whiskers

CAROLINE ALTMAN is thrilled to see another reincarnation of WHISKERS! She has been directing young artists for 20 years at theatres and institutions including A.C.T., Marin Theatre Company, Vector Theatre Company, New Conservatory Theatre, Walnut Creek Civic Arts, Young Performers Theatre, Peninsula Youth Theatre, Broadway by the Bay, Playhouse West, and Yes Theatre in the Bay Area, and Stagedoor Manor, Impact, and TADA! in New York. She founded the San Francisco Opera Guild Youth Conservatory, toured for two years with the Imagination Company, Nationally with the National Theatre for Children, and is Co-Artistic Director of The Wicked Stage. Caroline serves as Director of Education for the San Francisco Opera Guild, Family Programming Director for 42nd Street Moon, and counts Whiskers! as one of four musicals for young audiences. She has been honored with a Shellie Award for Contribution to the Performing Arts and an SF Bay Area Critics Award for Leading Lady in a Musical, and is a working singer and actor.

2009 PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE/CALENDAR LISTING FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Kathygpet@aol.com, or (925) 676-5705 (business office, not tickets)

15TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY! GPET BRING WHISKERS! TO LESHER CENTER, DEC. 11-19, BASED ON CHILDREN'S FAVORITE THE VELVETEEN RABBIT

PRESS RELEASE

Galatean Players Ensemble Theatre once again stages the popular children's musical WHISKERS! by Caroline Altman, Dec. 11-19 at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek.. Based on Margery Williams' classic THE VELVETEEN RABBIT, the show has run annually for the past 15 years.

Altman, Educational Director of the San Francisco Opera Guild and a teacher, wrote book, lyrics and music for WHISKERS, the story of a Rabbit on his search for “real." The musical features characters from Williams' book including the Skin Horse and a life-sized Jack-in-the-Box. "Be A Toy!" sing a nursery full of toys in this whimsical telling of the Velveteen Rabbit’s journey to the discovery: “It’s when you can love, it’s when you can care… you’re finally aware, you’re real.”

"It’s an important message for children," says Altman, "The story’s lessons are what have made WHISKERS so popular for the last 15 years." The play has consistently sold out year after year, she adds - a very difficult thing for theatres in the East Bay.

Altman and GPET Artistic Director Kathryn G. McCarty (playing the Skin Horse) are both teachers, as well as Theatre Artists, in the Bay Area. “It’s exciting when we can work with a Musical that is so educating to young audiences.” Both have received Shellie Awards for direction and outstanding work in the Arts in Contra Costa Country.

The Musical plays Friday, December 11 at 7:15p.m., Saturday, December 12 and 19 at 3:15 p.m.& 7:15 p.m., Monday, December 14 9:15, 11:15, 1:15, Wednesday, December 16 9;15, 11:15, 1:15, and Friday, December 18 9;15, 11:15, 1:15.

Tickets, at $8-$15 and are available by calling (925) 943-SHOW (7469). Senior, group and school discounts are available. The show's web page, which lists study guide questions for discussion is: http://galateanplayersensemble.homestead.com/whiskers.html

CALENDAR LISTING

WHAT: Galatean Players Ensemble Theatre is celebrating the 15th Year Anniversary of the popular children's musical Whiskers! (an adaptation of Margery Williams’ classic The Velveteen Rabbit) by Caroline Altman playing at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, Dec. 11-19.

WHEN: The Musical plays Friday, December 11 at 7:15 p.m., Saturday, December 12 and 19 at 3:15 p.m.& 7:15 p.m., Monday, December 14 9:15, 11:15, 1:15, Wednesday, December 16 9;15, 11:15, 1:15, and Friday, December 18 9;15, 11:15, 1:15

TICKETS: $8-$15 and are available by calling (925) 943-SHOW (7469). Senior, group and school discounts are available.

PLAY DESCRIPTION: A holiday delight for the entire family! Join the Velveteen Rabbit on his journey to discover “real”; featuring characters from the book including the Skin Horse and a life-sized Jack-in-the-Box. A Musical Holiday Treat!!!

STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS

BIOGRAPHY and HISTORY

Margery Williams was born in London in 1881.

The Velveteen Rabbit was the first, and best known,

of her thirty children’s books.

Research what life was like in 1881 in London and in

the United States. Explore what life was

like for a child born in 1881:

What type of toys did children play with?

What type of schools did they attend?

What did children wear?

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL TEXT

OF MARGERY WILLIAMS'

THE VELVETEEN RABBIT

THE MUSICAL VS. THE BOOK

After seeing the play and reading the book, how did the playwright add to the story to make it fit the year 2010?

What are the differences in the play and the book?

How did the playwright use music to tell the story and entertain?

What was your favorite song from the musical?

What are the themes that are the same in both the musical and the book?

What does "adaptation" mean?

TOYS AND REAL

What is real?

Bring your favorite stuffed toy with you to school. Why is this your favorite? What makes this toy more special than all your other toys? Tell the story of your life with this toy.

How are rabbits cared for? Ask a local pet store owner to bring a rabbit to your class and explain how the rabbit is taken care of.

DISCUSSING FRIENDSHIP

What is a true friend? What characteristics must a true friend have? What true friends do you have in your life? Why is the theme of friendship important in Whiskers!? Why is the Boy a good friend? Why is the Velveteen Rabbit a good friend? Why is the Skin Horse a good friend?

What does the Rabbit like to do with the boy?

How did the Rabbit become real like the Skin Horse described?

Write or tell a story about your favorite toy coming to life.

Draw a picture of what you think the Rabbits life was like after he became real and alive.