Music for Kids
On Stage, Everyone! On With the Show! — Julie’s Greenroom
The curtain is about to open on an exciting new offering from Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton, Lisa Henson and a whole host of others, including brand new Henson puppets! It’s a wonderful opportunity for kids (and not-kids) to learn stagecraft and to experience all that the arts has to offer in a person’s life.…
Read MoreSinging and Acting — Lessons for Life (and for Writing)
This post could be subtitled “Words of Wisdom from Bruce Coville (with embellishments by Beth).” I first encountered Bruce Coville, author of middle grade fantasy novels and other such wondrous things, at the Summer 2011 conference of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in Los Angeles, SCBWI LA ’11. Not only did he…
Read MoreJulie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton on The Great American Mousical — Interview
I am honored and delighted to present this interview with both Emma Walton Hamilton and her mother, Julie Andrews. What a gift they have given us all in agreeing to this interview! As those of you who are regular readers of my blog know, my Wednesday focus this fall is the upcoming musical production, The…
Read MoreWhat Do Katherine Anne Porter and The Great American Mousical Have in Common?
Katherine Anne Porter was an essayist, novelist, social critic, Pulitzer Prize winner, who learned to be a survivor from an early age, and whose writings reflected her understanding that no matter how difficult life gets, one must hold on and go forward. As a brief biography on the PBS website states, “Often concerned with the…
Read MoreWaiting in the Wings — From Children’s Books to Musicals
Many successful children’s books have received a new life as stage musicals. Peter Pan has been soaring across stages on Broadway and beyond since Mary Martin first enticed Wendy and her brothers to Never Never Land. Mary Poppins began as a movie musical, written by the Sherman brothers, but has found a happy home on…
Read MoreMusic in the Schools, Minnesota Sinfonia — Spotlight Worthy
As I mentioned in Monday’s post, I am honored today to be interviewing Jay Fishman, Executive and Artistic Director of the Minnesota Sinfonia. Jay was the founder of the Sinfonia, which is a professional orchestra offering all its concerts free to all who want to have access to their music. This policy was inaugurated under…
Read MoreJennifer Kirkeby — Wednesday Worthy
It is an absolute joy to me to have a guest post today from Jennifer Kirkeby. Jennifer is a fellow member of the 12 x 12 picture book challenge, and the Children’s Book Hub Facebook Group, and I am so grateful that because of these groups I have come to know Jennifer, at least a…
Read MoreLlama Llama Sneak Preview!
This post is intended to whet your appetite for Jennifer Kirkeby’s guest post tomorrow about adapting Anna Dewdney’s Llama Llama Red Pajama for the stage. I am grateful to Jennifer (and to the photographer, Bruce Challgren) for allowing me to use these photos on my blog. Sit back, get ready — the curtain is about…
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