A DANCE - CLOWN - THEATRE FABLE FOR ALL AGES
"A great show . . . colorful costumes and inventive set design set the scene for this nature fable . . . expressive dance to senseful music and few heartfelt words tell the tale of Elmer and his Elder Tree."
- Tonya Lemos, Founder, The Children's Art Museum and Director, Blazing Star Herbal School
"Engaging, interactive, simple and straightforward - you don't often see performances like this . . . where children get to use their imaginations."
- Penny Burke, Executive Director, Northampton Center for the Arts
"It was wonderful how the children were captivated by the narrative and willing participants in the play . . . The mural making workshop that incorporated [their] interpretations . . . was a beautiful reflection of their imaginations."
- Stephanie Ciccarello, Wetlands Administrator/Energy Task Force Coordinator and organizer of the Fourth Annual Renewable Energy Fair, Town of Amherst
WHAT'S
IT ABOUT?
Our Aim is . . .
to create a dramatic, comic, beautiful, simple story that can awaken (or reawaken) our gratitude for the natural world.
Elmer is a city-dweller who loses his job, wanders into the countryside and learns to revive a desolate landscape – and his own happiness. The tale is told by two forest beings who transform into all the characters from Elmer’s life: mother, boss, a wise nomad, a young woman and of course – an Elder tree. But these beings can’t do it alone: the audience becomes both the show’s reason for being told and players in it.
The tale is inspired by Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree and Jean Giorno's The Man Who Planted Trees and features original music by Aaron Sherwood (saxophone), Peter Buchanan (guitar) and Wayne Smith (cello).
FOR
EDUCATORS
Beyond being a lot of fun, Elmer and the Elder Tree is an interactive learning event. For a more detailed description of our follow up workshops and classroom activities for teachers, click here.
In creating the story of Elmer and his tree, we researched the historical and contemporary uses of Elder trees and found a lot more than Elderberry tea . . . much of this research has found its way into the story.
Elmer making a flute from the Elder Tree
The play is also about an ecosystem
in crisis and one
human being’s efforts to improve the situation. Shortly after Elmer’s
arrival in a barren countryside, our audience becomes a group of
villagers driven from their farms by drought. He doesn’t realize it at
first but by planting one seed and nurturing a tree, our protagonist
has created better living conditions for more organisms than just
himself. But as the play goes on, Elmer experiences how trees help
retain moisture in the soil, create food for insects, birds and
animals, and how one tree leads to many.
By
experiencing
Elmer’s discoveries as a story, students get a chance to understand
ecosystems, plant life and humanity’s effect on the natural world (and
vice-versa) in a fresh way. Follow up workshops help to reinforce this
learning and give young people a chance to put their own artistic and
intellectual stamp on the show.
A wise nomad with student in performance.
“I have been impressed with the ambition and artistic integrity of their performances . . .”
-Leo Hwang-Carlos, Associate Dean of Humanites, Greenfield Community College
BOOKING
We are currently booking performances at theatres, festivals and elementary schools in New England from November, 2008 - June, 2009.
PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS: Minimum 20' wide x 15' deep x 11' 6" tall indoor or outdoor playing space (raised stage not required) plus a sound system or electricity.
LENGTH: 55 minutes
UPCOMING PUBLIC PERFORMANCES
To Become a Tour Sponsor or Advertise in the Program, call 413. 625. 6569 or email us.
PREVIOUS
VENUES
Riverfest
Greenfield Middle School
Blazing Star Herbal School
4th Annual Amherst Renewable Energy Fair
Creative Arts at Park, Brookline MA
THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS
Art Angels
Massachusetts Cultural Council / Buckland Cultural Council
Shelburne Falls Business Association
Massachusetts Cultural Council / Buckland Cultural Council
Shelburne Falls Business Association
The Piti Theatre Company ~ 413.625.6569 ~ 280 Colrain-Shelburne Road, Shelburne, MA 01370