The Charleston Gaillard Center’s Education and Community Program offers free resources to teachers, students, and the Lowcountry community.
Our VP of Education and Community Outreach Sterling deVries, M.Ed. and our Education Manager Whitney Green, create lesson plans purposefully and carefully to correlate with the South Carolina Department of Education Standards, highlighting arts-enhanced curriculum. The Gaillard also works with community partners to share educational resources with the Lowcountry. We have activities and resources for ALL ages.
ART
Art with Miss Stephanie (All ages)
Check out our Art with Miss Stephanie art video series! In these workshops, students will use various mediums such as clay, acrylic paint, watercolors, paper mache, and more to create artwork of their own.
BILINGUAL
Cenicienta: A Bilingual Cinderella (K – 5th Grade)
This captivating Cinderella for all ages tackles cultural heritage, family, and the power of language as 10-year-old Belinda confronts her stepmother and stepsisters, while learning to embrace her love of poetry and stand up for herself. Glass Half Full Theatre from Austin, Texas, presents its award-winning “story within a story” in Spanish and English using puppetry.
Tomás and the Library Lady (2nd Grade – Adult)
Tomás loves stories. As the young son of migrant farm workers, he spends the summer with his family following the crops north from Texas to Iowa, passing long days in the fields listening to his grandfather tell stories. Before long, Tomás knows all of Papa Grande’s tales by heart….
When a chance encounter brings him to the local Carnegie Library, he meets the “Library Lady” who recognizes his thirst for knowledge and encourages him to read. His delight in books is equaled by his pride in teaching Spanish to the Library Lady, trading knowledge and respect between generations and cultures. By the end of the summer, Tomás has great pride in becoming his family’s new storyteller, the guidance of a colorful mentor, and a lifelong love of reading.
A bilingual musical, based on the beloved book about the true story of the
Mexican American author and educator Tomás Rivera, who became the first minority Chancellor in the University of California system. This inspirational production shows how reading and education – and self esteem – can make anything possible.
Havana Hop by Paige Hernandez (3 years – 2nd Grade)
Havana Hop: a children’s tale of culture and confidence!
Young Yeila dreams of being a superstar but her lack of confidence gives her awful stage fright. With advice from her mother and mentors, Yeila begins her journey to find her roots, get confidence and be amazing! Travel with Yeila who visits her grandmother in Cuba to add a salsa flavor to her own hip-hop style! The audience gets to dance along in this dynamic participation play where one actress creates three generations of lively women. Journey with Yeila as she discovers the fun of her multi-cultural heritage.
Havana Hop
Written, choreographed and performed by Paige Hernandez
With original music by Nick “Nick tha 1da” Hernandez
Director: Danielle Drakes
Set Design: Kris Funn
Projections: Paige Hernandez/Ruthmarie Tenorio
Commissioned by Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning, VA
Developed by Playhouse Square, OH
La Maleta de Maebelle (Maebelle’s Suitcase) (Kindergarten – Fifth Grade)
Based on the book by Tricia Tusa
Produced by Glass Half Full Theatre
From Austin, TX
A bilingual adaptation of a beloved Reading Rainbow picture book.
Maebelle lives in her treehouse and is an incredible hat maker. She’s been working hard ahead of the town’s annual hat contest when she befriends Binkle, a bird with a migration dilemma. He’s trying to carry too much on his flight south for the winter! As Maebelle generously offers her cherished suitcase from her own migration from Colombia, they delve into profound reflections on the significance of our possessions and memories. Through laughter and tears, Maebelle and Binkle help each other discover the beauty of remembrance and the liberating power of letting go.
Multi-generational audiences will love this enchanting tale celebrating friendship, cultural heritage, and the universal lessons found within the stories of our lives. Featuring a two-person cast, various styles of puppetry, environmental themes, & Colombian music.
Based on the story and illustrations by Tricia Tusa (Maebelle’s Suitcase)
Adapted by Gricelda Silva and Caroline Reck
Directed by Caroline Reck
Dramaturg Henry Castillo
Stage Manager Tamara Farley
Puppet Design & Costume Design Team: Anatar Marmol-Gagne (Felted Puppets), Caroline Reck (Birds), Kelli Bland (Costumes, Puppet & Human)
Scenic Design by Caroline Reck & Connor Hopkins
Scenic Fabrication Artists: Anatar Marmol Gagne and Sarah Mendoza
Fabricated Props by Kade Conklin
Lighting Design by Rachel Atkinson
Sound Design by K. Eliot Haynes
Music by Kiko Villamizar
Original Performers: Stephanie Vasquez Fonseca and Gricelda Silva
DANCE
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (All ages)
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s school-time performance introduces area students to the magic of Alvin Ailey’s must-see masterpiece Revelations, which has been seen by more than 25 million people in 71 countries since its creation in 1960. In the spirit of Alvin Ailey’s famous quote that dance “came from the people and should always be delivered back to the people,” the hour-long educational experience, moderated by one of Ailey’s dancers, also features additional performance excerpts and an insider’s look behind-the-scenes to enlighten and encourage young people. Set to a suite of spirituals from Alvin Ailey’s childhood memories of growing up in the Church in Texas, Revelations uses the modern dance tradition and his African American cultural heritage to create an uplifting celebration of the human spirit that inspires all.
