FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Pat Verner Program Director

2,000 Students See Arts Council Programs in Fall

More than 12,000 local school students and teachers saw a professional performing arts program this fall, thanks to the arts council's Students Take pART in the ARTs program.

Students in grades 4 and 5 traveled to the Kannapolis Performing Arts Center at A. L. Brown High School for a truly amazing performance of The Amazing Adventure of Anna Marie by the Open Dream Ensemble.  The performance by eight graduates of the NC School of the Arts combined live music, drama and dance. 

Both students and teachers had high praise for the musical drama:

• I think it was a good idea to book this play.  It really inspired me to not be afraid to ask questions."  5th grade student
• You always do good performances.  That's why every time I see Cabarrus Arts Council in my red folder, I jump for joy!  4th grade student
• It was great for the students to "see" the sounds they normally only hear.  5th grade teacher
• Best program from the arts council ever. 5th grade teacher
• It related perfectly to our curriculum.  5th grade teacher
• It was amazing.  5th grade teacher
• These programs are excellent.  I think we are very fortunate to have the Cabarrus Arts Council.  5th grade teacher
• Very "kid friendly," yet challenged thinking.  4th grade teacher
• I liked how it linked to grade 4 curriculum with Ben Franklin.  4th grade teacher
  
  

Middle school students saw two outstanding performers who returned to our schools by popular demand:  storyteller and folklorist Donna Washington and musician Charles Pettee.

Washington had immediate rapport with her audiences, as she opened her performances by talking about how weird it is to be in middle school and demonstrating tongue twisters.  She told sixth graders stories about being yourself, such as The Exploding Frog and Morgan and the Pot of Brains.  Seventh graders heard a personal memoir from when Washington was their age. 

"Ms. Washington was engaging and exposed the students to an artistic medium that they are not accustomed to," said Kelly Burgess, assistant principal at Kannapolis Middle School.  "The students were able to take some of the techniques Ms. Washington used and transfer them to their writing, which is a focus for our school."

Musician Pettee took eighth grade students on a musical historical tour of Southern string music of the 1800s.  He played songs such as Follow the Drinking Gourd and Soldier's Joy on mandolin, guitar, harmonica and banjo as he shared stories and information about slavery, the Civil War and life in the nineteenth century.

Schools received study guides for each of the performances to help teachers incorporate them into the curriculum. 

Students Take pART in the ARTs is made possible by arts council sponsors CT Communications, First Charter and The Independent Tribune.  During the spring semester, students in grades K-1 will see musician Roger Day, grades 2-3 will see Theatre IV in a musical production of Stuart Little and high school students will see the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival's Globe Works featuring scenes from some of the Bard's most popular plays.