Rilegato

ISBN 10: 082420851X ISBN 13: 9780824208516

Casa editrice: H. W. Wilson Company, 1993

"Stories on Stage" is the premier collection of scripts for reader's theater. Unlike almost all other collections, its scripts are adapted exclusively from contemporary books and children's magazines, ideally suiting it to making that "literature connection." (Scripts in most other collections are original works by the scripter or adapted from works in the public domain.) Twenty-two scripts present books and stories by twenty-one authors -- authors such as Roald Dahl, Louis Sachar, and Nancy Farmer. Each work is selected for its dramatic quality, literary value, and appeal to young people. Genres include multicultural folktales, fantasy, and humor. Recommended grade levels start at 2 and continue through the highest grades, with the focus on 3 to 9. Innovative scripting provides roles for a maximum number of readers while enlivening the performance. All the scripts may be freely reproduced and performed for any educational, noncommercial purpose. The book's large format and sturdy binding are perfect for easy photocopying and script assembly. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of numerous children's books and magazine stories, as well as three books on reader's theater, "Stories on Stage," "Folktales on Stage," and "Readers on Stage." He spent five years as a professional actor in reader's theater, performing in schools and conducting workshops for teachers, librarians, and students. He now hosts Aaron Shepard's RT Page, the Web's most popular reader's theater destination, with visits by thousands of teachers and librarians each week. 

From the Author:

 "Reader's theater, a key in the literature-based curriculum concept, gets a boost from this collection. . . . The scripts are simple and direct, multicultural, and easily reproducible for classroom use." -- Ilene Cooper, Booklist (American Library Association), Jan. 1, 1994 "An intriguing, well-rounded collection. . . . The tone and content of source material is effectively preserved." -- The Horn Book Guide, July-Dec. 1993 "A well-written collection. . . . These scripts will inspire young actors to read the books." -- Penny Peck, Bayviews (Association of Children's Librarians), Nov. 1993 "Give kids a script and watch them act. . . . Shepard's talent as a storyteller shines out in his adaptations." -- Jan Lieberman, TNT: Tips & Titles of Books, Fall 1993 "What? Don't have time to write up your own scripts for reader's theater? Not to worry. Aaron Shepard will get you started with his stellar scripts -- perfect for duplicating, handing out to your students, and bringing to life. This is one must-have book." -- Judy Freeman, Author, "More Books Kids Will Sit Still For" ///////////////////////////////////////////////// CONTENTS "The Legend of Lightning Larry," by Aaron Shepard "Harriet," by Florence Parry HeideFrom Tales for the Perfect Child "Millions of Cats," by Wanda Gag "Mr. Bim's Bamboo," by Carol Farley "Talk," by Harold CourlanderFrom The Cow-Tail Switch, and Other West African Stories "The Jade Stone," by Caryn Yacowitz "Jumping Mouse," by Hyemeyohsts Storm From Seven Arrows "Three Sideways Stories From Wayside School," by Louis SacharFrom Sideways Stories From Wayside School "The Bean Boy," by Monica ShannonFrom California Fairy Tales "Savitri," by Aaron Shepard "The Flame of Peace," by Deborah Nourse Lattimore "The Devil and Mother Crump," by Valerie Scho Carey "How Tom Beat Captain Najork," by Russell Hoban "The Kid from the Commercial," by Stephen ManesFrom It's New! It's Improved! It's Terrible! "Tapiwa's Uncle," by Nancy Farmer "Mr. Twit's Revenge," by Roald DahlFrom The Twits "McBroom's Fourth of July," by Sid Fleischman From McBroom's Almanac "The Fools of Chelm," by Steve SanfieldFrom The Feather Merchants, and Other Tales of the Fools of Chelm "The Princess and the Snails," by Christie HarrisFrom Mouse Woman and the Vanished Princesses "Death's Dominion," by Piers Anthony From On a Pale Horse "Westwoods," by Eleanor FarjeonFrom The Little Bookroom "Captain Cully," by Peter S. Beagle From The Last Unicorn TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS -- MOST OF THESE STORIES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AS BOOKS FROM YOUR LIBRARY OR HERE ON AMAZON ///////////////////////////////////////////////// SAMPLE There are many styles of reader's theater. In the most traditional style: -- Readers are arranged in a row or a semicircle, standing up or sitting on high stools. Typically, narrators are placed at one or both ends, and major characters in the center. -- Scripts can be held in hand or set on music stands. -- Readers look straight out toward the audience or at an angle, rather than at each other. -- Characters "exit" by turning their backs to the audience. (Narrators don't normally exit.) -- "Scene changes" -- jumps in time or place -- can be shown by a group "freeze," followed by some kind of collective shift. Chamber Readers, the group with which I trained and performed for five years, employs a style that is quite different, designed to appeal to young audiences. (For more details, see my book Readers on Stage.) -- Characters portray the action described in the story. Where possible, the portrayal is literal, with characters moving around the stage much as in a play. Where necessary, it's instead suggestive, as with simple mime devices like walking in place. -- Though narrators look mostly at the audience, characters look mostly at each other. -- Scripts in sturdy binders are held in one hand, leaving the other hand free for acting. -- A set of low stools and perhaps one or more high stools serve as versatile stage scenery or props. -- "Exits" and "scene changes" are handled much as in traditional reader's theater. These scripts should lend themselves to either approach, or to any other you might choose. Feel free to create your own! There are rules in reader's theater, but luckily there is no one to enforce them. 

About the Author:

See above.