the short tree and the bird that could not...
TRANSCRIPT
Educator’sStudyGuide
The Short Tree and the Bird
That Could Not Sing by Dennis Foon
Educator’sGuidecompiledandwrittenbyMeganAlexander,EducationAssociatewithhelpfromEmmaWelch,Education
Intern,andTheUniversityofKansasTheatreforYoungPeopleTeacher’sGuide.
SupportprovidedbyTheRobertandAdeleSchiffFamilyFoundation,
TheJohnA. SchrothFamilyCharitableTrust, PNCBank, Trustee,
TheCharlesH.DaterFoundation, KeyBank, TheHearstFoundations,
TheSutphinFamilyFoundation,TheOhioArtsCouncil, TheShubertFoundation,
TheNationalEndowmentfortheArts, ananonymousdonor,andArtsWave.
The Short Tree and the Bird That Could Not Sing
Cast
Rico Reid plays Short Tree.
Chelsea D. Harrison plays several roles in the Ensemble.
Sam Rueff plays several roles in the Ensemble. Meggy Hai Trang plays several roles in the Ensemble.
Britain Seibert plays several roles in the Ensemble.
Shayna Schmidt plays Bird.
The Short Tree and the Bird That Could Not Sing
PlayhouseProfessionals
Puttingonaplayishardwork!Ittakesalotofpeopleworkingtogethertomakeitreallyspecial.Many
timestheaudienceonlyconsiderstheactors’workonaplay.Butworkingwiththeactorsarethede-
signers,crew,playwrightandadministrationstaff.Asyouwatchtheplay,takeamomenttonoticehow
thedesigns,choreography,musicchoice,andscriptimpactyourenjoymentoftheperformance.
DennisFoon(Playwright)Theplaywrighttakesastoryfromhisimaginationandwritesitasdialogue
inaformatcalledaplay.Aplaymaygothroughmanyrevisionsbeforeitis2inished.
MarkLutwak(Director)Thedirector’sjobistooverseetheentireproductionfromstartto2inish.He
helpscoach theactors to tell thebeststory theycan.Hecollaborateswith thecreativedesignersand
productionstaffsothateverythingworkstogethertotellthestory.
TracyHoida(StageManager)Thestagemanageristhelinkbetweenallofthepeopleinvolvedinpro-
ducingashow.Sheschedulestherehearsalsanddrivesthetourvantoeachshow,makingsureevery-
oneandeverythingisintherightplace.Sheisalsoinchargeofallthesoundscuesyouhearintheshow.
MelanieBurgessandKatStromberger(Set,Costume&PropertiesDesigners)Thedesignersreadthe
playoverandoveranddecidewhattheywanttheworldoftheplaytolooklike.Theysketch2irst,then
talktothedirectortoseeifanychangesneedtobemade.Theirdrawingsgototheproductionstaffwho
createthe3-Dpiecesfromthedesignplans.Thedesignersneedtomakesurealloftheircostumesand
setpiecesworktogethertotellthestory.
ProductionTeamTheproductionteamisagroupofskilledcarpenters,painters,stitchers,cutters,buy-
ersandotherswhousethedesigns,thedirector’sideas,andtheirownimaginationsandskillstocreate
thepuppets,paintthebackdrops,constructtheprops,andbuildthecostumes.
AlyMichaud(Choreographer) The choreographer devises the dance routines or stylizedmovements
andteachesthemtothecast.
KendraStruthers(MusicDirector)Themusicdirectorcoachesthecastonthevocalarrangementsin
theshow.Sheworkswiththemontempo,pitch,andharmony.
KristinSchneider(CommunityOutreachCoordinator)Theoutreachcoordinatorisresponsibleforpro-
motingtheplaytocommunitygroupsandorganizations.She2indslocationswheretheplaycanbeper-
formedoutsideofthetheatreandschools.
PattyRosely(Development)Thedevelopmentdepartment’sjobistoraisemoneyfortheproductionof
eachshow.Theyreceivedonations,hostfundraisers,andcreatepartnershipsthatbene2itthePlayhouse
andthecommunity.
An original backdrop sketch and model
by Melanie Burgess.
