Student Matinee Season Announcement

By Jennifer Luck, Director of Education and Outreach

Registration is almost open for the 2013-2014 Student Matinee Season, but for now we are thrilled to announce the shows being offered to our school audiences for 13-14 school year!

Check back at: http://www.austintheare.org/studentmatinees  - Registration will be open very soon!

The Science of Magic
Mon, October 21st at 10 AM & Noon
Tues, October 22nd at 10 AM & Noon

The great Harry Houdini played the Paramount in 1916 and now the Paramount Theatre is bringing magic (AND SCIENCE!) back to the stage!

For centuries magicians have used scientific principles to make people levitate in mid-air and vanish in the blink of an eye. Illusionist Bill Blagg’s one-of-a-kind educational experience, The Science of Magic takes students on a rare, never-before-seen journey “behind the scenes” of the magic world. Students will discover firsthand how magicians use the Scientific Method to create the impossible!

Premiering at the Paramount in 2012, Bill Blagg returns with even more thrilling examples of how all magic can be explained by science!

Best for 1st Grade and Up!

Pickle Elementary Science Residency

By Chad Dike, Education and Outreach Program Manager

Stacey Volland and I have had an amazing time working at Pickle Elementary School this year.  Through the T5 program (Teaching the TEKS Through Theatre) we spent 8 months with a group of 4th graders working to understand various concepts in science.  We worked on everything from mixtures and solutions, to the water cycle, to different forms of energy.   Today, at our last session, we were presented with some cards to thank us for coming, they also demonstrated lots of the learning that happened in class.  

Interview with Katie Kohler, Story Wrangler Company Member

By Pierce Purselley, Literacy to Life Program Manager

We sat down with local artists Katie Kohler, who is a Paramount Story Wrangler, and asked her about her experiences with the Wranglers.

What is a Paramount Story Wrangler?

A creative collaborator who brings children’s written stories to the stage before their very eyes.  They share a passion for the arts and for extending artistic opportunities to others.

What makes the Paramount Story Wranglers special?

The people who come together to put up the shows, the kids who write the stories and their reactions when they see their story performed, the teachers and parents that also see and hear about the kids’ excitement and creativity.

What’s your favorite memory of being a Paramount Story Wrangler?

The song at Blackshear Elementary “Rock Out”…Just Awesome…It was my first Paramount Story Wrangler show.  So Happy.

Many times the Story Wranglers gives back to us adults too.  The Paramount Story Wranglers helps me get over my fear of singing in front of others to better my acting career.

Keep up to date with all things Story Wranglers by liking us on Facebook.

Technique Intensives Grades 6 – 12!

Moontower Comedian to Teach Stand-Up Comedy Intensive

by Chad Dike, Education and Outreach Program Manager

We are REALLY excited to announce Maggie May will be the instructor for our Stand Up Comedy Intensive.  Maggie Maye has always had a knack for making people laugh. From her first time on stage, she knew she loved stand up more than she loved candy. Well, it’s actually a tie, but still, that’s a lot. Maggie has been called one of the funniest comics in Austin, has been a finalist in the Funniest Person in Austin contest, and was featured in Austin Monthly magazine. I’ll bet you can probably guess where this broad lives. She’s also been a featured performer at FunFunFun Fest, Bridgetown Comedy Festival, and the Women in Comedy Festival. She has had the opportunity to share the stage with such awesome performers as Todd Berry, Earth Wind and Fire, Hannibal Buress, Janeane Garofalo and the legendary Paul Mooney. Also, this 6-year-old once told her she was the funniest person ever, so she’s got that going for her. Maggie likes to use her charm, wit and backhanded form of observational humor to make people laugh and think. Please give her candy and tell her it’s working.

To sign up for the Stand Up Comedy Intensive click here.

To see Maggie May Perform during Moontower click here.

Boats is coming Stateside at the Paramount

By Stacey Volland, Education and Outreach Program Associate and Curriculum Specialist

Boats is visiting the Stateside Theatre from Tasmania! Students have been participating in pre-show workshops for the past three weeks to prepare for the performance. You can check out our public Playtime Series performances on April 13^th and 14^th! Pre-show crafts will begin an hour before the curtain. Here is a sneak peak of the study guide that all kids in attendance will receive!  Boats_StudyGuide

Also Do512 has a family 4 pack to give away for both 4:30 shows this weekend.  Check out our great write up here.

The Paramount Story Wranglers are Beginning to Rehearse Again!

by Pierce Purselley, Literacy to Life Program Manager

After a winter of slumber, teaching, and lots of oatmeal cream pies The Paramount Story Wranglers are bringing to life stories from Allison, Hart, Brentwood and Highland Park Elementary this semester.

The Paramount Story Wranglers wrote with over 200 students this semester and have collected all of their journals to create 4 awesome musical-sketch-silly-hungry shows that showcase all of these talented young artists and authors.