nwct educational guide for go, dog. go! 1library.nwcts.org/ed-guides/nwct_eg_godoggo.pdf · nwct...

NWCT educational guide for Go, Dog. Go! 1

E D U C A T I O N A L G U I D E


© 2011 Northwest Children’s Theater and School (NWCT). Written, edited, and designed by Meredith Ott. Poster © Lee Moyer 2010. Unless

otherwise noted, all images are © 2010 Clipart.com. NWCT encourages teachers and parents to print out, copy and use these guides to enhance

and enrich children’s experiences at NWCT performances. NWCT welcomes questions, comments and feedback. Contact us by mail at 1819

NW Everett Street, Suit 216, Portland, OR 97209, or email us at [email protected]. Please visit our web site at www.nwcts.org.

A NOTE FROM THE PLAYWRIGHTS

This play is adapted from a book renowned for its ability to generate fun, learning, adventure, and surprise within a minimum of text. P.D. Eastman’s timeless work honors the joyous simplicity of the world around us. Therefore, in crafting a stage version of Go, Dog. Go!, it is not our intention to “fill out” or “open up” the story in the style of many traditional adaptations. (We have, in fact, added virtually no words of our own.) “Expanding” the book in this way would, we believe, rob it of its essential wondrous and loopy anarchy. Instead, we hope to celebrate and explore the existing words and pictures; to look not “outside the book,” but more closely “within it” – in the same way that a child (and parent) can read through Mr. Eastman’s book night after night and find something new and remarkable with every turn of the page. - Your Playwrights, Steven Dietz and Allison Gregory

Steven Dietz and Allison Gregory are two married artists that together form one very accomplished playwriting team. Steven’s playwriting credits also include Honus and Me (adapted from the book by Dan Gutman), and Still Life with Iris (awarded the Kennedy Center’s Fund for New American Plays Award). Also an accomplished director, he directed the world premieres of Go, Dog. Go!, Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, and Even Steven Goes to War.

Allison is also a playwright of much recognition. Her version of Peter and the Wolf won Best Children’s Show (2006 Seattle Footlight Awards), and Forcing Hyacinth was awarded the Julie Harris Playwriting Award and the California Playwright’s Award (South Coast Repertory Theatre). Her play Even Steven Goes to War (which Steven Dietz directed the premiere of) won a “Zoni” Best New Script Award, AATE, and UPRP awards. Allison also choreographed the original Seattle Children’s Theatre production of Go, Dog. Go! that Steven directed.

A note from the playwrights pg. 2 Activities pre k—2 pg. 8 Meet the author 3 Activities grades 2—6 9 How to be a good audience 3 Book spotlight 10 Meet the cast 4 Further reading 11 Meet “MC Dog” 5 Curriculum tie-ins 12 Going “green” 6 Portland organizations for dogs 7

TABLE OF CONTENTS


HOW TO BE A GOOD AUDIENCE

The Audience is an important part of live theater performance. Without the audience there would be no one to laugh when the show is funny, to gasp when it is scary, or to applaud at the end. It is impor-tant to be a good audience. If you have been to the theater before, you know it is different from watching television or going to the movies. The actors will be right in front of you. It is important to be quiet and attentive. You can’t hit the rewind button if you miss something an actor says, and noise can be distracting for other people in the audience. Here are some things you can do to make this a great experience for everyone: • Stay in your seat. Make sure you use the bathroom before the show starts. • Listen quietly. Save comments and questions for later. • Keep your feet on the floor. It will keep the seats clean for the next audience, and nobody likes

having the back of their seat kicked when they're trying to watch the play. • Save snacks and treats for after the show. Food and drinks aren’t allowed in the theater, and

crinkling candy and gum wrappers can sound loud. • Sit quietly during the performance. Don’t pass notes, wrestle with your friends, wriggle around, or

stand up. Your movements could distract or annoy others. • Please don’t take photographs. We don’t allow photos during the performance. • The house lights (the lights in the theater) dim to signal that the show is about to start. That is

your cue to settle down and get quiet so the play can begin. • Stay in your seat when the performance ends. The actors will return to stage for the curtain call

(when the actors bow and you clap). Wait until they exit for the last time and the lights come up before you leave your seat.

