2010/11 Education Series Announced For The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center

The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center is pleased to announce the 2010/11 Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Education Series which brings classroom lessons to life for students in the Fox Cities and throughout Northeast Wisconsin. Highlights of the 2010/11 Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Education Series include The Berenstain Bears in Family Matters: The Musical (suggested for grades PreK-3), ArtsPower's Anne of Green Gables (suggested for grades 3-6), Lakota Sioux Dance Theatre (suggested for grades 4-12) and Barter Theatre's The Diary of Anne Frank (suggested for grades 8-12). Other titles include lessons in literature, history, social studies, science and the arts.
"A classroom visit to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center is more than just a field trip for students," according to Susan Stockton, president of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. "When students get off the bus at the Center, it's usually the culmination of an educational unit and an opportunity to experience the lessons they have learned in school in a new and different way."

Designed to compliment Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards for grades PreK-12, the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Education Series provides age-appropriate opportunities to experience learning through the performing arts. To support classroom integration of the performing arts, the Center provides study guides and additional resources to educators in advance of each performance. A number of classroom workshops and programs in which students interact directly with professional artists are arranged when available.

The Center also encourages students to respond to the performances they experience at the Center with programs such as the Page to Stage Writing Challenge. Many performances are inspired by literature, and, when applicable, students are encouraged to read the text before they attend the performance and respond in essay form. This year, the selected titles include The Diary of Anne Frank, Wings of Courage and A Midsummer's Night Dream.

The current Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Education Series, which concludes in early May, will impact nearly 25,000 students. On average, 70 percents of those students live in the Fox Cities. The remaining 30 percent travel to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center from as far away as the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Educators can make class reservations now for the 2010/11 Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Educations Series. Reservations can be made by phone at (920) 730-3786 or online at foxcitiespac.com.

The 2010/11 Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Education Series includes:

Matt Murphy Productions The Berenstain Bears in Family Matters: The Musical
Wednesday, October 13; 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Tickets: $5
Suggested for grades PreK-3
Local Community Partners: Bergstrom Automotive and Wisconsin Energy Foundation

Barter Theatre's The Diary of Anne Frank
Thursday, October 21; 9:30 a.m.
Tickets: $7
Suggested for grades 8-12

Local Community Partner: Wisconsin Energy Foundation
Ailey II
Thursday, November 4; 12:30 p.m.
Tickets: $5
Suggested for grades 6-12

Tomie dePaola's Strega Nona the Musical
Thursday, November 18; 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Ticket: $5
Suggested for grades K-4

Omaha Theater Company presents If You Give a Cat a Cupcake
Tuesday, November 30; 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Tickets: $5
Suggested for grades preK-2
Local Community Partner: The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America

Mad River Theater Works' Wings of Courage
Tuesday-Wednesday, January 18-19; 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Tickets: $5
Suggested for grades 4-8
Local Community Partner: Ken and Peggy Philippi

Childsplay's Ferdinand The Bull
Wednesday, February 23; 9:30 a.m.
Tickets: $5
Suggested for grades K-5

Local Community Partner: Integrity Insurance
Aquila Theatre Company in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream
Thursday, February 24; 9:30 a.m.
Tickets: $7
Suggested for grades 8-12

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia's The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorites
Thursday, March 3; 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Tickets: $5
Suggested for grades preK-2
Local Community Partners: Bergstrom Automotive and Wisconsin Energy Foundation

Theatreworks USA's Junie B. Jones
Thursday, March 10; 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Tickets: $5
Suggested for grades K-4

ArtsPower's Anne of Green Gables
Tuesday, March 22; 9:30 a.m.
Tickets: $5
Suggested for grades 3-6
Local Community Partner: ThedaCare

Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Friday, April 15; 12:30 p.m.
Tickets: $5
Suggested for grades 6-12

Lakota Sioux Dance Theatre
Tuesday, April 19; 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Tickets: $5
Suggested for grades 4-12

The Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Education Series is supported by the title sponsor, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Other series support is provided by Bemis Company, Inc., Appleton Papers Inc., Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Miller Electric and ITW. The Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Education Series is also supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

ABOUT THE FOX CITIES PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in downtown Appleton, provides a premier venue for live performing arts. The Center proudly serves as a gathering place for the community to engage in educational opportunities while enhancing a greater understanding and appreciation of the live performing arts. For more information on upcoming events, education programs and community involvement go to foxcitiespac.com. The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center - Where the Arts Come Alive!

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