Support for this program is made possible by generous donors who have committed time and resources to the Charleston Gaillard Center’s Dance Initiative.
Dance.Laugh.Learn (Early childhood)
Funding for this program provided in part by The Patrick Family Foundation.
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
HipKidz PW: DLLHipKidz
YoBa PW: DLLYoBa
Dance Conservatory of Charleston (All ages)
Learn more about choreography, ballet, tap, and more with Dance Conservatory of Charleston‘s video workshops featuring Ms. Lily Watkins.
Ms. Watkins is a graduate of Beloit College with a BA in Creative Writing and was the 2012 recipient of the Chavey Family Endowed Award in Dance for outstanding contributions to the dance program. In addition to her dance training at The School of American Ballet and Beloit College, Ms. Watkins has attended summer programs with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Miami City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Orlando Ballet and BalletMet Columbus. She has been teaching and choreographing in Charleston since 2014.
Inside Ballet with Dance Theatre of Harlem (All ages)
This provides an inside look at the art of classical ballet. From the training and preparation of a dance artist through choreography and stagecraft, the viewer is given an intimate look at the power of this beautiful art form.
This provides an inside look at the art of classical ballet. From the training and preparation of a dance artist through choreography and stagecraft, the viewer is given an intimate look at the power of this beautiful art form. Following a brief history of ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem, the performance begins with exercises at the barre and the reasoning behind them before quickly moving on to jumping, partnering, and lifts. Similarities between ballet Dance Artists and professional athletes are brought to light. Finally, to demonstrate the expressive power of ballet, excerpts from different styles of ballet are presented. Audience members are engaged with a Q&A segment or onstage interaction where possible. This lecture demonstration will include the Gaillard Center and IAAM newly commissioned piece on Hazel Scott.
Support for this program is made possible by generous donors who have committed time and resources to the Charleston Gaillard Center’s Dance Initiative.
Sounds of Hazel: The Hazel Scott Ballet is co-commissioned by Charleston Gaillard Center and the International African American Museum, Music Worcester, Seattle Theatre Group, and Washington Performing Arts, with residency support from Chautauqua Institution and the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College.
This work is made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Scenes from the Nutcracker with Dance Conservatory of Charleston (All ages)
Join our guide Herr Drosselmeyer on a 60-minute journey through a captivating abridged version of this winter classic designed to engage audiences of all ages. Whether a cherished holiday tradition or first introduction to ballet, there’s something for everyone in this exciting production performed by a full cast of local students to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score.
The Nutcracker performance features a full cast of Dance Conservatory of Charleston dancers ages 5-18. Performing is the essence of dance and a key part of the student-centered approach, and as such, DCC is thrilled to present a production in which a student dances every role.
Support for this program is made possible by generous donors who have committed time and resources to the Charleston Gaillard Center’s Dance Initiative.
Step Afrika (2nd Grade – Adults)
Founded in 1994 by C. Brian Williams, Step Afrika! is the first professional company dedicated to the tradition of stepping. Under Mr. Williams’ leadership, stepping has evolved into one of America’s cultural exports, touring more than 60 countries across the globe, and the company now ranks as one of the top ten African American dance companies in the United States. Step Afrika! blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities; traditional African dances; and an array of contemporary dance and art forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience. Performances are much more than dance shows; they integrate songs, storytelling, humor, and audience participation. The blend of technique, agility, and pure energy makes each performance unique and leaves the audience with their hearts pounding
EARLY CHILDHOOD
Sail Away (18 Months – 5 years)
Journey with Treehouse Shakers on an oceanic discovery play for ages 18 months to 5 years and their caregivers. Specifically tailored to young children, Sail Away is a mobile exploration experience piece for children who want to wiggle, move, walk and run, in a fully immersive first-time play experience. Conceived, directed and written by Mara McEwin, the piece is performed by three performers, who are the dancers, puppeteers and playmakers. Sail Away explores the magnificence of the ocean through a sensory experiential journey of visuals, sounds, objects, some language, and an open concept of play.
Tweet Tweet (0 – 6 years)
Tweet Tweet! is a feast for the eyes and ears. Two little birds asleep in their nests high in a magical tree awake and discover each other and a wonderous world around them. An aerial arts and circus creation for young children performed in an intimate forest-like setting. (Tweet Tweet is performed without words.)
Produced by: Femmes du Feu
Created & choreographed by: Lindsay Goodtimes, Holly Treddenick, & Monica Dottor
Birdwatcher: Weston Horvath
Performed by: Lindsay Goodtimes & Holly Treddenick
Directed by: Monica Dottor
Apparatus Creation: Upstage Fabrication Inc
Set Design: Kelsey Carriere
Sound Design: Monica Dottor
Lighting: Ian Goodtimes
Costumes: Tanis Sydney McArthur
Audio Description: Kat Germain
Flutter: A Discovery Play for Babies (6 months – 3 years)
Treehouse Shakers’ Flutter is a new play for babies ages 6 months to 3 years old and their caregivers. It is a stunning new discovery play that introduces the very young to the
four seasons.