• Turn off all cell phones, pagers and electronic devices.

Photo Credit: David Kinder

MEET THE AUTHOR

No, Go, Dog. Go! is not by Dr. Suess. It’s by the screenwriter and children’s author P.D. Eastman! Eastman was born in Amherst, Massachusetts and lived from 1909-1986. Throughout his life he wrote several books that have become favorites of children everywhere like Go, Dog. Go! (of course), Are You My Mother?, and Big Dog…Little Dog. He was actually friends with Dr. Seuss and did publish many books under the Dr. Seuss brand. His screenwriting talents led him to work with such legendary film companies as Walt Disney Productions and Warner Brothers Studios. He attended the National Academy of Design and was a member of the Screen Cartoonist Guild.

Mr. Eastman married and had two sons. Creativity definitely runs in the family as his son, Peter, has also become a writer and illustrator. He illustrated some of his father’s book Big Dog…Little Dog, as well as authoring his own books, Fred and Ted Go Camping and Fred and Ted Like to Fly.


IN THE DOG HOUSE: The Cast of Go, Dog. Go!

And..

Emily Bryan as Blue Dog

Claire Aldridge as Teal Dog

Bryan Kinder as Black & White Dog

Madeleine Delaplane as White & Black Dog

Grover Hollway as Red Dog

Connor Delaplane as Green Dog

Mikenzie Ames as Hattie

Peter Elgee as Purple Dog

Melanie Hall as Accordian Dog

Sophie Shely as Orange Dog

Stephanie Roessler as Yellow Dog Photos by David Kinder


MEET THE BIG DOG HIMSELF — MC DOG!

John Ellingson tells us what it’s like to create theater

for a living.

NWCT's resident artist, John Ellingson, has played many roles. This season he co-directs and acts in Go, Dog. Go! as MC Dog. We stopped John in the halls of the theater to ask him a few quick questions about this ‘theatre thing’ he does for a living. NWCT: So, what was your very first play? John: My first play was Sleeping Beauty. I was five and my grandma had this big doll with eyes that shut when it was was laying flat. I would wear a red cape and put the movie on and act out the whole story. That was my first play. It was performed every morning. but my first paid performance was when I was 8 years old. I was a clown and did a magic clown act. I was paid 35 dollars. I have been performing ever since. It’s the only job I have had. NWCT: What is your favorite part about being MC Dog? John: I love children’s books; always have, always will. I love bringing those books to life. Go, Dog. Go! is also somewhat like a circus show, and I really enjoy performing clown-like characters. MC dog is totally clown-like. NWCT: If you were actually a dog, what kind of dog would you be? John: To tell you the truth, I am a cat person, but don’t tell anyone that! If I had to turn into a dog I think I would have to be a yellow lab. That’s the energy I feel like I have when I play MC dog. Maybe with a little basset hound thrown in. I think it’s the ears. NWCT: Did you have any pets when you were growing up? John: Many fish and a cat that I had from one year old until I graduated high school. KK was her name. Then I had a cat named Cuddles, then a cat named Gus, then I had a cat named Mr. Buttons. I love cats. We had a dog too: Elwood the basset hound. He was very overweight and when he sat down he would slide until his bum bumped into something. NWCT: What is the craziest costume you have ever had to wear? John: Wow. I have worn a lot. I love dress-up and being able look like different characters; the crazier the better. I think it would have to be Clarabelle the cow, from Goodnight Moon, and the Giant from Jack and the Beanstalk. I was on stilts and had this huge puppet costume on me. I was 12 feet tall when it was all put together. NWCT: What was your favorite book as a child? John: Ohhhhh, that’s hard. My favorite book now is of course, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! but as a kid, it was anything by Dr. Seuss and James and the Giant Peach. NWCT: How can we become a really great actor like you? John: That is very nice of you to say. I think you need to be a hard worker and always have time to play. Try everything and believe that everything is possible. I always look for what I can do next and new and how I can improve my craft. I will be learning how to be an actor for the rest of my life. I love to create stories with people. I get to work on that every day. I love my job.

