Purple Crayon Players

2011-12 Season

2011-05-30T10:55:00.000-05:00

We are proud to announce....

Our 2011-12 SEASON!!

AMBER WAVES

By James Still

Produced by Claire Kennedy

Directed by Dylan Pickus

November 18-20, Shanley Pavilion

BOCÓN

By Lisa Loomer

Produced by Nick Day

Directed by Sammy Zeisel

March 10-12, Shanley Pavilion

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

By Harper Lee, Dramatized by Christopher Sergel

Produced by Alison Mahoney

Directed by Ellen Abram

McCormick Auditorium

Special Projects:

PLAYGROUND

Fourth Annual Festival of Fresh Works

Written by professional TYA playwrights

Directed by Northwestern University undergraduates

On Beyond Zebra!/Mulberry Street/Oh, The Places You'll Go

A Collection of Dr. Seuss Stories

Written and Directed by Sean Brennan

Performance dates & location TBA!

Blue Violets

A devised collaboration with young women.

Directed by Catherine Mounger, Claire Kennedy

Produced by Michelle Rodgers

Performance dates & location TBA!

2011-12 Special Project Petitions!

2011-05-23T16:45:00.003-05:00

2011-12 Special Project Petitions!
You have ideas! We want to hear about them!

— Perhaps Purple Crayon should do a workshop with an inner-city group you've worked with...
— Or maybe you've always wanted to adapt your favorite children's book for the stage...
— Or perhaps you'd love to devise a brand new play with 8th graders from Evanston!
We're looking for those awesome, creative ideas for special projects to complement our 2011-12 season!
_________________________________
Come share your ideas in just 3 easy steps!

1) Sign up for a time: HERE!
— Thursday, 5/26 | 10pm-12am
— Sunday, 5/29 | 4pm-6pm

2) Fill out a quick online form: HERE!

3) Show up for your time!
Please email us at purplecrayonplayers@gmail.com if you have any questions!

Getting ready for PLAYground 2011!

2011-05-16T19:30:00.000-05:00

3rd Annual PLAYground Festival! — May 21

FREE ∗ Alvina Krause Studio, Annie May Swift Hall ∗ Directions

You're invited to be a part of the development of a professionally written script!
For the 3rd Annual PLAYground festival, we have three hilarious, fun and extremely well written scripts, including our first musical, with music composed by the late Frank Loesser (Guys & Dolls). Come see the most exciting mash-up of the Northwestern and professional theatre worlds all year!

Of Mice and Manhattan
12 PM ∗ By Barry Kornhauser & Frank Loesser ∗ Directed by Cat Alter

Of Mice and Manhattan takes us on an adventure through New York City with a strong-willed young mouse named Pip and his determined mother Dora. When people move into the apartment that houses their hole, they become intent to find the Bronx Zoo. During the adventure, Dora and Pip meet many different animals who either help them find their way or test the strength of their relationship. Through a lot of laughs and some near-death experiences, we learn the real power of the relationship between a child and mother.

Selective Cartoons
4 PM ∗ By Emma Caywood ∗ Directed by Abby Pajakowski

Selective Cartoons shows the life of Ellie, a second grade girl who has selective mutism, where she is too afraid to talk in school even though she can joke and play with her dad at home. She brings the second-grade girl in her dad's comics, Kaya, to life in her imagination in order to be her inner voice as Ellie works her way through the scary struggles of day-to-day life. Through Ellie's journey, we see what bravery really is.

With Two Wings
6 PM ∗ By Anne Negri ∗ Directed by Rebecca Dumain

With Two Wings is a coming-of-age story about mythological bird-people. A young fledgling boy, Lyf, lives in the forest far away from the rest of civilization with his parents, who want nothing more than to protect him from any danger or pain. For years, Lyf accepts the rules his parents make up and the stories they tell him -- until, that is, one day when a young fledgling girl and her twin brother stumble upon Lyf's home, forcing him to reevaluate his understanding of the world.

Preview of our upcoming season!

2011-05-02T17:23:00.000-05:00

purple crayon players proud to announce…

The 2011-2012 Producers/Directors for

Purple Crayon Players!!

Fall Shanley

Produced by: Claire Kennedy

Directed by: Dylan Pickus

Winter Shanley / Spring Tour

Produced by: Nick Day

Directed by: Sammy Zeisel

Spring McCormick

Produced by: Alison Mahoney

Directed by: Ellen Abram

Check out S'Morey Time!