Conceived and written by Mara McEwin, with choreography by Emily Bunning, the piece is presented by three performers, who are the dancers, puppeteers and play-makers. Flutter explores the seasons through a sensory experiential journey of visuals, sounds, objects, some
language, and an open concept of play. Using a non-traditional theatrical set-up, the audience is immediately transformed into a nurturing and welcoming space created by the feeling and ambience of the piece. As the piece begins, caregivers and babies are seated in the round, with
the performance in the center. Using original music creates the seasons’ tone and provides ambience, music being the first language for the very young mind. Babies and toddlers will have the freedom to crawl, walk, and move within the space. They can also investigate handson textures while experiencing the language/sounds/music, and the engaging visuals.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
Cat Kid Comic Club The Musical (First Grade – Fifth Grade)
The Charleston Gaillard Center, in partnership with Beemok Hospitality Collection, present Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical. Based on Dav Pilkey’s hilarious Cat Kid Comic Club graphic novels, this lively children’s musical follows Cat Kid (Li’l Petey) and his friend Molly Pollywog as they launch a comic-writing club with Molly’s 21 mischievous tadpole siblings. With the excitement building, the frogs’ wild imaginations and constant bickering hilariously derail their comics—driving their fish dad Flippy hilariously over the edge. The show asks: Can creativity and teamwork save the club—and the day?
The Riviera is located at 227 King Street.
Photo by Jeremy Daniels. L-R Markia Nicole Smith, Brian Owen, L.R. Davidson, Dan Rosales, Sonia Roman, Jamie LaVerdiere
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (CD – 2nd Grade)
Based on Chicka Chicka Boom Boom ©1989 by Bill Martin Jr., John Archambault, and Lois Ehlert. All rights reserved. Licensed by Moxie & Company, LLC.
Join us for an unforgettable adventure with “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: The Musical,” where the beloved children’s book springs to life on stage! This delightful production features vibrant songs, energetic dancing, and whimsical puppets, ensuring a joyous experience for kids and adults alike.
Follow the playfully adored story as the alphabet letters ambitiously climb the coconut tree, only to tumble down in a cascade of color and laughter. With plenty of audience interaction and lively performances, this show is not just entertainment—it’s a fantastic way for children to explore sound, rhythm, and reading in a fun, engaging spectacle. Don’t miss the excitement and joy of “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: The Musical!”
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: The Musical was originally developed and produced by Seattle Children’s Theatre and will debut there in September 2025.
The Giver (Middle School)
Based on the novel The Giver by Lois Lowry ©1993
Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois
This Newbery-Award winning, best-selling book for young readers has become the gold standard for the genre. Told with deceptive simplicity, this is the provocative story of a boy who experiences something incredible and undertakes something impossible. In the telling, audiences question every value that they have taken for granted and reexamine their most deeply held beliefs.
The Story
At the age of twelve, Jonas, a young boy from a seemingly utopian, futuristic world, is singled out to receive special training from The Giver, who alone holds the memories of the true joys and pain of life. In the process, Jonas is forced to question everything in his ideal world: a world without conflict, poverty, unemployment, divorce, injustice, or inequality.
In Performance
This Literature to Life Award winner marked the first young adult novel on the Literature to Life roster. Adapted by Elise Thoron, this piece features sixty minutes of solo-performance focusing on the relationship between the young Jonas and his mentor, The Giver. As Jonas trains to become the Receiver of Memories, the buried truth about the world that he was born into becomes hauntingly clear to both Jonas and the audience.
Dot Dot Dot (First Grade – Fourth Grade)
DOT DOT DOT: A New Musical is an exciting new musical based on the Creatrilogy trio of award-winning picture books by New York Times bestselling author Peter H. Reynolds- The Dot, Ish and Sky Color. Adapted by Composers Keelay Gipson and Sam Salmond, the musical, like the series, celebrates the power of originality, self-expression, and opening our eyes to look beyond the expected.
When Marisol (Sky Color), a young artist and curator of the Musee de Marisol, decides that her gallery requires more than her own art, her search for emerging talent leads her to Vashti (The Dot), whose dots inspire Ramon (Ish) to become an artist in his own right.
The musical follows Marisol’s journey to help her new friends, and her entire community, break.
Photo Credit: Photo by Jeremy Daniel. L-R: Arturo Hernandez, Sonia Roman, Jianzi Colon-Soto
The Acting Company: The Comedy of Errors (Upper Elementary – College)
Written by William Shakespeare | A Modern Verse Translation by Christina Anderson | Directed by Devin Brain
Shakespeare’s classic comedy of mistaken identities and slapstick humor will be brought to life by The Acting Company in this lively Play On Shakespeare production following Antipholus and his servant, Dromio, as they travel in search of a long-lost family member. Along the way, the two find themselves ensnared in a madcap race against the clock, a love-at-first-double-take, run-ins with local law enforcement, and double trouble—times two.
Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks (Fifth Grade & Up)
Created by Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences on Tour, Washington, DC – a thrilling world premiere Co-production with Theater Alliance of Washington, D.C.
This story was going to begin like all the best stories. With a school bus falling from the sky. But no one saw it happen—they were all too busy. Washington, D.C. area native, New York Times best-selling author, and Kennedy Center Next 50 leader Jason Reynolds conjures 10 tales (1 per block) about what happens after the dismissal bell rings.
Ten unique perspectives are brilliantly woven into one funny, piercingly poignant look at the detours we face on the walk home, and in life. And now Reynolds’ award-winning book (Carnegie Medal, Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book, National Book Award for Young People’s Literature finalist, and more) becomes an exciting world premiere, in a co-production with Theater Alliance, adapted by El Chelito and Raymond O. Caldwell, and directed by Caldwell.
The prerecorded music during the performance is occasionally exuberant and can be loud for some audience members.
Strobe-like lighting effects used in this show may be disruptive to people with photosensitivity.
Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences on Tour Presents Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks
Based on the novel by Jason Reynolds
A Co-Production with Theater Alliance
Adapted for the stage by El Chelito and Raymond O. Caldwell
Directed by Raymond O. Caldwell
Choreographed by Tiffany Quinn
Original Music by Nick the 1da
The Kennedy Center Theater
for Young Audiences on Tour is represented by Shaw Entertainment Group, LLC.
Good Night Moon and The Runaway Bunny (3 Years – 3rd Grade)
Created by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
Goodnight Moon is a celebration of familiar nighttime rituals, while The Runaway Bunny’s pretend tale of leaving home evokes reassuring responses from his loving mum. Both feature endearing rabbit characters, and the soothing rhythms of bunny banter and dream-like imagery never fail to infuse young readers with a reassuring sense of security. Mermaid’s staged adaptation brings a new sense of appreciation to stories that have delighted several generations.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Few writers have been as attuned to the concerns and emotions of childhood as Margaret Wise Brown (1910–1952). Brown, a former teacher, believed that very young children could be fascinated by the simple pleasures of the world around them. Few had previously attempted to write specifically for children aged two to five, and Brown created some of the most enduring and beloved children’s books of all time as well as developed the concept of the first durable board book.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Clement Hurd (1908–1988) graduated from Yale University and studied painting in Paris in the 1930s with Fernand Léger and others. His engaging semi-abstract style became world-famous with the publication of The Runaway Bunny in 1942 and Goodnight Moon in 1947 – collaborations with Brown that became two of the 20th Century’s best-known children’s books.
Show Way (1st Grade – 8th Grade)
Created by Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences on Tour, Washington, DC
Follow the stitches of a family’s lineage. Soonie’s great-grandma was just seven years old when she was sold to a big plantation without her ma and pa, with only some fabric and needles to call her own. She began to stitch a Show Way, a quilt with secret meanings to show enslaved people the way to freedom. As each generation passes, the Show Way shines a light on the past and paves a road to the future, stitching together possibility and promise.
Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence Jacqueline Woodson’s award-winning story of history, love, and resilience becomes a world premiere stage adaptation directed by Schele Williams, with new music by Tyrone L. Robinson. This moving, lyrical account pays tribute to women in Woodson’s own family whose strength and knowledge illuminate their daughters’ lives over seven generations.
By Jacqueline Woodson
Adapted from her book Show Way, illustrated by Hudson Talbott
Music and lyrics by Tyrone L. Robinson
Choreographed by Tiffany Quinn
Music directed by Tiffany Underwood Holmes
Original direction by Schele Williams
Magic Treehouse: Showtime with Shakespeare (1st Grade +)
A new theatrical production based on the Magic Tree House adventure Stage Fright on a Summer Night by The New York Times best-selling author Mary Pope Osborne.
No matter what the show must go on! That’s what Jack and Annie learn when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to Elizabethan England. There, the daring sibling duo meets William Shakespeare himself—one of the greatest writers of all time! Based on the critically-acclaimed book series by Mary Pope Osborne, this tuneful tale is a hip-hop hit with kids and grown-ups alike.
Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House series has been translated into 33 languages, has sold more than 135 million copies worldwide and is the No. 1 best-selling chapter book series of all time.
Produced by NJPAC in association with George Street Playhouse. Book and Lyrics by Jenny Laird and Will Osborne. Music and Additional Lyrics by Randy Courts. Based on “Magic Tree House: Stage Fright on a Summer Night” by Mary Pope Osborne
Miss Nelson has a Field Day (Kindergarten – 5th Grade)
Return to Horace B. Smedley School where the Smedley Tornadoes have never won a football game. In fact, they have never even scored a single point! With such a poor record and a team that is out of control, kind-hearted Miss Nelson comes to the rescue when she enlists the help of her alter ego, the ill-tempered Miss Viola Swamp, to coach the team and whip them into shape.
Considered by all to be “the meanest substitute teacher in the whole world,” Coach Swamp applies her trademark discipline to the players’ training, demanding tough exercises and no back talk. In the end, the team changes their attitude, pulls together, sharpens their skills, and manages to win the biggest game of the year.
