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    Ashland Cast

    Ms. Davis’ kindergarten class at

     Ashland Elementary

    in partnership with SLPS & Springboard

    has proudly presented

    The Biggest Turnip Ever!

    A play based on the Russian folktale, The Enormous Turnip

    November 30, 2012 - The students at Ashland Elementary participated in From Story To Stage, a 10 session Springboard/ SLPS residency funded by the Board of Education.  Using the actor’s tools of the body, the voice and the imagination, the kindergarten students in Ms. Davis', Wren's and Guilfoy’s classes, transformed into characters and brought a story to life. The play, The Biggest Turnip Ever, was based on a Russian folktale and was adapted by Rowan.  It is the story of a little mouse that, despite the doubt of the farmers, community helpers and animals in her town perseveres and helps bring the community together to uproot a giant turnip. She teaches them the value of making a difference.  

     

    Under the direction of Rowan, students practiced positive character education principles by becoming the characters and working with their classmates to act out the story.  They learned professional acting terms and techniques as well as academic vocabulary. Each class performed their own version of the play and every kindergartner sang and had a moment to shine.  Springboard provides hand “hands-on” programs and “minds-on” learning for students in the St. Louis region and beyond. Their continued partnership with SLPS provides curriculum connections and reaches all types of learners.

     
    Cast Names

    Alissa Rowan has a BA in Directing from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. She was a founding member of Bedlam Theatre in Minneapolis. She has worked in educational outreach, marketing and development at Center Stage in Baltimore, Steppenwolf Theatre, and Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago. For the last ten years, Rowan has been adapting books and tales for performance and directing shows in schools. As a Teaching Artist with Springboard, she teaches literacy and character education through theatre. In SLPS, she has taught residencies at Buder, Mallinckrodt, Kennard, Stix, Wilkinson, Mason, Mullanphy and Pamoja Prep.  In addition she teaches playwriting to 5th graders at Wyland Elementary as part of the WiseWrite Program with Springboard and the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.  Last year she directed over 700 students in her original plays.