2010-09-23T10:45:00.001-05:00

S'MOREY TIME!

Come eat s'mores, listen to stories, mix and mingle, and get to know the Purple Crayon Players tonight at 7:00PM on the Lakefill Bonfire Pit! See you there!

Didn't Get a Chance to Sign-Up at the Activities Fair?

2010-09-21T02:36:00.000-05:00

NO PROBLEM!

Send a message with your NAME and EMAIL to purplecrayonplayers@gmail.com to get signed up for our Class of 2014 (or 13, 12, 11...) listserv! If you are interested in Acting, Directing, Teaching, Production, etc., feel free to specify in your email to get additional information about that area.

It was so good to see you all at the Activities Fair and StuCo Info Night today! We, the Purple Crayon Players, hope you get a good night's sleep and have a wonderful first day of classes (accompanied by a killer cup of coffee from Norbucks, of course!).

WELCOME CLASS OF 2014!!

WHO ARE WE? Part IV - Education Team

2010-09-20T19:16:00.001-05:00

It was so good to see you all at the Student Activities Fair today! You probably met a lot of the board, but now get some more details on our Education Team!

Also, we look forward to seeing at Student Theatre Info Night tonight at 8:30PM in Fisk 217!

***

Name: Robyn Char

Position on PCP: Education Director

Year in School / Major: 2012 / Theatre

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Blackberry

Favorite TYA Play or Musical: Tale of a West Texas Marsupial Girl by Lisa D'Amor

Why You Joined PCP: I believe that in college, your world should never stop growing. With Purple Crayon Players, I interact not only with some pretty cool theatre students, but also other campus groups, the Evanston comunity, schools throughout Chicago, passionate artists across the country, and beyond! The work (and play!) that PCP does is a celebration of imagination, exploration, and collaboration. By creating and facilitating Theatre for Young Audiences, we invite the youngest generation to engage in their world imaginatively, passionately, and thoughtfully. The only thing as beautiful as a child at play is an adult rediscovering how to play, and as a member of Purple Crayon Players, I get to see them both!

Name: Allison Finn

Position on PCP: Education Director

Year in School / Major: 2012 / Theatre and International Studies, Creative Writing for the Media

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Mango with hot fudge from Toscanini's in Boston (Go there. It's worth a pilgrimage!)

Favorite TYA Play or Musical: The Yellow Boat by David Saar

Why You Joined PCP: I, like seemingly every other theatre freshman, had worked at arts summer camps and taught youth theatre in high school. I knew that theatre education was something I wanted to explore in college, but wasn't sure how, especially since I had so many other diverse interests. I decided that I would devote freshman year to branching out and trying new things, so I jumped at the chance to produce Purple Crayon Players' first annual PLAYground festival in the spring, even though I never dreamed of producing before and was probably woefully under-qualified. PCP somehow decided that they could entrust Alyssa Ramos and I with the festival of new Theatre for Young Audiences plays and the professional playwrights that went with them. It ended up being the most rewarding experience I'd ever had in the theatre - and I realized that I'd found both my group of people and a way to combine my passions for theatre education and community outreach with my interest in learning how theatre companies run. The last two years have challenged me in the best possible way, given me a community, and proved that I made the right choice.

One Piece of Advice for Freshmen at NU: Create your own definition of success. This is an incredible place with a wealth of opportunities, but it can get competitive and it sometimes seems that you have to follow a certain path to be successful. Ignore that. Explore diverse interests and don't play it safe. Success isn't necessarily getting a lead role or landing a spot in this or that group. It's your experience and that's all that matters.

Name: Dana O'Brien

Position on PCP: Education Director

Year in School / Major: 2012 / Theatre

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Chocolate with Toffee Pieces in it

Favorite TYA Play or Musical: I'm going to cheat at this one a little by saying Remember Me Like This by the Albany Park Theater Project, which blew my mind and restored any faith I might ever potentially lose in the power of young people to create incredible, world-changing art.

Why You Joined PCP: I love teaching, and I've always been really interested in pedagogy and education policy. Purple Crayon is a group of some of the most intelligent, thoughtful, kind, committed, fun and innovative people I have ever met, and I was extremely intrigued and excited by PCP's work with theatre for young audiences. Needless to say, I wanted to be a part of all that, and working with the education team has been one of the most fulfilling and productive things I've done at Northwestern, and has taught me more than I ever thought it would about life and kids and theatre and myself.

