StageWrite to Showcase Short Plays by 5th Graders in MUTANT CREATURES & UNLIKELY TEACHERS, 5/14-17

StageWrite, a San Francisco literacy project for kids, now celebrating its 10th Anniversary, presents Mutant Creatures & Unlikely Teachers: Short Plays by Short People at the Koret Auditorium at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park on May 14 and at Brava Theater Center on May 16 and 17. Seven hilarious and insightful plays written by fifth graders of Starr King Elementary School, inspired by works of visual art at the de Young Museum will be performed as staged readings by professional actors and musicians.

Enter a world where paintings draw you in, chicken people invade the Golden Gate Bridge, insects seek revenge, nature goes berzerk, castles burn bright, time ticks away, & fruiticide is an option. Seven hilarious and insightful plays written by fifth graders of Starr King Elementary School, inspired by works of visual art at the de Young Museum. Join the young playwrights as they watch their work brought to life onstage!

The opening performance is for school audiences on Tuesday, May 14 at 11:00 a.m. at the Koret Auditorium at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. Admission is free for students and accompanying adults with advance reservations.

Community performances follow on Thursday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m. and Friday, May 17 at 6:00 p.m. at Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th St., San Francisco. (415) 641-7657. Advance reservations can be made for all shows by visiting www.stagewrite.org. For the May 16 performance at Brava Theater Center, the suggested donation is $10 per person. The May 17 show at Brava is a benefit performance for the StageWrite program, and tickets are $50. The May 17 program begins at 6:00 p.m., with the show following at 7:00 p.m. The de Young performance is free with advance reservations.

About StageWrite - Building Literacy through Theatre: According to cofounder and executive director Elana Lagerquist, "We're focusing on elementary and early intervention for kids who might struggle with literacy.

"Our original goal was to help kids who are disengaged, who have high levels of illiteracy in their families and communities and struggle with basic reading and writing in elementary school, because everything you learn is through literacy. You learn to read, and then you read to learn.

"However," adds San Francisco native Lagerquist, "everything we do works with a wide range of ability levels, including gifted and talented kids who are bored to death in school, as well as kids who are second-language learners who are just trying to get a grasp of English."

Above: In StageWrite's final productions, the playwrights sit onstage to watch their works performed by professional actors. Photo credit: Jeremy Sabol.

StageWrite, a member of Intersection for the Arts' Incubator Program, is an arts-in-education organization using theatre to build literacy skills, community, and self-esteem with inner-city elementary school children. Its goal is to work with students, educators, artists, and administrators to make theatre an integral part of the elementary school experience. Now celebrating its tenth year, StageWrite empowers youth to become actively engaged in their education and passionate about learning through the theatre arts.

Daytime show for school groups on Tuesday, May 14 at 11:00 a.m. in Koret Auditorium, de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park. Free to students and accompanying adults. Community Performance w/ Suggested Donation of $10/seat on Thursday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Brava Theater - 2781 24th Street, San Francisco. Tickets at www.stagewrite.org or by calling Brava Center (415) 641-7657 x1. Tenth Anniversary Performance & Benefit Party (tickets $50) on Friday, May 17 - Celebration at 6:00 p.m., Show at 7:00 p.m. at Brava Theater - 2781 24th Street, San Francisco. Tickets at www.stagewrite.org or by calling Brava Center (415) 641-7657 x1.

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