Photo Credit: David Kinder Photo credit: Annelise Moyer


GOING GREEN: The creation of Go, Dog. Go! using ‘green’ building techniques

‘Green Building’ with the help of the ReBuilding Center In a town like Portland, you can’t sip your soda without hearing the word ‘green.’ From your cup made of recycled paper to the reclaimed timbers holding up the building you’re sitting in, our city is at the forefront of this movement, and NWCT is ‘going green’ too! Theater is an art form that already has a history of recycling. Wood is reused, screws are rewound, paint is remixed, costumes are rebuilt, and props are retooled to meet the needs of each show. This creative recycling usually happens ‘behind the scenes,’ so we decided to show you how it’s done in Go, Dog. Go!

Activities: When you see the play, check out the set. Can you tell what it’s made from? How about the props? Where do you think we got all of the toys? Would it surprise you to hear the costumes are made out of recycled t-shirts?

The ReBuilding Center (Portland, OR) Located on Mississippi in Portland, the ReBuilding Center offers a sustainable way to reuse and recycle building materials. They offer deconstruction services as an alternative to demolishing buildings and materials in an effort to salvage and reuse what they can. They also provide free pick-up services, classes, volunteer opportunities and “ReUse Ideas” that encourage the repurposing of old materials such as chandelier lampshades turned into tea light votives (pictured below).

What can I donate? The ReBuilding Center accepts lumber, trim and siding, doors, windows, glass and mirrors, cabinets, sinks, toilets, tubs, appliances, carpet, fencing, pipes, gutters, lighting, and more. Visit their website for more specific guidelines about what can be donated at: http://rebuildingcenter.org/

Photos courtesy of http://rebuildingcenter.org/


SPOTLIGHT ON PORTLAND ORGANIZATIONS FOR DOGS

There’s a pretty cool organization right outside of Portland where dogs are trained to help people. Just East on Highway 26 is Guide Dogs for the Blind; a breeding and training facility for dogs who are placed with people in need.

Their mission: Guide Dogs for the Blind provides enhanced mobility to qualified individuals through partnership with dogs whose unique skills are developed and nurtured by dedicated volunteers and a professional staff.

Established in 1942, Guide Dogs for the Blind continues its dedication to quality student training services and extensive follow-up support for graduates. Our programs are made possible through the teamwork of staff, volunteers and generous donors. Services are provided to students from the United States and Canada at no cost to them.

Want to learn more? Visit www.guidedogs.com You can get educational curriculum, schedule a speaker to visit your school, read several stories about real dogs and their owners, and more.

How can you help? Become a volunteer for Guide Dogs for the Blind. See the website above for more info.

Guide Dogs for the Blind (Boring, OR)

Photo courtesy of www.guidedogs.com

Oregon Humane Society (Portland, OR) Another organization in Portland helping dogs find homes is the Oregon Humane Society. They have no time limit on when animals need to be adopted which allows for high adoption rates and very few animals being put down. They rely on the donations of people like you and veterinary facilities and keep all of their animals spayed and neutered to control animal populations.

Their Mission: To foster an environment of respect, responsibility, and compassion for all animals through education, legislation, and leadership. To care for the homeless, to defend the abused, and to fight with unrelent-ing diligence for recognition of the integrity of all animals.

Want to find your furry soul-mate? Visit their website to check out all the animals that need a home at http://www.oregonhumane.org/

Got extra dog chow lying around? The Humane Society will also accept pet food donations.

Don’t forget the kitties! The Oregon Humane Society also has plenty of cats and kittens that need to be adopted as well as small rodents and rabbits.

Photos courtesy of www.orgeonhumane.org


Creative Drama The dogs in the shows come in all kinds of different shapes, sizes, and colors… just like actual dogs have different breeds.

Have your students imagine what kind of dog they would be. What color and size? Have your students become their dog. Next, have them imagine they are getting their favorite dog treat. Have them play with their favorite doggie toy. You can act out all of your dogs and discuss their differences.

