Pollyanna Theatre Company Presents UNDER THE BIG TOP

Central Texas' most well-known children's theatre company, Pollyanna Theatre in Strategic Alliance with the Long Center, presents UNDER THE BIG TOP- An Interactive Theatre Experience for Very Young Children by playwright Bethany Lynn Corey, November 4-7 and 11-14 at 9:30 and 11:30 am at the AT&T Conference Room the Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 West Riverside, Austin, TX 78704.

Created to engage children as early as 18 months - 4 years of age, UNDER THE BIG TOP uses a visual theatre style performance and dramatic play alongside the actors. It is classified as 'Theatre for the Very Young' (TVY) - an umbrella term often used to describe a variety of theatre work and practices intentionally designed for children under the age of six and the first of its type in Austin. While TVY is widely performed in Europe and Australia, it has only begun to appear in the US within the past 10 years.

Judy Matetzschk-Campbell, Ph.D., Founder and Artistic Director of Pollyanna Theatre is thrilled to provide this type of theatre for the very young. "Traditionally, Pollyanna patrons are slightly older and more developmentally ready to be audience members who participate by using their imaginations but not their voices or bodies. Younger children, ages 2 - 4, learn through actively playing. So this newest series of productions provides a bridge for them to merge their natural instincts for dramatic play with a story that invites them to participate. It is a true hybrid of creative drama and theatre for young audiences. For many of these children, it will be their first exposure to a formal theatre experience. We are so excited that they will have this very first audience time with Pollyanna Theatre Co."

In the play, two siblings prepare to walk the tightrope, attempt to tame wild animals and try their hand at juggling. They also become circus animals, try out some tricks and learn a few things about friendship as they work and play together, along with the audience.

The playwright, Corey, has an extensive background in both Drama and Education and is currently a Drama Specialist for the Creative Learning Initiative in the Austin Independent School District and also served as an Early Learning Manager for the Thinkery, the Children's Museum in Austin, focused on STEAM education.

When it comes to her process, she says, "I focus on creating an immersive experience, a world with childlike characters going on a journey of some sort. Having worked with early learners as an educator I think about what young children know and where they are developmentally as I craft a story. I find discovery, especially the sheer joy in experimenting with a new object, to be one of the most exciting parts of a young child's world. So I always include lots of opportunities to explore and discover within the pieces I create."

In addition to public performances, UNDER THE BIG TOP is also available for schools, daycare centers and camps throughout Central Texas.

ABOUT POLLYANNA THEATRE COMPANY: The founders of Pollyanna Theatre Company believe that theatre is a powerful teaching tool that speaks to people of all ages in a unique and powerful way through a variety of visual, aural, and emotional languages. Therefore, theatre should be a part of all general education from pre-kindergarten through adulthood. Toward that end, The Pollyanna Theatre Company strives to work alongside educators to inspire, motivate, and teach audiences of all ages. Although the company's primary focus is upon young audience members, the ensemble performs top quality theatrical productions that speak to and illuminate the human spirit and condition for all ages. www.pollyannatheatrecompany.org

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT: Bethany Lynn Corey serves as the Drama Specialist for the Creative Learning Initiative in the Austin Independent School District. Prior to this she served as the Early Learning Manager for the Thinkery, a Children's Museum in Austin, TX, focused on STEAM education. She received her M.F.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, where much of her research involved the use of drama and theater for children under the age of six, and a dual B.A. in Music and Theatre for Children and Public Communications from American University. Bethany has worked nationally and internationally as an actress, director, and teaching artist. She identifies herself as a teaching artist, as she places equal value on both her educational and artistic work, with her practice firmly rooted in theory and scholarship. As a teaching artist, Ms. Corey has worked on curriculum development, in-class residencies, and teacher training programs for a wide range of organizations, including Drama for Schools, Paramount Theatre, Trike Theatre, and Imagination Stage. As both an artist and an educator, Ms. Corey is uniquely prepared to create early childhood work of equal artistic and educational significance. She has numerous credits as an actress, director, choreographer, and theater-maker. In the past five years, her work has shifted to focus on creating original work in Theatre for the Very Young, theatrical performances specifically designed to serve children under the age of six. Her work led to the creation of the SPARK! Theatre Ensemble as well as original pieces produced by Trike Theatre and Pollyanna Theatre.

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