Stories That Soar! starts at an elementary school assembly, where our "hungry" Magic Box invites children to "feed" it their stories and promises to give them back in a magical way. Through the talent and artistry of adult performers, their stories are then transformed into innovative theatrical events that teach, entertain and positively impact the entire school community.
Story Sharing Curriculum is modeled after the collaborative process used by the professional Stories that Soar! acting troupe. Through this curriculum, K-12 students become playwrights, actors, directors and designers as they bring their own stories to life.
Share More Children's Books is an extension of Stories that Soar! that provides a venue for the stories written for the Magic Box to be preserved through the visual arts as unique picture books. Through the guidance of a local bookmaker/teaching artist, high school art students learn the process of bookmaking, printing, and publishing, while making invaluable human connections by working with elementary school students' stories.
Our workshops prepare educators and teaching-artists to use a student-centered approach to learning through the application of our literacy/performing arts program. Our interdisciplinary approach to teaching through the arts naturally engages all types of learners, making educational success more inclusive.
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In 2001, Meg Horton-Breshears sought to bring a drama program to her children's school. Her friend, Sonia Teder-Moore, suggested a program where children would write stories and adult actors would bring the stories to life on stage. The name for the project would be Stories that Soar! Sonia contacted Dr. Barbara McKean at the University of Arizona (UA), School of Theatre Art to help find actors that could bring a level of professionalism to the project. Dr. McKean suggested incorporating the concept into her Collaborative Play Development course, thus introducing the collaborative element that would keep the performances fresh and innovative. Meanwhile, Meg's long time friend, Sharon O'Brien got involved and brought the idea of a talking Magic Box that would invite children to "feed" it stories. The "hungry" Magic Box would become the collection site for stories, the spokesperson for the program and an essential set piece from which props and costumes would emerge. |
The first Stories that Soar! show exposed the potential of the program. |
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In 2002, Sonia, Sharon and four other students from Dr. McKean's class performed the first Stories that Soar! show at Sam Hughes Elementary School in mid-town Tucson. The show was an astounding success and soon became the talk of the neighborhood community. Seeing the educational value for her university students, the elementary students and the entire community, Dr. McKean presented the idea to a local supporter of arts and education. Mrs. Esther Capin generously provided a three year grant to the UA to continue the project with a research component. |
With the demand for the program increasing and funding within the UA limited, Sonia and Sharon applied to the Eller College of Management, McGuire Entrepreneurship Program at the UA to design a business plan to bring Stories that Soar! into the community as a non-profit organization. In 2004, SharMoore Children's Productions was created. Today, a growing team of dedicated educators, actors, business people and caring community members are continuing to empower children to believe in themselves with Stories that Soar!. |
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