WHO ARE WE? Part III - Literary Manager

2010-09-19T18:44:00.000-05:00

Hello again! Read on to learn all about our Literary Manager, Abby Schwarz, who is currently studying abroad in Vina del mer, Chile!

Also, be sure to catch all of the Players at one of these two exciting activities at Northwerstern!

Student Activities Fair - Louis Room, Norris University Center; Monday, September 20th, 2:00-5:00PM

Student Theatre Info Night - Fisk 217; Monday, September 20th, 8:30-10:00PM

We hope to see you there!

***

Name: Abby Schwarz

Position on PCP: Literary Manager

Year in School / Major: 2012 / Performance Studies and Anthropology

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Soy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Favorite TYA Play or Musical: Anon(ymous) by Naomi Iizuka

Why You Joined PCP: I joined PCP as an FBR (Freshman Board Representative) at the beginning of my freshman year for a million reasons, three of them being: I love TYA, I love the people on Purple Crayon (then and now!), and I look good in purple.

One Piece of Advice for Freshmen at NU: Try new things! You may never have planned on stage managing, acting, taking a philosophy class, or working on a film set, but if you try, you may end up with a new passion. At the same time, be careful of the classic NU overload. It's okay not to do EVERYthing! Don't forget to take care of yourself and leave some time for spontaneous fun and relaxation.

WHO ARE WE? Part II - Tour Managers

2010-09-16T22:15:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Part II of WHO ARE WE?, your chance to get to meet all of the players on Purple Crayon Executive Board. Today, take a look into the brains and lives of our Tour Managers, sophomores Amelia Hefferon and Jordan Johnson!

Also, check back soon for more information on how you can get involved with Purple Crayon Players early on this year, starting with the Student Activities Fair this Monday, September 20th from 2:00-5:00PM in the Louis Room of Norris University Center! And don't miss Student Theatre Info Night the same night, Monday, September 20th, at 8:30PM, location TBA!

***

Name: Amelia Hefferon

Position on PCP: Co-Tour Manager

Year in School / Major: 2013 / Theatre

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Cookie Monster (Blue Moon ice cream plus Oreos)!

Favorite TYA Play or Musical: The Phantom Tollbooth adapted by Susan Nanus

Why You Joined PCP: I think collaboration between students of all ages is one of the most effective and beautiful forms of education. I want to work with and from young audiences for the rest of my life.

One Piece of Advice for Freshmen at NU: Be brave! Do what scares you. Show us how wonderful you are!

Name: Jordan Johnson

Position on PCP: Co-Tour Manager

Year in School / Major: 2013 / Theatre

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Cookies 'N' Cream

Favorite TYA Play or Musical: Honk! by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe

Why You Joined PCP: I love theatre. I love kids. I think I saw that Purple Crayon fills a void in the NU arts community, specifically reaching out to young audiences. I was drawn in by how passionately my fellow PCPeers work toward not only producing awesome theatre, but also being leaders in the arts education community.

One Piece of Advice for Freshmen at NU: Focus on the BIG PICTURE! You'll get so caught up in the fourteen shows you're working on this quarter, all your a cappella rehearsals, the all-nighter research paper writing, all while trying to balance a social life...just remember that you have a lifetime to be stressed, but only a few short years of the college experience. Focus all your energies only on what you REALLY love!

WHO ARE WE? Part I - Technical Director

2010-09-14T11:30:00.000-05:00

Hello and welcome to WHO ARE WE?, a series of posts where you can meet each one of the Purple Crayon Players! Throughout New Student Week, check back regularly to find out who we are, what we do, and what our favorite ice cream flavor is. And don't be shy - comment on the posts and tell us all about yourself. We would love to meet you!

So read along, meet the players, and let's welcome to campus Northwestern University's Class of 2014!

***

Name: Melanie Gertzman

Position on PCP: Technical Director

Year in School/Major: Sophomore / Theatre and Psychology

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Chocolate Brownie / Mint Chip / Strawberry / Cookie Dough (basically, I love all ice cream!)

Favorite TYA Play or Musical: I LOVED PCP's adaptation of The Phantom Tollbooth by Susan Nanus, and that show is one of the reasons I really wanted to be a part of the Purple Crayon family!

Why You Joined PCP: BECAUSE IT'S THE BEST GROUP ON CAMPUS! Seriously, I joined because PCP shares the same love I have for children and theatre, and we all think it is really important for children of all ages to be exposed to theatre. TYA is theatre for all audiences, and PCP strives to fulfill this. I love everything that PCP stands for, and it is truly a family. Joining PCP is the best thing I ever did, and it is some of the most important work I will ever do.

