Give My Regards to BROADWAY

Jenna Gavigan and I in Manhattan last Spring.

Our annual Read Over Sleep Over (ROSO) was planned for tonight.  Author and actor, Jenna Gavigan, was slated to join us for our Lulu the Broadway Mouse themed evening. I couldn't have been giddier.  I love the theatre. I love Jenna and I love giggly 2nd and 3rd graders skidding down the school hallways in their footed PJs.  But alas, it was cancelled.

I reached out to Jenna and am thrilled that she agreed to read the first chapter of her book during the actual ROSO time via Google Meet. See you at 7. PJs required 😉




While searching for what to include in this post, I found a new author to love, Katrina Moore.  Here she talks about the writing prompt, "What Could Go Wrong?" which could totally be used for an improv activity.  Try to act this out with someone.  And don't forget to include the important line always used in improv, "Yes, and..."  See how long you can keep the improv going.

My family and I are trying to change our personas at dinner these days.  Since we're all home together, there isn't much to report in on.  So, I've asked them to become a new character. Although it hasn't been too successful, we have certainly gotten our full of laughs as I attempt to be the Queen of England.




Full disclosure: I am a huge Modern Family fan.  We even made sure to see Jesse Tyler Ferguson on Broadway a few summers ago.

I don't know if Ty Burrell has ever been on Broadway but he is an actor and I could listen to him read aloud for hours.  Storyline Online has a great activity guide to go with Mice Twice, which includes a recipe, charades (an acting game!) and even yoga ideas. After you read the book, be sure and talk about the important lessons and how they are especially relevant right now.




I would be remiss if I didn't mention Tim Federle's Nate series in a post about Broadway.  These are perfect for your middle grade theatre buff.  Download the audiobooks (https://soraapp.com/home) to accompany you during chores or walks.  Tim reads them and they are great.  Fun fact: Tim and Jenna were in Gypsy together with Bernadette Peters and they are still good friends.

Here's Tim reading the first chapter of his book.  Check out this YouTube video of Tim interviewing the young stars of Newsies.  It's a few years old but worth the watch.  One of the kids sings (amazing!) and they share a game they played backstage that we can do at home.

If you are still looking for more book ideas, try Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt.  I found the audiobook on Sora.  This musical wasn't on Broadway long but the book is well loved. 

AND one more thing: I just learned that Camp Broadway is offering FREE digital learning classes starting next week. LINK HERE.

And Finally...

Can't sleep? Same. And neither can this house.

Maybe I'm stretching this read aloud a little for the theme, but I love this book and am so glad that the illustrator, Shawn Harris, posted this on his Instagram.  There is a hint of acting in it, so I say it's ok. Adults: Be on the look out for the humor and pop culture references in the text and illustrations.

View this post on Instagram

Gather young and old round the backlit screen— It’s #OperationStorytime time! @romper @chroniclekids, @chroniclebooks #everyonesawake by @dullandwitlessboy

A post shared by Shawn Harris (@shawnharri5) on Mar 16, 2020 at 7:11am PDT

Broadway Bound

Hello Lulu
Well hello Lulu
In October your story will be sure to rise above the pack

Hello Lulu
Well hello Lulu
I can't wait to put you in upon my stacks

Well, you get it. Lulu the Broadway Mouse by debut author but veteran actor, Jenna Gavigan, hits the shelves this fall.  And although I may be a tad bias--yes, my Twitter bio says that I love all things NYC and theatre (spelled "re" by the way) and this book is for lovers of all that--I did love this book and think it will appeal to young people with all kinds of interests, but especially those of Broadway.  Do you have a thing for cute, talking mice?  Now I do.  Do you know the feeling of wanting a dream to come true so badly it hurts? Sure.  Was/is there a mean girl in your life? We can all name at least one.

Lulu lives in the basement of the famous Shubert Theatre "home to hits and flops, thousands of debuts and hundreds of return engagements" with her mouse family.  Her mother works in the costume department while Lulu hangs out with the actors, young and old.  Lulu's dream is to leap, well in her case, jete, from backstage to performer.  But a mouse, really? Even Lulu doesn't believe it can come true and her friends try to help her see the reality.

"The way the people in this theatre think? The way they think of you? They don't see you as a mouse.  They see you as a little kid, and a talented one at that; you know this show just as well as they do, if not better.  But most people? Regular people? They're just too closed-minded and ignorant to understand. They'd be scared. And we can't have audiences being scared because they might never come back." (p.42)

Inside the Shubert

We want our readers to believe in the impossible.  And they will.  This is a fantasy book that comes to life and feels as real as any singing and dancing teapot and candelabra feel like real life on the stage and film.

It's a feel good kind of story that will make for a fun read aloud in third or fourth grade. Pair it with images of the city, the history of the Shubert Theatre (Hello, Dolly! 
is there right now--hence my pathetic introduction and one of my very favorite shows premiered there in the 70s, A Chorus Line) and a conversation about theatre and plays.  Great conversations will also ensue about choosing kind, friendship and of course, hopes and dreams.  Then when you are finished you could go see a local play or put one on yourselves. Maybe write a Reader's Theatre script from one of the chapters.  Or write a prequel or sequel chapter. Do a class mock Playbill.  Oooh...I'm getting myself excited and it's only July.

Outside the Shubert in January!

So even though you may not have access to celebrate with a cake from Amy's Bread in or even a  candy bar from Duane Reade, don't kiss the year goodbye without reading and sharing Lulu with a wide audience.

More about Jenna Gavigan and Lulu from Playbill here.

Postscript

#squad

Last week Mrs. Warland and I journeyed to the city for a bookish day.  So it began at the KidlitTV studios because Kwame invited me to be a guest on his live "Smoked Salmon" episode of #Bookish. If you have Facebook, you can watch it here with this link:

BOOKISH JULY 12, 2018

PS-I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT TO SAY THAT JENNI HOLM AND I SHARE A BIRTHDAY!

In the afternoon we met Jenna Gavigan for the first time in the West Village for iced tea so we could make some book birthday plans for Castleton. I was taking my chances since I hadn't read the book yet! Phew! Good thing I love the book!

Then Caldecott Honoree, Elisha Cooper, met us and we had fun talking about parenthood, the Hudson River and the New York Times, Modern Love essays. Elisha just happens to be the author/illustrator of Mrs. Warland's favorite book that she always shares when she is invited to be a guest reader.  He surprised her with her own copy (and now signed) of Homer! #WhatADay