SYNOPSIS
AShortTreewishesthatitcouldgrowupbigandtallliketheothertwoBigTreeslivingnexttoitina
northernforest.WhenJackandJacques,twolumberjacks,cutdowntheBigTreesandpluckweelittle
Flowergrowingnearby,theShortTreefeelsvery,veryaloneintheworld.ABirdthatcannotsing2lies
inandlearnstoliketheShortTree.Theybecomegoodfriends.Soonafter,theymeetaBoaConstric-
tor,andtheBirdhelpsit2inditsowner,Aragula,asnakecharmer,whotakesitbacktothecircus.A
redBalloon,namedNobody,2loatsin,lookingforasafeplacetolive.TheBirdhelpstheBalloon2ind
itsfriends,theGreen,Blue,andYellowBalloons,hidinginthecloudsforsafety.Astimepassesandthe
ShortTree’sleavesstarttoturnyellow,theBirdmustleavehimand2lysouthforthewinter.
Duringthelongcoldwinter,theShortTreefeelsmorelonelythaneverwithitsbarebranchescovered
insnow.ASquirrelhibernatesinsideaholeinitstrunk.TheShortTreemeetsitsShadowthatplays
withitduringtheday,andtheNorthWindsingstoitatnight.TheBigDipperappearsandexplains
howtheShortTreeonce2lewhighintheskyasaseed.Meanwhile, fromasouthernbeachnearthe
ocean, theBirdwritespostcards to theShortTreeaboutheradventures.Touristswant theBird to
stopsinging.FishsnapattheBirdwhile2ishinginthewater,andanAlligatortriestoeattheBirdina
swamp.
As the snowmelts and springtimearrives, the ShortTree starts feeling growingpains andworries
about theBirdmaking itbacknorth. Jacquesand Jack try tocatch theBirdwithanet,but theBird
managestoescapethesehunters.Meanwhile,theSquirrelcomesoutoftheShortTree’sholeand2inds
aMate.ABabyTreesproutsnearbyandtheShortTreetakescareofit,astheyhearahorriblenoise.
TheBirdthatcouldnotsinghasreturned,andtheShortTreeintroducesittoallitsnewfriends.The
BirdissohappytobebackhomewiththeShortTreeanditsfriendsthatitsings!
F i n d t h e bo o k at y
o u r l o c al
l i br ar y , on l i n e f o r
s al e , o r u s e
t h e P D F co p y p r o v
i d e d by th e
P l ay h o u se o n y o u
r S MA RT bo ar d
at s c h o o l!
Puppets! ThisproductionofTheShortTreeandtheBirdThatCouldNotSinguses7puppetstohelptellthestory.
Somearehandpuppets,othersarestickpuppets,andsomearehalfpuppet,halfcostume!Usethese
ideasandthelinkslistedontheClassroomConnectionspagetocreateyourownclassroompuppets.
Aragulaiscontrolledwithonearm
behindthepuppetandonearmin
thecostume.
The2ishislikeagiantopenumbrella,andcanbe
easilyfoldedupandtakenontheroad.
Thesquirrelsaretwohandpuppets.Make
yourownbycuttingoutthebottomofastuffed
animalandtakeoutallofthestuf2ing.
Thealligatorisalargehandpuppetwithanoper-
atingjaw.Itsteethweremadetolooklikehuman
teethsoit’snottooscary!
Theboaconstrictorpuppetisover5feetlong!Theinsideismadeoutof2lexibledryertubes.
Short Tree and the Four Seasons
FALL
SUMMER
SPRING
WINTER
Birdcan2lySouthforthewintertostaywarm,butShortTreeisrootedinhisspotforthewholeyear.
Use these illustrations from thebook to discuss fall,winter, spring, and summerwith your students.
Makecopiesforthemtocutoutandmatchwiththewords.Theycanusethetemplateonthefollowing
pagetocreateatreeintheirfavoriteseason.Allowthemtousecrayonstodrawtheface.Thencutup
tissuepaper,scrapbookpaper,wrappingpaper,andotherfunmaterialsfortheleavesandbackground.
1
2
3
4
6
7
Co
nn
ect
th
e s
tars
an
d c
olo
r in
th
e n
igh
t sk
y!
5
CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS
LanguageArtsUsethesevocabwordsinyourclassroomtohelpstudentsbetterunderstandtheplay.
