New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, known colloquially as “the “Z,” is well established for attracting world-class performers and performances to their venue and orchestrating fascinating, interesting and compelling content. Anything associated with the “Z,” is by default, guaranteed to be superlative in nature. It’s what they do. Who they are.
So, it should come as no surprise that the Zeiterion’s “Arts In Education” program carries equal weight. With an eye on community and the objective of making an impressive 2/3 of the Zeiterion’s programming educational or community based, the “Z” hopes to inspire local youth and enrich their lives through the arts. The Arts In Education’s curriculum-based “School Time Performance” programs provide a fantastic opportunity to do just that!
These theatrical, dance or musical offerings are of the same high quality that you have come to expect with the adult programs. The performances are carefully picked to be so compelling that captivating the minds of the spectators is done effortlessly.
Reaching 36,000 school children and teachers annually, the “Z” offers more than two dozen performances which will tantalize and engage children from kindergarten to 12th grade. The appropriately dubbed “School Time Performances” take place during regular school hours and take place either at the Zeiterion or by bringing the performances directly to your school via mini-performances, workshops/residencies and/or theatre-prep visits.
The in-school workshops/residencies are effective ways to deepen the student’s understanding of the arts in general and the subject matter specifically – all the while enhancing the theatrical experience. A crucial and integral aspect of the program is to fire up these young minds by engaging the kids – not piling them into seats in a passive capacity, then riding off into the proverbial sunset.
Indeed, many of the performances have pre and post-performance discussions – an informal interaction whereby the students explore themes and gain special insight into various aspects of performing arts. The interaction and greater intimacy lend themselves to a deep rapport between the students, performers, and their companies.
In addition, there are professional development workshops for the teachers who desire integrating arts into the classroom core curriculum. Furthermore, the Z offers on-line curriculum guides for teachers who wish to make these performances as meaningful as possible. Using a variety of topics, discussion points, resource materials and classroom activities, the curriculum guides, allow the interested students to really dig into the performances and topics in detail and depth. One does not have to put a stop to the topic after a performance ends.
Cementing the Z’s dedication to fulfilling the aforementioned objectives, they provide a number of resources to help in funding tickets, transportation, and costs for these programs. There is a genuine desire to bring the benefits and opportunities that performance arts provide to the South Coast’s school children.
Two performances in particular that I would like to showcase are Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs and Nazi Hunter: Simon Wiesenthal – The Conscience of the Holocaust performed by Tom Dugan.
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is a slave narrative by Harriet Jacobs. Jacob’s powerful and often shocking autobiography details her life born into slavery in 19th century America. Born in North Carolina in 1813, Jacob’s life is a testament to endurance and perseverance in the face of darkness and tribulation. The 50 minute performance sheds light on the seven years she spent hiding in a crawl space in her grandmother’s attic.
There are no props, no set, no gimmicks – just a moving performance. Done verbatim, the solo piece is one that will certainly have a powerful, lasting sympathetic effect on all those who observe it. In addition, the pre and post-show discussion will deepen the student’s understanding of the dark period of America’s history and more importantly will explore themes of resilience, survival and human spirit.
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl takes place at the New Bedford Whaling Museum Theater on March 11 & 12 and is suggested for grades 7th-12th.
Nazi Hunter: Simon Wiesenthal – The Conscience of the Holocaust is another solo performance about perseverance in the face of a dark period in history: The Holocaust. Jewish-Austrian Simon Wiesenthal, was studying at university in Poland at the outbreak of World War II where he was placed in a Jewish ghetto – a neighborhood where people were often enclosed, movement was monitored, and basic rights were stripped.
Within months Wiesenthal was sent to forced labor in a number of Nazi concentration camps from 1941-1945 until his liberation by Americans on May 5th 1945 – weighing a shocking 90lbs. Wiesenthal then spent the remainder of his life hunting Nazis and war criminals, bringing an estimated 1,100 of them to justice.
Actor Tom Dugan captures the personality – particularly the wit and humor – of Wiesenthal and threads it throughout his performance which will enthrall everyone.
Nazi Hunter: Simon Wiesenthal – The Conscience of the Holocaust takes places at the Zeiterion on April 16th.
These two special installments in the Z’s “School Time Performances” are just a small example of the many fascinating topics covered. You can get much more than a glimpse, by visiting the Zeiterion’s dedicated page which not only incudes more information about the Performances, In-School Workshops & Residencies, but has the 2014–2015 School Time Brochure (can also be downloaded), a FAQ, directions, resources on grant opportunities, and all of the curriculum guides.
Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
684 Purchase Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Phone: (508) 994-2900
E-mail: info@zeiterion.org
Facebook: facebook.com/zeiteriontheatre
