed to have a lot of fun and also strengthened her reading and speaking in English. I was also able to connect her with some of our ongoing conversation and reading groups for English Language Learners, so hopefully her experience has also made her a regular library user. "
Arts Alive! Virtual Puppet Workshop March 2021
The Puppet Workshop, held on Zoom on March 4th and 11th and run by award-winning artist and educator Cathleen Schandelmeier, was a blast of fun and creativity from start to finish. In the first session, Cathleen started by introducing the participants to the basic concepts of storytelling and puppetry. Together with Cathleen, participants put together a story and created their first paper bag puppet. By the end of the first session, most of the participants had completed their puppet and were ready to put on a quick show.
In session two, Cathleen did a quick review on what participants had worked on the week before and then assisted the kids to make two new puppets. The kids who came to the second session really enjoyed creating additional puppets.
Thanks to the DuPage Foundation, Addison Public Library and Cathleen Schandelmeier for helping our students let their imaginations run free!
Below: The kit of puppet-making supplies distributed to each student.
In session two, Cathleen did a quick review on what participants had worked on the week before and then assisted the kids to make two new puppets. The kids who came to the second session really enjoyed creating additional puppets.
Thanks to the DuPage Foundation, Addison Public Library and Cathleen Schandelmeier for helping our students let their imaginations run free!
Below: The kit of puppet-making supplies distributed to each student.
Virtual Performance of "The Nutcracker" Enchants the Students of ASD#4
Above: Teachers in Addison Elementary District 4 share a socially-distanced and masked performance of "The Nutcracker" by the Salt Creek Ballet during remote classes in December 2020. Courtesy of Addison Elementary District 4 Music Team
The Addison Center for the Arts was proud to partner with the Salt Creek Ballet Company, The National Endowment for the Arts, the DuPage Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council and Addison Elementary District 4 to present a performance of "The Nutcracker" to hundreds of kindergarten to eighth-grade students during remote learning music classes in December.
In the past, the Addison Center for the Arts has hosted the Salt Creek Ballet at the Addison Trail High School auditorium for student performances.
Since the students couldn't be bused in as usual for a live performance this year, the Salt Creek Ballet produced a version of "The Nutcracker" that teachers could stream for their students during remote classes.
The Salt Creek Ballet always provides enriching study guides for the students and teachers to get the most out of this special performing arts experience.
The general music team for District 4, Kris Brokos, Elyse Willis, Jamie Mason, Lisa Kargl, Lawrence Underwood and Karlene Prieboy, give some inspiring insights into musical education in 2020: "It was so amazing to be able to see a new performance of 'The Nutcracker' during this challenging time of remote learning. The music team misses being able to put on concerts and doing large special events. During a normal school year, students are preparing for musicals, singing at tree lighting ceremonies, or learning choreography to dance as cups of hot chocolate or Frosty the Snowman in school performances. These social, cultural, and musical events create excitement and long-lasting memories. This virtual field trip to Salt Creek's beautiful ballet felt very special. Tchaikovsky's music and Salt Creek's costumes, scenery, and choreography, brought smiles to our student's faces, even over Zoom. There was an element of "the show must go on."
"The dancers in masks performed socially distanced choreography and it made us feel that although it may be challenging, maybe we can still do big things in the time of COVID-19.
Annette Leiber, president emeritus of the Addison Center, discusses the organization's partnership with the Salt Creek Ballet. "The Addison Center for the Arts is grateful to the National Endowment for the Arts for their flexibility in granting us the funds to bring a remote-learning production of The Salt Creek Ballet to the schools this year," Leiber said. "We have partnered with the SCB for live performances many times over the years. Favorites for the public and parochial students have been 'The Carnival of the Animals' by Camille Saint-Saëns' and Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker'." Study guides are provided to teachers and students to prepare them for the ballet. The costumes always hold a great interest for the children."
Theater and dance performance opportunities are scarce during an epidemic. These are tough times for cultural nonprofit organizations. Most have had to cancel their fundraising events that keep them afloat financially.
If you can, please remember the Salt Creek Ballet Company and the Addison Center for the Arts when considering your end-of-year charity donations.
Both SCB and ACA have donation information on their websites: saltcreekballet.org and addisoncenterforthearts.org.
The Addison Center for the Arts was proud to partner with the Salt Creek Ballet Company, The National Endowment for the Arts, the DuPage Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council and Addison Elementary District 4 to present a performance of "The Nutcracker" to hundreds of kindergarten to eighth-grade students during remote learning music classes in December.
