PURE IMAGINATION. . .WILLIE WONKA STYLE!
In 1998, Capital Playhouse began a new program called the Page to Stage Theater-Literacy Program.
The Goal:
. . . to bring the written word to life on stage for students and families involved in literacy and reading programs throughout South Puget Sound.
The Hope:
. . . to spark their imagination and to inspire in them a desire to learn to read by uniting literacy and live theatre.
Some Page to Stage History:
Capital Playhouse’s Page to Stage Theatre-Literacy Program celebrates its 13th year in 2010 featuring our magical production of Willie Wonka based on the delightful book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, authored by Roald Dahl.
Page to Stage 2010 is doubling the number of youth served annually! A total of 7000 area students between the ages of 5 and 18 will have participated in our program to date by summer’s end. Although the majority of Page to Stage students reside in Thurston County, we also include students from Ft. Lewis Army and McChord Air Force bases in Pierce County as well as students in Lewis, Mason and Kitsap counties. Some 1000 students will participate this summer. A record attendance!
In past years Page to Stage included a community-wide festival focused on reading and performing which, in 2009, featured participation by Olympia Timberland Library, The South Sound Reading Foundation, Barnes & Noble, YMCA’s Arts Alive program, Aurora Valentinetti Puppet Museum, Hands On Children’s Museum, DougLuce Puppet Productions and Kids on the Block.
The Festival Grows:
The festival was ready and positioned to grow, so this year we partnered with The South Sound Reading Foundation in cooperation with the Olympia Timberland Library and together created a whole new event: Imagination Celebration: Jump into Reading, Performing and Creativity! It was held Saturday, June 19 at the library and there was barely room to move about because it was so well attended by hundreds of children and families! There was magic, readings and book signings by well known children’s book authors, and storytelling – among many other outstanding performances and activities.
During the celebration Capital Playhouse presented talented comic book artist Chelsea Baker who taught children the art and craft of comic book making. The activity focused on a Willie Wonka and pure imagination theme. Love comics? Contact Chelsea at chelseathebaker@gmail.com.
Capital Playhouse offered kids the opportunities to win tickets to Willie Wonka in a raffle contest and to draw “the lucky puppets in the whole world” in the spirit of Willie’s great luck at winning a Golden Ticket to the chocolate factory! Friends of the Olympia Library sponsored the purchase of dozens of copies of the book for youth who signed up for the library’s summer reading program. Thank you, Friends!
Next to the Capital Playhouse Page to Stage booth was DougLuce Puppet Productions who staged “Treasure Bound: Literacy on the High Seas,” a highly entertaining, professional production with an excellent message about what a real “treasure” books and reading are. For more information about master puppeteers Dan Luce and Shawn Douglas and puppetry in Olympia visit www.plopolympia.org.
A salute to our community partners who provide transportation for their students to the theater venue and who participate along with their students in the reading and study guide portion of Page to Stage. Thanks to all the Capital Playhouse staff and our wonderful volunteers!
For more information about Page to Stage 2010 and 2011 please contact Ann King, Education Director at 360-943-2744 ext. 14 or ann@capitalplayhouse.com.