GO, DOG. GO! ACTIVITIES (GRADES PRE-K—2)

Show your pet some love Martha Stewart’s recipe for dog biscuits: http://www.marthastewart.com/article/homemade-dog-biscuits

Ingredients Makes about 5 dozen

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup wheat germ

1/4 cup brewer's yeast

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil

1/2 cup low-sodium canned chicken stock, plus more for brushing

Directions 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, wheat

germ, yeast, and salt; set aside.

2. Place oil in a large bowl. Add stock and flour mixture in three alternating batches,

beginning and ending with stock. Mix well.

3. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to about 3/8-inch thick. Shape

biscuits using a dog-bone-shaped cookie cutter or by cutting around a store-bought

dog bone with a butter knife.(Make biscuits that are appropriate for your dog's size.)

4. If desired, you can spell out your dog's name or a holiday message in the dough with a toothpick (wet the tooth-

pick first so it won't stick).

5. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough.

6. Bake biscuits 10 minutes. Brush with stock; rotate baking sheets, and bake 10 minutes more. Turn off oven,

leaving door closed. Let dog biscuits stand in oven to dry completely, about 1 1/2 hours. Wrap as a gift, or store in

an airtight container at room temperature.

Rollerblading! The dogs in Go, Dog. Go! use rollerblades to get from place to place.

Ask your students how they get around. What are some different ways you can get from here to there and what are the benefits of each method?

marthastewart.com


Pantomime: Magic Clay In theatre actors will often use pantomime to demonstrate activities and emotions to other actors and the audience. Have your students sit in a circle. Get your magic invisible clay out of your pocket. Use your magic clay to build something you can use. Make sure the size and shape of the object is clear in how you are building it. Next, demonstrate how you use your object and have the students guess what they think it might be. Once they’ve got it, smash your object back into magic clay and pass it along to the next student to construct a new object.

GO, DOG. GO! ACTIVITIES (GRADES 2—6)

Adaptation This play version of Go, Dog. Go! was adapted from P.D. Eastman’s popular children’s book.

After reading the book and seeing the play, ask your students to observe what is new or different from the book in this staged version. Was there anything they would have liked to see changed or added?

Have your students pick another well-loved book or story and adapt it into a short script that can be performed in front of their

Tableau Using our bodies is a great way to tell a story without even using words.

Pick out some well known fairy-tales, stories, or even movies and have three or more person groups create five frozen tableaus that tell us the whole story. You can then try to get it down to only three tableaus, only two, and only one. Students can share their story tableaus with the class.

Costume Design Costume designers create renderings – pictures of the their ideas for the costumes that can be shown to the director and later given to the costume shop to be built.

In Go, Dog. Go! Hattie appears multiple times wear-ing a more magnificent hat than the last.

Have your students create renderings of a design for a fancy hat for Hattie to wear.

Next, have your students use recycled materials to create their own hat.

Supply Ideas: -Old hats from Goodwill -Reusable wrapping paper or newspaper -Magazine cut-outs -Buttons, sequins, feathers, ribbon, and flowers -And whatever else you can find lying around.


More books by P.D. Eastman: Sam and the Firefly Flap Your Wings Big Dog…Little Dog Red, Stop! Green, Go! Snow The Best Nest

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman (Grades K-2) When Baby Bird hatches from his egg, his mother is off looking for food. What's a bird to do? Go find his mother, of course! Fallen from his nest, he sets out to look for her and asks everyone he meets — including a dog, a cow, and a plane — " Are you my mother?" So begins Baby Bird's hilarious, and at times very touching, hunt for his mother.

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Are You My Mother?

CURRICULUM TIE-INS:

• Color

• Rhythm

• Movement

• Reading

• Repetition/Patterns

• Music

• Poetry

• Storytelling

• Imagination

• Following directions

Books by Mr. Eastman’s friend Dr. Seuss: The Shape of Me and Other Stuff One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish Ten Apples on Top The Cat in the Hat

nwct educational guide for go, dog. go! 1library.nwcts.org/ed-guides/nwct_eg_godoggo.pdf · nwct...

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