A fun-filled musical from the award-winning playwright/composer who brought you DIARY OF A WORM, A SPIDER & A FLY.
Book, Music & Lyrics by Joan Cushing. Based upon the book MISS NELSON HAS A FIELD DAY by Harry Allard and James Marshall Text copyright © 1985 by Harry Allard. Performed by arrangement with Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company. All rights reserved. By special arrangements with Houghton Mifflin Company and Gurman Agency LLC. Produced by Dallas Children’s Theater from Dallas, Texas
The Snowy Day (CD – 3rd Grade)
Based on the books by Ezra Jack Keats
Adapted by Jerome Hairston
Produced by Childsplay
From Tempe, Arizona
Follow Peter and his friends through winter, spring, summer and fall as they romp and play, start snow ball fights and make snow angels, journey in space and under the sea, and more, all in this imaginative musical play. Using innovative shadow puppetry, THE SNOWY DAY celebrates the magic and boundless possibilities of childhood and the challenges of growing up.
Keats’ treasured characters come to life in this humorous and fun adaptation of the collected stories: “Whistle for Willie”, “Goggles!”, “A Letter to Amy”, and “The Snowy Day.” A classic since its publication in 1962 and winner of the Caldecott Medal, “The Snowy Day” was one of the first picture books for young people to feature an African American protagonist and is still beloved today.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (CD – 3rd Grade)
Based on the Pigeon books by Mo Willems. Script by Mo Willems and Tom Warburton. Lyrics by Mo Willems. Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma. Directed by Jerry Whiddon. The Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences on Tour is represented by Shaw Entertainment Group, LLC.
Whatever you do, don’t let The Pigeon star in his own musical production! Because it’s not easy being The Pigeon– you never get to do ANYTHING! But when the Bus Driver has a crisis that threatens to make her passengers (gasp!) late, maybe that wily bird CAN do something. Starring an innovative mix of actors, puppets, songs, and feathers, Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus! (The Musical) is sure to get everyone’s wings flapping. With a script written by Mo Willems, the creator of the #1 New York Times best-selling, Caldecott-honor award winning Pigeon picture books, along with longtime collaborator and Disney Jr’s Muppet Babies executive producer, Mr. Warburton, and featuring music by Deborah Wicks La Puma, the composer behind Elephant & Piggie’s We Are In A Play! and Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience, this comedic musical production is even more fun than staying up late and having a hot dog party!
The Adventures of the Tortoise and Hare: The Next Generation (K – 2nd Grade)
We begin with Aesop’s classic fable of the Tortoise and the Hare but continue the story, which finds them ten years down the road, now with children of their own and exploring modern-day distractions.
Smartphones and video games create a new landscape of lost connections to life experiences. The Next Gen features Tortoise Junior and Lil’ Hare in a whole new kind of race; where their adventures lead them into unexpected territory. Old Man Tortoise and Big Daddy Hare must come together despite their differences to find and save their children. What hurdles will they have to overcome to make it to the finish line?
With dazzling visuals, poignant storytelling, and the creative use of music from classical to pop, this production brings this tale into a new brilliant light.
Jabari Dreams of Freedom (3rd – 6th Grade)
JABARI DREAMS OF FREEDOM is a play to save Black youth from living through fear. It tells the story of Jabari, a young Black boy from the South Side of Chicago who loves to paint. Through painting, he can escape the turbulent world around him. When police hurt a friend, Jabari is afraid to leave the house. With his Forever President Barack Obama as a guide, he dreams he meets children from the Civil Rights Era, including Ruby Bridges, Claudette Colvin, and a 7-year-old Barack Obama on the eve of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Can Jabari use the lessons he’s learned to instill in young Barack the ideas he’ll need to become president? Will Jabari take these lessons back into his life and heal his community? Using history, rap, freedom songs, and humor, this play explores what it means to have courage in a world where Black children—Black boys—are not safe.
“Jabari Dreams of Freedom” received its World Premiere Production at Chicago Children’s Theatre, April 2016
Jacqueline Russell, Artistic Director
“Jabari Dreams of Freedom” was developed as part of New Victory LabWorks at the New Victory Theatre in New York City.
The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac (K – 3rd Grade)
Produced by Honolulu Theatre for Youth
From Honolulu, HI
Join our characters, Po Po and Kung Kung, as they celebrate Chinese New Year by making dumplings and sharing the story of The Great Race with their grandkids, Freddie and Ivy. The show weaves a family celebration with a re- telling of one of the most beloved tales in Chinese folklore– the origin story of the Chinese Zodiac.
When the Jade Emperor needs a way to tell time, he decrees that there will be a Great Race. The first twelve animals to cross the mighty river will have a year named after them. This 12-year cycle will mark the passage of time. Which animals win the race? What are the traits that help them cross the river?
The show features traditional Chinese movement, music, and martial arts.
