“A Book of Hours”
January 16, 10am and 11:15am
A larger-than-life book leads children through familiar daily events using favorite nursery rhymes and songs to tell the story, as well as surprising treasures, puppets, and discoveries. This interactive storytelling performance blends familiar stories together in unexpected ways with a giant pop-up book that reveals things for children to touch, feel, and do. This “pop up performance” at the Old Stone House will be the first public premier of this special story, and it will be available afterward for touring to local schools and playgroups. Ideal for ages 1-5.
Tickets:
$12 children
$15 adults
Tickets here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2483140
Location: The Old Stone House
336 3rd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215
More information: http://www.spellboundtheatre.com/a-book-of-hours
Spellbound Theatre is a not-for-profit organization devoted to creating original, multi-disciplinary performance for the very young. In its fourth year of operation, Spellbound has produced eight original plays for audiences of children ages 0-5 and conducts ongoing early childhood education programs and community events for families with young children. We believe that young people deserve sophisticated and innovative art experiences and we are constantly inspired by the complex and imaginative world of young children. Founded in 2011, Spellbound Theatre was a 2014-15 New Victory Theater LabWorks Artist in Residence, and is currently a company-in-residence at The Old Stone House in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Spellbound is run by a part-time staff of Artistic Director Lauren Jost, and Outreach Coordinators Susanna Brock and Haven Mitchell-Rose, who coordinate the touring school workshops and performances that travel to local preschools, and the Free Family Art Days, which are free monthly art and storytelling events for the whole family. We also have a roster of 10 professional artists and designers who specialize in creating performance for early childhood audiences.
Before We Grew
Ear, Nose, Tail
Storytelling and theatrical performance for children ages 0-5 can have great benefit on emerging imaginations, literacy, cognitive development, and enhances the bond between a child and their caregiver. Despite the myriad benefits, this age group is massively underrepresented in most cultural programming; a deficit that Spellbound seeks to rectify.We are committed to leading the growth of theatre for the very young here in New York (and the wider United States) where it is still a largely under-developed field, and to providing opportunities for Brooklyn artists to make performances for families with children in this very special age range.
Best practices for “baby theatre” as developed by companies in Ireland, Scotland, England, Australia, the Netherlands, South Korea and Taiwan have found that baby theatre is most effective when it:
1) is multi-sensory and interactive, inviting babies and their caregivers to touch and explore different elements of the performance,
2) is immersive and safe, taking place in a contained space free of wires and plugs that children can move around and follow their interest,
3) gentle and non-narrative, with a story that unfolds as a series of visually engaging moments, rather than a plot or character driven text. Frequently, baby theatre is also non-verbal, utilizing physical movement, puppetry, and music to tell the story.
Spellbound Theatre utilizes these best practices and is one of the few producing companies in the United States developing new work specifically for this unique audience.
Learn more about Spellbound Theatre at www.SpellboundTheatre.com. Get notification about events by liking our face book page (http://facebook.com/spellbound-theatre) or following us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/spellboundtheat) or joining our mailing list (http://www.spellboundtheatre.com/contact-us).
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March 5-20
“Babywild”
“Babywild” is for our youngest audience members – ages 6- 18 months.
Babywild will combine simple, visual storytelling and puppetry. This simple story uses multi-sensory and texture-rich objects and materials. The children and their adults will be invited to explore this area and touch, move, crawl into, around, and over these objects as their interest and ability allow, and enjoy a gentle story to begin and end the show. A perfect introduction to the theatre for the very youngest children.
Tickets:
$35/family (one child and 1-2 adults)
On sale soon – email info@spellboundtheatre.com to join our mailing list and get notified when tickets are on sale
Location: The Old Stone House
336 3rd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215
More information: http://www.spellboundtheatre.com/babywild