One Piece of Advice for NU Freshmen: Don't hesitate to get involved! Jump right into a project. It's the best way to find your niche. Also, come in with an open mind. Life at NU is different from any other experience, so please don't come in with any pre-conceived notions of what college life is like or should be like. Try to have a lot of fun and enjoy everything you do. Take one thing at a time and live moment to moment. AND JOIN PCP!!! We're a family and we want you to be a part of it!

Summer Session 2 - "Young people...are the LAST ones we should forget."

2010-08-22T16:38:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the second edition of Purple Crayon's Summer Session, a series of posts to keep you updated on all the amazing things our board members are doing over summer vacation. Below, see what Alyssa Ramos, one of our Special Events Coordinators, has been up to as she works with the Cardboard Citizens across the pond in London, England!

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I spent this summer working for Cardboard Citizens, a theatre company in London that works exclusively to serve the homeless and ex-homeless population of the city.

Most of the company's work is that of Forum Theatre, a technique of Augusto Boal's famous Theatre for the Oppressed. In Forum Theatre, after seeing the play all the way through once, the audience gets the chance to replace the protagonist and suggest - and act out - different choices in difficult situations. When presented with plays about homelessness, family, love, and addiction, this proved an impeccably affective way for Cardboard Citizens to engage their target homeless and ex-homeless audience. I watched during workshops and training weeks, open-mouthed, as vitally important dialogues began, sparked by moving theatre experiences.

For years, they've been offering all this exciting programming to and targeting their forum theatre productions at adults. Through working with Cardboard Citizens, countless adults with experience of homelessness were able to find a means of expressing themselves, with people willing to listen, and to help them create art they are proud of. The company is there to support them - anyone who attends a meeting or a workshop is automatically a "member" (much like PCP's philosophy, "once a player, always a player!") - not to mention help them find jobs they love. I was SO excited to be a part of this company (and shamlessly hounded the Youth & Employability Programs Project Director for an internship slot, which she apparently loved, thank goodness!).

So, solid. Solid company, goals, work - what's missing? A youth program. Thankfully, last year, Carboard Citizens realized that homeless youth have vastly different experiences, needs, and priorities from homeless adults. Seems obvious, yes? But how often do we ignore teenagers, as some weird in-between age between child and "real person," where you're supposed to grow up, happy to be left alone? And what happens if you don't have the "given" of a family, or even a home, as a support system? Cardboard Citizens launched ACT NOW, a youth theatre collective to try to be a part of that support system - weekly theatre workshops as a structure, an outlet, a safe space and a community, with a final production at the end of each session so the young people could show everyone, and themselves, that not only were they making progress - building confidence, developing skills - but they were making art.

When I came to London in June, just in time for the third and final session of the ridiculously successful launch year, I had no idea what to expect from the directors and teaching artists - no concept of how they would make this seemingly amazing project come to fruition. I was partly worried because the first thing most people said to me when I said, "I'm working with homeless youth this summer," was, "Aww! You're so charitable!" I got angry, thinking, what does that have to do with it?! These young people have voices and minds, we just have to give them the space to use them! The young people themselves must often be met with this general patronizing air. And so when my boss told be I would be in the rehearsal room each afternoon, I was thrilled, and a little anxious.

At first, welcomed by the directors, I participated in the games and ensemble exercises, but I quickly realized that my voice would drastically alter the play they were making if I continued to contribute it, and it wasn't my show or my process. So I stepped out, and I took notes. Notes upon notes upon notes, noticing how the directors demanded a level of professionalism and energetic focus from the participants, whether or not their key (social) worker was ringing their cell phone; witnessing that the best work came out of troublemakers when it was their responsibility to lead their peers in staging their own story; realizing how important the 6-hour intensive rehearsals really were to a great many of the participants. They could speak there, and play, and test out ideas.

And then stories that ended up in the final play were the stories that they told, and that they needed to tell. And each performance, people listened, and were moved.

I became a fervent proponent of this project, and I proceeded to do everything I could to expand it and help it thrive, creating lesson plans for reflection, newsletters for youth communication, and Facebook-ing like crazy. Although I did a lot of other varied things at Cardboard Citizens this summer, being a part of that show-making process, just a teensy part of the whole of ACT NOW - because finishing the year-long sequence also gives you credits toward other classes and, eventually, certificates and degrees or even university or drama school - re-invigorated me to the possibilities of theatre that comes from a community, that works as a structure and a stepping stone to important, tangible things like jobs, education, relationships, public speaking skills, and confidence.