The Kennedy Center for Young Audiences on Tour Presents Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie: Starring Indigo Blume (3Yrs – 2nd Grade)
The Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences on Tour Presents
Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie Starring Indigo Blume
Find your voice in this feathery adventure.
Adapted from the books by Kwame Alexander
By Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess
Music by Randy Preston
Directed by Lili-Anne Brown
New York Times best-selling author KWAME ALEXANDER brings two of his beloved children’s books—Acoustic Rooster and Indigo Blume—to the stage in a world premiere Kennedy Center commission. Alexander teams up with his writing partner MARY RAND HESS and long-time musical collaborator RANDY PRESTON to tell a story about being scared, brave, and believing in yourself. With special guests like Duck Ellington and Ms. Dairy Parton—this musical adaptation will have children (and families) dancing in their seats.
Dive into a book to keep the fun going: Kwame’s NEW picture book of the same name is based on our musical!
Most enjoyed by 5+ Photo credit Jati Lindsay.
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson Honolulu Theatre for Youth (3rd – 8th Grade)
Our protagonist, Shirley Temple Wong, and her family moved from China to the United States in 1947, the year Jackie Robinson was breaking records and assumptions.
This play is adapted from the award-winning novel by Bette Bao Lord and was inspired by the author‘s own memories of immigrating to the United States. Our protagonist, Shirley Temple Wong, and her family moved from China to the United States in 1947, the year Jackie Robinson was breaking records and assumptions. Told through humor and a rich multi-media staging, the play celebrates the bravery and sacrifice of those who bring new perspectives to our country.
Based on the book by Bette Bao Lord
Adapted for the stage by Mark Branner
This project at the Charleston Gaillard Center was funded in part by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs and the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Program through their joint administration of the Lowcountry Quarterly Arts Grant Program and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC.
It’s Okay to be Different Stories by Todd Parr with Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia (3 YRS – 2nd Grade)
Todd Parr explores important and timely subjects with his signature blend of playfulness and sensitivity. It’s Okay to Be Different cleverly delivers the important messages of acceptance, understanding, and self-confidence. Equally whimsical and heartfelt, The Earth Book is a sweet homage to our beautiful planet, inspiring readers of all ages to do their part to keep the Earth happy and healthy. This is My Hair is a funny exploration of how silly hair can be and that no matter how your hair looks, always feel good about yourself.
Mermaid’s new show will be directed and adapted by Jim Morrow, veteran director of numerous internationally acclaimed productions. It will feature a diverse cast, an innovative approach to puppetry manipulation and construction, and playful original music for which the company has earned worldwide praise.
Todd Parr is the author and illustrator of more than 40 books for children. His books are available in over fifteen languages throughout the world. He is the co-creator of the three-time Emmy-Nominated children’s television show ToddWorld™ as well as short films for Sesame Street.
The Gruffalo Tall Stories London, England (CD-3rd Grade)
Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
Searching for hazelnuts, Mouse meets the cunning Fox, the eccentric old Owl and the high-spirited Snake. Will the story of the terrifying Gruffalo save Mouse from ending up as dinner for these hungry woodland creatures? After all, there’s no such thing as a Gruffalo – is there?
Songs, laughs and monstrous fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups, in the much-loved show that’s toured Britain and the world!
“The Gruffalo © Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler 1999 – Macmillan Children’s Books”
Photo Credit: © Tall Stories
GUIDANCE
Just Be You Performance (Middle school – High School)
Just Be You is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to build teens confidence through self-compassion. Through workshops, school assemblies and motivational speakers, Just Be You focuses on the daily challenges of life as a modern teen, offering them coping skills to become more resilient and confident in their individuality. The Just Be You team encourages and celebrates all levels of what it means to be bold, be brilliant, and just be you.
Just Be You Workshops (Middle school – High School)
Journaling with Just Be You
When we journal we allow our brain to process what emotions we are feeling in the moment.
Typical journaling involves only writing—but for those who are more visually inclined, try art journaling! Just grab any art supplies you have and let your mind flow. It is all about expressing yourself and finding what works best for you. Get creative, let those emotions out, and just be YOU!
“I AM” Inspiration Collage
Start by collecting old magazines, gathering up your art supplies and thinking hard about who you are and who you want to be. Cut out pictures and images that represent characteristics and traits that can be used to describe you. Make sure you are not just focusing on the present you, make some of these words and images aspirational! Write “I AM” and get to work collaging. By creating a visual representation of your goals, you’re building a mental roadmap to reach your best self!
Positive Self-Talk
In the lesson, Karli explores one of the pillars of self-compassion: positive self-talk! Positive self-talk can help reduce stress, increase motivation, and improve overall mental and physical health.
Check out the power of our own words with the rice experiment below. We hope you will share your findings on social media using #justbeyou or tag @justbeyou_org and start putting your positive self-talk to practice!
MUSIC
Black Violin (First Grade – College)
Black Violin is led by classically trained string players Wil B. (viola) and Kev Marcus (violin). The band uses its unique blend of classical and hip-hop music to overcome stereotypes while encouraging people of all ages, races, and economic backgrounds to join together to break down cultural barriers.
This performance is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the South Carolina Arts Commission.