Science
Whycan’tShortTreegowithBird?Usethisstorytodiscussthepartsofatreeandhowitgrows.
WhydoesBirdleaveShortTree?Usethisstorytodiscussmigrationandotherphysicalandbehavioral
traitsoflivingthings.
Havefunwithshadows!Uselightbulbs,overheadprojectors,virtualinvestigationsorcombinationsof
theabovetoexploreindoorshadows.Takeadvantageofasunnydaytoexplorenaturalshadowsout-
side.Challengeyourstudentstomakethemgrowandshrink.Observetheshadowsthroughouttheday.
SocialStudies
TheBird2lewsouthforthewinter.NorthWindblewthroughShortTree’sbranches.Createyourown
compassrosedisplayingthefourcardinaldirections.Illustrateitwithexamplesfromtheplay’splot
andcharacters.
Createaclassroomgamebymatchingactivitieswiththeappropriatephysicalandhumangeographic
environment.Forexample:,theTouristwouldmatchbeach,theAlligatorwouldmatchswamp.
PersonalConnections
Journalquestions:Whoisagoodfriendtoyou?Why?
Howdoyoufeelwhensomeoneyoulikeorloveleavesyou?
Howdoyoufeelwhentheycomeback?
Howdoourfriendshelpus?Asaclasslistexamplesofhowthe
charactersinthestoryhelpedeachother.Thencomeupwith
waysinwhichyouandyourstudentshelpthosearoundyou.Have
studentsdrawapictureorwriteaboutawaytheywerehelpedor
havehelpedafriend.
Art
Usehouseholditemstomakeyourownpuppetstotellastory.Cre-
atethecharactersfromthisplay,oryourfavoritestorybook.Have
thestudentsimprovisethebeginning,middle,andendofthestory
usingthepuppets.Therearegreatresourcesavailableonlineto
sparkideasforyourownclassroompuppets.
Usethesepromptstostartadiscussionorasawritingpromptbeforetheplay.
Faithful Meditate Dozen Disguise Vegetarian Serpent Tourist
Intelligent Lumberjack Hibernate Shadow Migrate Nuisance Breeze
Creative Appetite Branch Seed Leaf Sap Roots
AFTER THE SHOW
Usethesequestionstodiscusstheplaywithyourstudentsfollowingtheshow.
Havequestionsorcommentsabouttheshow?
Wanttowritetotheactors?Wanttowritealettertoyourfavoritecharacter?
Story ♦ WhydidBirdleaveShortTreeinthestory?Wheredidshego?
♦ MakealistofallthefriendsBirdandShortTreemeetinthestory.
♦ DescribeShortTree.DescribeBird.Howaretheythesame?Howaretheydifferent?
♦ Whichwasyourfavoritecharacterinthestory?Why?
♦ Thestorytakesplaceoverallfourseasons.Whichisyourfavoriteseason?Why?Whichseasondo
youthinkShortTreelikesthebest?
♦ WhydoyouthinkBirdliestoShortTreeinherpostcards?
♦ ListallthefeelingsShortTreeexperiencesduringthestory.Describewhatmakeshimchangethe
wayhefeels.Useevidencefromtheplay.
Production ♦ Howdidthepropsandthepuppetshelptellthestory?Drawpicturestohelpexplainwhatyousaw.
Whydoyouthinkthedesignersanddirectorchosetousepuppetsinsteadofcostumesonactorsfor
thosecharacters?
♦ Howdidtheset(backdrop)helptellthestory?Describethelocationinyourownwords.
♦ IfthisstorywasacartoononTVitwouldbeverydifferent.Thinkaboutthechallengesandcreativity
oflivetheatre.WhatdidyouseeinthecostumesandsetthatwasdifferentfromaTVversionofthis
story.
♦ Howdidthemusicandchoreographyhelptellthestory?
Themes ♦ Friendship.Haveyoueverlostafriend?Haveyoueverhadtomakenewfriends?Howdothecharac-
tersinthestorydealwithfriendships?
♦ Sometimesdoingwhatwehavetodo,orwhatisrightisnottheeasiestchoiceorwhatwewanttodo
atthetime.Describehowthecharactersdealtwiththeirproblemsinthestory.