Even just the young people's energy, infectious as they celebrated making something awesome that they cared about, undeniably confirmed how important it is to take that first step and give people a space for expression and creation. Young people, who often feel their true selves, are stifled, are the LAST ones we should forget.

And so I am excited to try my hand at new techniques, with a newfound energy emanating from my deep-rooted beliefs in theatre for, with, and by youth and communities. This Special Events Coordinator is unbelievably pumped to work through PCP and with inner-city high schoolers this fall to create some immediate, beautiful theatre. We hope you're getting excited too!

In hopes that I kept most of the British slang out of there, cheers!

Alyssa
Special Events Coordinator

Winifred Ward Award Acceptance Speech

2010-08-13T13:59:00.002-05:00

Check out the acceptance speech Jacob gave at the AATE conference after Purple Crayon received the Winifred Ward Outstanding New Children's Theatre Company Award!

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“At an AATE workshop in 2008, members of Purple Crayon Players were asked to pretend for a moment that they were teenagers. We didn’t have to think back very far.

To be considered colleagues here is an honor in itself. To receive this award affirms one of our essential beliefs: not only can people of all ages connect with Theater for Young Audiences, people of all ages can create a brighter future for Theater for Young Audiences.

Thank you to our ardent proponents, Sandy Asher and Drew Chappell, playwrights who tell the stories of our field. Thank you to our steadfast mentors, Rives Collins and Betsy Quinn, who have inspired our story by sharing theirs. Thank you to our tireless peers collaborators (some of who are sitting right over there) past and present. Thank you AATE for validating our emerging voices.

Here’s to more songs, more stories.”

- Jacob Watson

Artistic Director (2010-2011)

Purple Crayon Players

AATE Photos

2010-08-09T13:29:00.002-05:00

Check out a few awesome pictures of some of the Players and friends as who took on AATE 2010: Playing on the Fault Lines this past weekend!

Some of the Purple Crayon Players and their friends jammed out during a night of songs and laughter in the presidential suite with Rives Collins and Don Doyle.

Some of our friends discovered the conference's I-Booth! (From left to right: Jeff Glass, Anakin Morris, Briana Bower)

The board and friends have one of many dinners with the legendary Don Doyle.

Master Storytellers Don Doyle (left) and Northwestern's very own Rives Collins (right) captivate their audience at a Storytelling session.

And a big congratulations to Purple Crayon Players on the Winifred Ward Outstanding New Children's Theatre Company Award received at the conference!

Jacob Watson, the board's current Artistic Director, accepts the award with a rousing speech (left), backed by the stunning Kelby Siddons (Artistic Director '09-'10), Abby Schwarz (Literary Manager '10-'11), Allison Finn (Team Education '10-'11), and the one and only Rives Collins (right)!

Congratulations, PCP!

PCP Takes on AATE

2010-08-05T13:37:00.000-05:00

If you've been keeping an eye on your calendar, you know that today is the first full day of events at the 2010 American Alliance for Theatre & Education Conference: Playing on the Faultlines in San Francisco! Be sure to check back soon for updates from those Purple Crayon Players attending the conference, and take a sneak peak at our very own session, Shifting Ground on College Campuses: Exploring the Undergraduate TYA Model, scheduled for this Sunday, August 8th at 9:15AM. If you're there, say hello to Jacob Watson and Kelby Siddons, who will be facilitating the session with Sandy Asher!

For a closer look at the conference as a whole, check out their website here!

Intern with Purple Crayon!

2010-07-28T15:00:00.000-05:00

Purple Crayon Players is thrilled to announce its first-ever internship program for high school students, held in conjunction with our fall mainstage production of The Wrestling Season by Laurie Brooks. Interns will have the opportunity to be a part of this exciting and dynamic production! Internships are available in both acting and production, and occur for about 10 hours per week, from early October through November 21.

Internship types:

- Acting Internship: Under the guidance of Purple Crayon Players teaching artists and directors, acting interns will write, rehearse and perform a short piece exploring themes found in The Wrestling Season.

- Production Internship: Production interns will work alongside members of The Wrestling Season team to learn what goes into designing and creating a full-scale production. Production interns may specify an area of interest (costumes, scenery, lighting, sound, publicity, etc.) to learn about in greater detail.