This Land is Our Land (Upper Elementary – College)
Join the mesmerizing Martha Redbone Roots Project and American Patchwork Quartet for soulful and captivating music that celebrates the rich cultural tapestry of America.
Martha Redbone’s soul-stirring voice and music are a tasty gumbo of folk, blues, and gospel celebrating her southeastern Cherokee/Choctaw and African American heritage.
American Patchwork Quartet expertly weaves together jazz refinement, country twang, West African hypnotics, to create a musical patchwork that celebrates both our differences and commonalities as a nation.
Jazz Through the Ages with Charlton Singleton Performance (All ages)
From its creation, and still to this day, Jazz continues to evolve. It has produced timeless classics and some of the most famous musicians of all time. On October 1, 2019, join Gaillard Center Artist-in-Residence Emeritus, Charlton Singleton, along with his group of some of the most sought after musicians, as they take us through all of the unique styles of Jazz via explanation and musical performances
Jazz Video Workshops (All ages)
History of Jazz
Jazz and Music in South Carolina
Harlem Renaissance and the Jazz Connection
Education and Life as a Musician
Prints in Clay, Still We Rise! A Spirituals Celebration (All ages)
Prints in Clay is a multimedia, educational exploration into the many significant contributions of African Americans to the history and culture of the community. You can watch the full concert and view the photo exhibit in the videos below.
Ranky Tanky (1st – 12th Grade)
Ranky Tanky (a Gullah phrase for “get funky”) are five lifelong friends (Quiana Parler, Quentin Baxter, Kevin Hamilton, Clay Ross, and Charlton Singleton) from Charleston, South Carolina, who have established themselves as passionate global ambassadors for their local culture and community, helping to faithfully preserve the traditions originated by African Americans in the coastal South during slavery that are kept alive through the present day.
Jazz Day for Kids (K – 8th Grade)
The Charleston Jazz Orchestra in partnership with the Gaillard Center’s Education and Community Program present Jazz Day for Kids, featuring the Charleston Jazz Orchestra led by Robert Lewis and Charlton Singleton, Gaillard Center Artist-in-Residence Emeritus. Jazz Day for Kids is a big band concert designed for Kindergarten through middle school students.
Black Music of the Carolinas (All ages)
The Charleston Gaillard Center’s Education and Community Program proudly presents our newest Teacher’s Guide: Black Music of the Carolinas.
Curated by Dr. David W. Carter, Jr. in collaboration with Gaillard Artist-in-Residence Emeritus Charlton Singleton, this comprehensive resource explores the profound impact of Black music—from its West African roots to the sounds of today.
Take your students on a powerful journey through time and genre, discovering how Black music has shaped American history and highlighting influential musical innovators from the Carolinas.
Designed to support South Carolina music, social studies, and history standards, this guide is an invaluable resource for both music educators and classroom teachers.
POETRY
Poetic Hip-Hop: From the Page to the Stage (3rd Grade+)
Charleston, SC poet laureate and Gaillard Center Artist-in-Residence, Marcus Amaker will emphasize the power of the written word, while educating students on the importance of voice.
Poetic Workshops (3rd Grade+)
Learn about self-portrait, alliteration, and visual poetry with our Artist-In-Residence and SC Poet Laureate Marcus Amaker.
SOCIAL IMPACT
Hero: A Boy from Troy (3rd Grade – 6th Grade)
Jayden is stuck in detention with a book about Congressman John Lewis, but he thinks that history has nothing to teach him. Together we go on a musical journey through the decades that shows how the heroes in the Civil Rights movement inspired young John Lewis. As a boy, John dreams of being a preacher who can help others. While he doesn’t have a congregation yet, he does have a loyal group of singing chickens that listen to him as he finds his voice. On a harrowing road trip through the South, John’s eyes and mind are opened to the injustices of segregation and racism, inspiring him to take action. As John meets Rosa Parks and Dr. King and ultimately becomes a leader and American hero himself, Jayden learns how he too can take a stand.
From the same creative team as JABARI DREAMS OF FREEDOM, including playwright Nambi E. Kelley and music and lyrics by Joe Plummer, this new musical production was commissioned by Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera’s Gallery of Heroes Program and will continue development in fall 2023.
This performance has content that may be sensitive for some viewers.
Haze and flashing lights will be used during this performance.
Stronger Together (Grades 1-4)
Stronger Together – A collective, creative response to Asian American hate by Honolulu Theatre for Youth
Our world is filled with humans being treated unjustly due to differences. We see it in our schools and speak to our students regularly about being kind and “filling one another’s buckets”. The lesson below is one that will help start some of those difficult classroom conversations and hopefully assist you in finding the right words with a focus on educating our students about Asian American hate. Students will be able to gain a better understanding of Asian American hate, equality, acceptance for all, and steps to be an active bystander when others are treated unjustly. This lesson is for grades 1-4.
