Talespinner Children’s Theatre
Founded in 2011, Talespinner Children’s Theatre is Cleveland’s dedicated, theatrical home for all children and families, creating inclusive, accessible, and meaningful professional productions and educational opportunities that engage, empower, and inspire.
Talespinner Children’s Theatre is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2011 by Alison (Ali) Garrigan. After many years of dreaming of a professional children’s theatre for the young people and families of her community, the moment that put things in motion came about at a Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) artists’ meeting, when Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan, asked what was missing from the theatre world of Cleveland. “A professional children’s theater” was the resounding response. Ali knew it was time to go to work, envisioning “something that was smart and unique, a place where children would be honored and engaged, as well as a place where artists could have a voice, stretch and grow.”
Find a Program taught by Talespinner children’s theatre
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to story time at the library, of course! The children like the chicken, the chicken likes the children, and everyone loves story time. So it’s no surprise that more children (and more chickens!) get in on the fun until there are more kids and critters than the librarian knows what to do with. Luckily, the librarian comes up with a creative solution and manages to find little R & R too.
Age: PreK & K
Length: 40 minutes
Available: Anytime
Cost: $582
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Students will work as a class to create and then construct a new imagined community - where they make all the rules! Students are responsible for determining age appropriate and social studies standards-based decisions, such as:
-what is the lifestyle of the people who live in our community?
-what buildings does our community need?
-is our community urban, rural, or suburban?
-what services will our community require?
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Create an original creature on paper, then transform them into a puppet! We’ll bring our creatures to life by determining how they look, feel, act, move, and talk!
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TCT can join your classroom weekly and support phonetic development through theatre games! Play different sound and movement games coordinating to different graphemes and phonemes to support your students in developing their literacy foundations.
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Want to have a school play? Need support in executing your school play? We are here to help! We can produce the play you’ve already committed to or help you find the right fit for your students, from musicals like Willy Wonka to plays like The Phantom Tollbooth.
*If you do not have rights or scripts purchased, the additional residency cost for rights, scripts, costumes, scene items, and props is $2,000 (per 35 students). If you already have rights and scripts the additional program cost is $1,000.
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Picking either a story known by your students or an entirely new one, TCT can transform any book into an acting experience! Learn, rehearse, and perform one of the favorite stories from your classroom or your curriculum for peers and parents.
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Wiggle, Giggle, and Grow is a SEL class disguised as a dance class! Created with thought for students who love to move, wiggle, and play, this class will satisfy all of their antsy and energetic needs. Sneakily though, this class will also support your students in developing SEL skills such as awareness of personal space, emotional awareness, emotional regulation, listening, cooperation, and more!
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This longer acting course is a great opportunity for any group of students looking to enhance their public speaking and performance skills, strengthen their community building and ensemble skills, and indulge their creativity in a productive and expressive manner. Students will learn the 5 tools of the actor (concentration, cooperation, imagination, body, and voice) and work independently, in partners, and in groups. Students will learn and perform a short scene for one another in small groups or partners.
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Musical Theatre students will learn the fundamentals of singing, dancing, and acting and explore classic and relevant musical theatre examples. The students will select a musical number (from a limited list) to learn and perform at the end of the residency!
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Center age and grade appropriate exploration of simple and complex feelings, coping skills, and self-expression through poetry and theatre. All students will write and perform an original poem in a style appropriate to their age and grade standards.
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Learn or review grade appropriate the parts of speech through various theatre activities before working in small groups to write and perform and original story using MadLibs as a jumping off point!
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Need some physical fun, creative problem solving, and community building time? This one time workshop is designed to get students up and active and working together. Students will learn age-appropriate games, songs, and dances - the perfect brain break in a busy day!
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Watch TCT bring The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter to life with our traveling puppet show! The interactive show will have your students begging to turn all their favorite books into puppet shows. Luckily for you, following the performance all of the students (and teachers) will get the chance to learn how to manipulate a puppet themselves! This one-time workshop is designed to engage students in storytelling and reading through puppetry.
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Meditation and Movement is a 30-45 minute program for curious, explorational, and growing Pre-K – 1st graders. Students will begin the session with a series of stretching exercises designed to stimulate and activate the young brain and body, providing them with increased focus and confidence throughout the day. Once students have finished making their pizzas, riding roller coasters, and turning into butterflies (stretching), they will go on a “relaxation vacation” (guided meditation). Lying or sitting in a comfortable position, students will be invited to close their eyes and listen to a story in which they are the main character. Choosing from a variety of “stories”, students will be guided through a meditation in which they visit a location and encounter a safe space they are allowed to customize themselves. Prompted to use their imaginations, each student will learn how to gradually relax their minds and bodies and gain more control over their emotions and emotional reactions. Based on physical education, dance, and social emotional learning standards, this program will provide young students with opportunities to increase their standards-based skills in an exciting, personal, and fun way.
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CAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BADGES EARNED
CAL's Teaching Artist Professional Development series provides a complete system to effectively prepare, professionalize, and recognize teaching artists' unique skill sets. Learn more about this initiative.
From sun-shining spring to snow-falling winter, this much loved story is brimming with ideas, characters, live music and wonderful physicality. The Hare and Tortoise in the greatest race on earth with a nail biting, seconds ticking, medal winning end…hare & Tortoise
Age: PreK-3rd
Length:40 minutes
Available: Anytime
Cost: $582
Program Artist:
Talespinner Children’s Theatre