Details:

- All interns will be paired with Purple Crayon Players team mentors to answer questions, advise, and help make the internship experience unique for each individual.

- All interns must be current high school students in the Chicagoland area, who have access to transportation to and from Northwestern University.

- The deadline for program applications is Friday, Oct. 1, 2010. This program is completely free—all you need to provide is your own transportation to and from Northwestern University and the enthusiasm to learn about theatre!

To download an application, go to our website (www.purplecrayonplayers.com) and click on "Internships" under the "Get Involved" bar. For more information, please email purplecrayonplayers@gmail.com, subject line, "INTERNSHIPS."

We look forward to reading your applications!

Summer Session I - "Theatre literally became the only language I had."

2010-07-21T12:26:00.003-05:00

Welcome to the first edition of Purple Crayon Player's Summer Session! Just because school is out doesn't mean the Players' passion for TYA has come to a halt. Join us with updates on our members' adventures all over the world as they spread the love of theatre to young audiences of all kinds.

First up, take a trip with Abby Schwarz, our Literary Manager, to Thailand where she arrived as a performer and educator, and left having learned just as much as she taught.

-----

I have spent a good portion of my time at Northwestern planning, creating, and dreaming up theatre for young audiences (TYA) for our university and the surrounding community with Purple Crayon. This summer, I did pretty much the same thing but under very different circumstances - with a community based theatre company in the lush green countryside of Northern Thailand. I lived and worked with a group of international and Thai students for three weeks, learning about traditional Thai performance and about Thai culture of the past and present. I learned so much from this experience: about theatre, about Thailand, about life.

I found myself thinking about Purple Crayon a lot while I was there, as the majority of the work we did in the community was with and for youth. Working and playing with young people was an unbeatable way to learn about where I was. Every person I met and every experience I had in Thailand was enriching and life-altering in some way. But the interactions I had with youth as a facilitator, as an actor, and as a friend were the ones that I believe wills tay with me the longest and affect me the most.

For me, working with youth is always an unpredictable and eye-opening challenge. But I faced a challenge in Thailand that I had never aced with Purple Crayon or anywhere else: the challenge of working and performing across linguistic and cultural barriers. And huge ones at that. But from the elementary school where we performed children's books to the concrete pavilion where we performed a show our ensemble had written and staged, I communicated with the amazing young people I met through song, dance, and play. We could not pronounce each others' names or have anything resembling a "conversation," but after the exchange of workshops and performances, we were humming the same songs and sharing laughs over the same experiences. Theatre literally became the only language I had.

It is the official opinion of Purple Crayon that young people are brilliant. No matter how many lesson plans we write or educational shows we produce, they will teach us just as much (and oftentimes, it seems, even more). In Thailand, this rang truer than ever before. This was due in part to the design of the program I was in. When we stayed in a remote hill-tribe community, doing workshops with and performances for local youth, they were given space to lead workshops and present performances for us, too. While we taught mask performance and physical theatre, they (with the help of some of community adults) taught us traditional dances and songs. While we performed skits with puppets, clowning and the Thai art forms we had been learning, they performed sword dances and beautiful folk songs.

Just as Purple Crayon has an annual touring show which we bring to schools in and around Evanston, on this program we created a show to go on a kind of mini-tour around the area. The show was an entertaining and heartfelt story about an ant who goes to a bug-school and it not accepted by the other insects there. The ant falls ill and the other insects decide to help her. They embark on a perilous journey to get the ant help on the sun. We focused on Western performance forms that transcend language barriers (like dance, puppetry, and acrobatics), combined with Thai theatre skills and language that avoided these barriers altogether.

As I recover from the most intense case of jet lag, I am meditating on all of these memories, and letting this incredible experience soak in. I am so excited to jump into our 2010-2011 season and see how my experiences in Thailand will fuse with my work for Purple Crayon!

--Abby S.

Don't miss out on Calvin and Hobbes!

2010-05-30T15:19:00.000-05:00

Purple Crayon Players are rounding out our 2009-2010 literary season with Alex Tey and Jake Pollock's adaptation of Bill Watterson's famous comic strip Calvin and Hobbes! The show is free and goes up all this week at 7:30PM (except for Friday at 6PM!) in the Sculpture Garden across from Northwestern University's Theatre & Interpretation Center at 1949 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL. If you're on campus, take an hour study break to check out this truly amazing performance. You won't be disappointed!

Announcing our 2010-2011 Season!

