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Berkeley Rep gives free theater workshop for kids at the Corte Madera Library

Bring your kids to the Corte Madera Library Children’s Room on Wednesday, April 20 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. for a free theater workshop. 

A Berkeley Repertory School of Theater teaching artist will help kids ages 8-11 bring Lemony Snicket’s humorous book, The Composer is Dead, to life in a theatrical skills workshop.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for the children of Corte Madera (and the county),” said Marilyn Simons, Corte Madera children’s librarian.

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For six years Berkeley Rep has been providing trained teaching artists to run free workshops in classrooms and libraries.

Master Teaching Artist, Dave Maier, goes into the classrooms, “It’s an amazing program. It's a literary-based program where we read books and we work with the students to act them out. We get books from a wide range of cultures from around the world…. Through art (children) can not only appreciate these books, but also have an opportunity to express themselves.”

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Maier continues, “It’s a very popular program and it’s a very successful program. It’s a lot of fun! The kids are learning about the joy of literature and the fun of reading while they get to play.”

There are even classroom teacher training workshops in the schools available. The most popular ones are about using improv and theater games in the classroom. 

It goes back to Berkeley Rep's mission: to make art that contributes to the community.

The Composer is Dead is written by Lemony Snicket, the pen name of Bay Area literary figure Daniel Handlerm. It is a humorous mystery that opens with the composer's suspicious death and a pledge from the Inspector to find the murderer no matter where in the orchestra he may be lurking. The strings, the brass, the woodwinds and the percussion section are all questioned.

As the Inspector interrogates each section of the orchestra, the instruments describe their whereabouts on the night of the crime in characteristic voices, telling something about their musical roles. 

Through exciting interactive activities, Target® Story Builders  introduces children to theatre and helps develop literacy and communication skills. Using wordplay, humor, and mild suspense, children will have fun learning about the various parts of an orchestra.

This one-hour workshop brings this popular story to life using sound, movement, dialogue and improvisation. It also provides an avenue for creative expression and increased self-confidence.

“Berkeley Rep is a well known and respected theater company in the Bay Area. This is an opportunity to learn from the master!” said Nancy Davis, Corte Madera Library branch manager.

So, bring your budding actors and actresses to this FUN filled theatrical workshop!

And remember, space is limited, so please call the Corte Madera Children's Library at 415-924-6382 to sign up.

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