In the past, the Addison Center for the Arts has hosted the Salt Creek Ballet at the Addison Trail High School auditorium for student performances.
Since the students couldn't be bused in as usual for a live performance this year, the Salt Creek Ballet produced a version of "The Nutcracker" that teachers could stream for their students during remote classes.
The Salt Creek Ballet always provides enriching study guides for the students and teachers to get the most out of this special performing arts experience.
The general music team for District 4, Kris Brokos, Elyse Willis, Jamie Mason, Lisa Kargl, Lawrence Underwood and Karlene Prieboy, give some inspiring insights into musical education in 2020: "It was so amazing to be able to see a new performance of 'The Nutcracker' during this challenging time of remote learning. The music team misses being able to put on concerts and doing large special events. During a normal school year, students are preparing for musicals, singing at tree lighting ceremonies, or learning choreography to dance as cups of hot chocolate or Frosty the Snowman in school performances. These social, cultural, and musical events create excitement and long-lasting memories. This virtual field trip to Salt Creek's beautiful ballet felt very special. Tchaikovsky's music and Salt Creek's costumes, scenery, and choreography, brought smiles to our student's faces, even over Zoom. There was an element of "the show must go on."
"The dancers in masks performed socially distanced choreography and it made us feel that although it may be challenging, maybe we can still do big things in the time of COVID-19.
Annette Leiber, president emeritus of the Addison Center, discusses the organization's partnership with the Salt Creek Ballet. "The Addison Center for the Arts is grateful to the National Endowment for the Arts for their flexibility in granting us the funds to bring a remote-learning production of The Salt Creek Ballet to the schools this year," Leiber said. "We have partnered with the SCB for live performances many times over the years. Favorites for the public and parochial students have been 'The Carnival of the Animals' by Camille Saint-Saëns' and Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker'." Study guides are provided to teachers and students to prepare them for the ballet. The costumes always hold a great interest for the children."
Theater and dance performance opportunities are scarce during an epidemic. These are tough times for cultural nonprofit organizations. Most have had to cancel their fundraising events that keep them afloat financially.
If you can, please remember the Salt Creek Ballet Company and the Addison Center for the Arts when considering your end-of-year charity donations.
Both SCB and ACA have donation information on their websites: saltcreekballet.org and addisoncenterforthearts.org.
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Girls Scouts SU 537 - "Staying Connected through Art"
<---Click the sunflower to see the exhibition!
“GIRL SCOUTS SAFELY PIVOT TO AN ON-LINE ART EXHIBIT IN LIGHT OF COVID-19 RISK”
As an annexed facility to Addison Trail High School with shared District 88 resources and policies, The Addison Center for the Arts closed in March and has yet to reopen to the public. Naturally, the ACA had to postpone planned events and exhibitions. One of those events was the annual Girl Scouts SU 537 art exhibit and reception in June. Showing characteristic resilience, the girls suggested that the exhibit could be moved on-line. The Addison Center for the Arts is delighted to work with the scouts and host “Staying Connected through Art,” a virtual art exhibit on AddisonCenterfortheArts.org starting the first week of August 2020.
Girl Scouts Service Unit 537 proudly belongs to Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. They are a younger girl service unit that includes the Daisy, Brownie and Junior levels of Girl Scouts. There are 297 girls and 146 adult volunteers in 31 troops.
“This year our Girl Scouts have had their cookie season interrupted, summer camps and troop camping trips cancelled, programs and meetings postponed, changed and cancelled. They have not been able to do a lot of things that they normally do since COVID-19 came into the picture, but being able to stay connected through art was a wonderful opportunity to come together as a service unit during this difficult time.
“Art has always been and will always be one of the most special, creative outlets for our girls. The girls have made new friends through art, share and display their art for others in their communities through murals, kindness rocks and buddy benches. They have created art that will have a lifelong impact on their schools, places of worship, parks and homes.”
~Heather Leslie, Troop Leader from SU 537
Marcus Pacheco and Dr. Lauren Keller of Addison encouraged the development of “Staying Connected through Art” by sponsoring the virtual exhibit.
"Dr. Keller and I have been profoundly impacted by Scouting and 4-H programs from our involvement in elementary school through the point of aging out. We believe these organizations offer a solid, well-rounded foundation for early development of leadership and problem solving skills by exposing members to a wide range of programs including fine arts, civics, computer coding, manufacturing and construction, nature conservation, first aid and others that could lead to future career choices.