2010-05-25T11:08:00.002-05:00

Take a look at the poster for Purple Crayon Players' 2010-2011 season! If you are interested in getting involved in any of our productions for next year, please do not hesitate to contact us at purplecrayonplayers@gmail.com and we will put you in touch with our lovely producers!

FALL MAINSTAGE

The Wrestling Season

by Laurie Brooks

Produced by Tracey Haneman and Erica Israel

Directed by Alex Tey

Shanley Pavilion, December 2-4

EARLY WINTER SPECIAL PROJECT

Le Ballon Rouge

Based on the film by Albert Lamorisse

A Collaboration by Trina McGee and Jeff Glass

Location TBA

WINTER MAINSTAGE/SPRING TOUR

Doors

by Susan Zeder

Produced by Louis Schermerhorn

Directed by Jeff Glass

Shanley Pavilion, March 10-12

SPRING SPECIAL PROJECT

Luna

by Ramon Esquivel

Theatre for Very Young Audiences

Directed by Dana O'Brien

Louis Room, Norris University Center, May-8

Come Celebrate at Player Day!

2010-05-19T16:39:00.004-05:00

Take a study break and head on over to the South Beach Lawn off of Sheridan Road this Sunday, May 23rd at 11:30AM for Purple Crayon Player's Annual Player Day!

What should you expect?
Games
Grilled Deliciousness
Most Valuable Player Award
Senior Gifts
Bubbles

and...

ALL YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS!

We hope to see you there!

Special Project Petitions

2010-05-15T12:47:00.002-05:00

Have a cool idea for a TYA special project? Want to work on a show in the Louis Room? Missed signing up for our Saturday petition times?

NEVER FEAR! We still have more slots available for tomorrow (Sunday) in University 101! Sign up for a slot now on our Doodle!

Congrats to our 2010-2011 Directors!

2010-05-03T10:20:00.010-05:00

A hearty congratulations to the 2010-2011 Directors of Purple Crayon Players!

Fall Shanley

Alex Tey

Winter Shanley / Spring Tour

Jeff Glass

Thank you so much to everyone who petitioned!

We were blown away by your talent, passion and drive during petitions! We would love to work with you in the future. Please email us at purplecrayonplayers@gmail.com if you have any questions!

Directing Promo Video!

2010-04-27T11:52:00.000-05:00

Still aren't convinced to petition to direct for Purple Crayon Players? Maybe our new promotional video will help you change your mind...

So sign up now at our Director Petition Online Doodle for your very own petition slot today! If you have any questions, be sure to email us at purplecrayonplayers@gmail.com. We can't wait to see you!

(Click on this link to see the inspiration for our video!)

Direct for Purple Crayon Players!

2010-04-26T00:56:00.028-05:00

Do you like MUSICALS?
INTENSE DRAMAS?

FOLKTALES?

Looking for something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?

PURPLE CRAYON PLAYERS is looking for passionate, dedicated directors to help create our 2010-11 Season for Northwestern and beyond!

"Directing for PCP was one of the most challenging, rewarding, and defining experiences of my time at NU."

- Lindsay Hearn, Director

Fall 2009 Fall Mainstage, Holes

TIMES/LOCATIONS:
Monday, April 26th, 11PM-12AM (Rock Room)
Wednesday, April 28th, 11PM-12AM (Chicago Room)
Thursday, April 29th, 11PM-12AM (Chicago Room)
Friday, April 30th, 3-6PM (Parkes 224)
Saturday, May 1st, 3-6PM (Rock Room)

IT'S AS EASY AS 1-2-3!
1. Sign up for a petition time using our Director Petition Doodle!
2. Fill out this ONLINE petition form by 10PM the night before your petition:
3. Show up for your petition on your scheduled day!

SLOTS AVAILABLE:
Fall Mainstage, Shanley Pavilion
Produced by Erica Israel and Tracey Haneman

Winter Mainstage/Spring Tour, Shanley Pavilion
Produced by Louis Schermerhorn

Questions? E-mail us at purplecrayonplayers@gmail.com.

PLAYground Gets National Recognition

2010-04-25T22:40:00.006-05:00

In the most recent edition of Incite/Insight, the American Alliance for Theatre and Education's digital magazine, Purple Crayon Players was recognized for the first annual PLAYground Festival of Fresh Works in 2009. In addition to learning a little bit about the festival's origins, you'll be able to see pictures of the performances, read synopses of the three shows, and even get a sneak preview of the scripts!