National Geographic Live (5th Grade – College)
Adaptation with Environmental Anthropologist and Filmmaker, Alizé Carrére
In local partnership with South Carolina Aquarium
Explore the remarkable ways people worldwide adapt to our changing planet with environmental anthropologist and filmmaker Alizé Carrère. Dive into the South Pacific waters of Vanuatu, where islanders use innovative techniques to combat outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish that threaten the surrounding reefs. In Bangladesh, discover how farmers in low-lying areas are reviving an old agricultural technique—floating gardens—that has inspired other floating infrastructure, including schools, libraries, hospitals, and playgrounds. And travel to the mountainous desert of Ladakh in northern India to glimpse giant ice pyramids, or “ice stupas,” invented by a Ladakhi teacher and engineer to help the community preserve its scarce freshwater resources. Through her work documenting these stories, Carrère offers a hopeful look at humankind’s resilience, perseverance, and innovation under even the most difficult of conditions.
Secrets of The Whales with Underwater Photographer, Brian Skerry
In local partnership with South Carolina Aquarium
Dive deep into the groundbreaking science of whale families – and their startlingly human parallels – through the awe-inspiring work of celebrated National Geographic underwater photographer Brian Skerry. Discover the extraordinary communication skills and intricate social structures among four different species of whales – from the international cuisines of orcas to families of beluga whales playing at their “summer resort” – and learn what these majestic creatures can teach us about ourselves and our planet.
Finding Freedom: The Journey of Robert Smalls (2nd – 12th Grade)
Original Story: Teralyn Reiter
Script Developed by JaMeeka D. Holloway, Celeste Jennings, and Caroline Randall Williams
Directed by JaMeeka D. Holloway
Based on the awe-inspiring life of South Carolina’s own Robert Smalls, FINDING FREEDOM: THE JOURNEY OF ROBERT SMALLS celebrates and chronicles the remarkable
story and legacy of a great American hero.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Naturalization Ceremony: Becoming an American Citizen
The Charleston Gaillard Center and the United States District Court invite students to witness a United States Naturalization Ceremony. This unique educational experience offers students the opportunity to observe firsthand the process of becoming an American citizen. Students will witness new citizens take the Oath of Allegiance and participate in a meaningful ceremony that reflects the values and responsibilities of citizenship. It’s a powerful way to see democracy and the judicial system in action.
THEATER
Theater Teacher with Teralyn Reiter (Ages 8-12)
Theatre Teacher with Teralyn Reiter
Teralyn earned her MFA-Acting from the University of Montana. Teralyn’s passion for theatre education began with Missoula Children’s Theatre, where she and a tour partner traveled for four years throughout the United States and Europe teaching and performing full-scale musicals to children ages 5-18 each week. Since then, she’s worked with a variety of theatres including the American Conservatory Theatre and the Montana Repertory Theatre where she brought professional theatre and theatre education to schools and reservations. She worked for 15 months in Daegu, South Korea, where she developed and implemented a theatre program that teaches English in a fun, unconventional way to students ages 8-12. She continues growing as an educator and performer while working with East Cooper Montessori Charter School and performing on stages throughout Charleston. Her work in Charleston has earned the Charleston Theatre Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play for her work in Shirley Valentine at Midtown Productions. As a Teaching Artist, Teralyn received a National Artist Fellowship from the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts.
Gaillard On Tour (6th – 12th Grade)
SHAKESPEARE’S TRUTH TO POWER
Characters from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Richard III, and The Tempest are all perfectly suited to explore the rich landscape of power and the ways that we both use and abuse it. Told through the staging of multiple scenes, monologues, and sonnets, Shakespeare’s Truth to Power is a dynamic, exciting, and provocative exploration of what it means to be powerful and how the world can change when we use our power for good. This 60-minute, stand-alone production can also be the perfect companion piece to PURE’s new production, Shakespeare’s Lovers and Fools.
SHAKESPEARE’S LOVERS AND FOOLS
Shakespeare’s Lovers and Fools is a fun romp filled with some of Shakespeare’s most notorious jesters, comic characters, and star-crossed lovers. Told through
iconic scenes and monologues from plays like King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare’s Lovers and Fools is a stand-alone, 60-minute performance featuring PURE’s acclaimed ensemble of actors, and can also be the perfect companion to PURE’s highly entertaining Shakespeare’s Truth to Power.
The Vanishing Elephant (Second Grade & Up)
Opu, a young boy in Bengal, dreams of one day becoming an elephant trainer. When he befriends Janu, an Asian Elephant, their friendship is the first step on an adventure so huge, it spans decades and continents.
On their separate paths they face many challenges – fearsome encounters, stormy seas and strange new worlds.
Years in the future, Opu, now an old man, hears that world famous magician Harry Houdini will vanish an elephant, live on stage in New York City. Could it really be Janu, Opu’s old friend, so far from home? He too must bravely make the long journey into the unknown to find out.
This moving story of friendship, belonging and one incredible journey from Bengal to the bright lights of Broadway, presented by Cahoots NI from Belfast, Northern Ireland, was named a ‘Critics Pick’ in the New York Times, hailing it an ‘alluring spectacle’.
Supported by Culture Ireland.
Please note: The Vanishing Elephant is approximately 70 minutes long.
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