By giving back to the organizations that helped shape us into the adults we have become, we feel that we can do our part to build a stronger community, together."
~Marcus Pacheco, Board Member of the Addison Center for the Arts
One of the benefits of on-line art shows is that they can be enjoyed for as long as there is computer server space available to host them. Service Unit 537’s “Staying Connected through Art” will remain accessible on the AddisonCenterfortheArts.org website for the immediate future.
Opera in the Neighborhood
Excitement and energy filled the auditorium at Addison Trail High School as 1,894 elementary school students anticipated the production of "The Scorpions Sting”.
The Lyric Opera of Chicago's Lyric Unlimited performance is part of their "Opera in the Neighborhoods” initiative.
"The Scorpions Sting" is a delightful story that takes place in the Egyptian dessert where a group of archaeology students try to find their professor who, unfortunately, has been stung by a scorpion. While attempting to find a cure to the professors wound, the group stumbles upon the Lost Temple of Isis, the ancient Egyptian Goddess of Healing and by reading the hieroglyphs the mythological story unfolds.
Addison Center for the Arts is proud to have been the first in the suburban area to present the “Opera in the Neighborhoods” 23 years ago. Since 1994, the Center has presented the performances in collaboration with Lyric Opera of Chicago's Lyric Unlimited. This program is partially funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (Arts in the Communities Grant), the Illinois Arts Council Agency and the Addison Center for the Arts.
The Lyric Opera of Chicago's Lyric Unlimited performance is part of their "Opera in the Neighborhoods” initiative.
"The Scorpions Sting" is a delightful story that takes place in the Egyptian dessert where a group of archaeology students try to find their professor who, unfortunately, has been stung by a scorpion. While attempting to find a cure to the professors wound, the group stumbles upon the Lost Temple of Isis, the ancient Egyptian Goddess of Healing and by reading the hieroglyphs the mythological story unfolds.
Addison Center for the Arts is proud to have been the first in the suburban area to present the “Opera in the Neighborhoods” 23 years ago. Since 1994, the Center has presented the performances in collaboration with Lyric Opera of Chicago's Lyric Unlimited. This program is partially funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (Arts in the Communities Grant), the Illinois Arts Council Agency and the Addison Center for the Arts.
Arts Alive : An After School ProgramThe Addison Center for the Arts has offered Arts Alive: An After School Art Program to junior high students in out community since 2013.
Arts Alive is offered once again to Indian Trail Junior High School students in grades 6-8. The program enables students to participate in dance, music, theater and visual arts workshops. Mentors offer their expertise while working with students in the arts, above and beyond their academic studies, in a safe setting after school hours. Arts Alive is funded by the JCS Foundation through the DuPage Community Foundation, the Addison Center for the Arts and Addison School District #4. We believe arts education fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and appreciation of other cultures, as well as helps students develop skills that can be used throughout life. In our Arts Alive program, mentors offer their expertise while working with students, many of whom would not otherwise have the exposure to certain disciplines due to the course of their academic studies. Partial funding for Arts Alive is provided by the DuPage Foundation. The ACA was one of 30 not-for-profit organizations in DuPage County to receive a grant from the 2013 Fall Discretionary Grant Cycle of the DuPage Foundation, which is based in Wheaton, Illinois. |
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Opera in the Neighborhoods: Second Nature (Nov. 2015)Opera in the Neighborhoods brings live performances of youth-focused operas to neighborhood venues throughout the Chicago area. (See more here.)
A new, original youth opera commissioned by Lyric Unlimited from the brilliant young composer the Wall Street Journal called “the next Leonard Bernstein.” Set in a future where humans have turned their backs on nature, Second Nature tells the story of two inquisitive and courageous young people who decide to leave the safety of their artificial habitat and work to heal the planet. This entertaining and thought-provoking opera will delight students and inspire further exploration. ~Matthew Aucoin |
“Sleeping Beauty: Aurora’s Wedding” by Salt Creek Ballet (Sept. 2015)The Addison Center for the Arts presented Salt Creek Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty: Aurora’s Wedding with Lecture Demonstration on September 17, 2015.
The ACA was thrilled to bring Salt Creek Ballet’s classic version of Sleeping Beauty: Aurora’s Wedding to Addison Trail High School. There were two performances, which were designed for students in grades 2-5. The performances were accompanied by a lecture demonstration, which highlighted the vocabulary, movement and history of ballet. More than 1,700 local elementary school children attended the two performances, many of them attending from Addison School District #4. |
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