Also, be sure to check out the featured article on Funky Snowman, a play/ballet for young audiences put up at North Shore Country Day School in Winnetka, IL this past February. Take look and you'll find three of our lovely board members (Kelby Siddons, Annie Munch, and Alyssa Vera Ramos) and one of our Northwestern peers (Ariel Isackowitz) smiling at you!

You can download a PDF of the April 2010 edition of Incite/Insight by clicking here!

Congrats to our 2010-2011 Producers!

2010-04-21T15:28:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to our 2010-2011 Purple Crayon Players Producers!

Fall Mainstage

Tracey Haneman

Erica Israel

Winter Mainstage/Tour

Louis Schermerhorn

Thanks so much to everyone who petitioned!

We are so incredibly impressed by your talent, passion, and drive during petitions! We would love to work with you in the future. Please e-mail us at purplecrayonplayers@gmail.com if you have any questions!

PLAYground goes up THIS SATURDAY, the 17th!

2010-04-15T17:40:00.008-05:00

Hey everyone!

It’s crazy to think about, but PLAYground: A Festival of Fresh Works, is going up THIS weekend on Saturday, the 17th! The Creator, Tales Between the Threads, and Nasty/Nocturnal are all currently in the throes of tech, gearing up for the big performance on Saturday. We are so excited to meet Jessica Puller, D.W. Gregory, and Ramon Esquivel, this year’s professional TYA playwrights.

Here’s the play schedule on the 17th in the Wallis, and remember, this event is FREE:

The Creator 2:00 pm
Tales Between the Threads 4:00 pm
Nasty/Nocturnal 6:30 pm

And don’t forget about talkbacks and a reception after each show!

So come on down on the 17th to see what is shaping up to a very exciting and unique event. And while you’re at it, check out North by Northwestern's coverage of event!

Congrats to our New Board Members!

2010-04-12T13:58:00.004-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PURPLE CRAYON PLAYERS’ 2010-2011 EXECUTIVE BOARD!

Artistic Director

Jacob Watson

Production Manager

Jordan Puckett

Development Director

Ellen Abram

Outreach Coordinator

Mary Hungerford

Business Manager

Scott Shimizu

Marketing Director

Louis Schermerhorn

Literary Manager

Abby Schwarz

Education Directors

Robyn Char, Alli Finn, Dana O’Brien

Special Events Coordinators

Alyssa Ramos, Alex Young

Tour Managers

Amelia Hefferon, Jordan Johnson

Technical Director

Melanie Gertzman

Thanks so much to everyone who petitioned!

We were incredibly impressed with your talent, passion, and drive, and we sincerely hope to work with you in the future. You are already part of the Purple Crayon community and there are a number of ways to stay involved with out season and special events. Check out www.purplecrayonplayers.com for more infor or come talk to us!

Please email us at purplecrayonplayers@gmail.com if you have any questions!

Petition for Purple Crayon's Executive Board!

2010-04-04T07:10:00.001-05:00

What’s it like to be on the board of Purple Crayon Players?

Here’s what Mary Hungerford, our Technical Director, has to say…

“I can honestly say that being a part of Purple Crayon Players has changed my life. Through my involvement with the group, I find myself honing my skills in both leadership and teamwork, as well as finding a family that I can rely on and who can rely on me. Most importantly, I have discovered a love of TYA that otherwise would have been lost, and through Purple Crayon Players I have found both on-and-off campus events and opportunities to express this as a theatre-goer and an educator. For example, I have been able to make connections with various TYA playwrights and professionals nationwide, brought a show to the Chicago Humanities Festival, and even find myself leading a workshop with the rest of Purple Crayon at the 2010 American Alliance for Theatre and Education Conference this summer in San Francisco!”

Petitions will be held April 10-11 in University Hall 218. You can sign up for a time at our Doodle. and fill out the ONLINE petition form here. All positions are open!

Check out the Facebook event for more info. We can’t wait to see you!

Questions? E-mail us at purplecrayonplayers@gmail.com!

Who are we?

2009-01-20T01:27:00.011-06:00

Welcome to the Purple Crayon Players blog! We will be posting news, updates, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of our Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) productions and programs periodically throughout our season. Subscribe to stay up to date on all things Purple Crayon. What are we all about? The word cloud created from our mission statement at wordle offers some clues, but our website purplecrayonplayers.com can tell you best - check it out!

Kelby on behalf of Purple Crayon Players