Links

http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Why_Childrens_Theater_Matters/

Why Children's Theater Matters
            Why doesn't it? I can't tell you how many people tease me about wanting to do theatre with children. It's seen as a dreaded job that no one finds creative or artsy or even productive. I personally love creating beautiful art and I believe we can create it with and for children as well. Where did all the actors start out? How many actors say "Ah yes I've been acting since the ripe age of two." Really now? And was that on Broadway? No. It was probably at a community theatre down the street with a wonderful 80yr old woman who taught you that what you had inside yourself was important. At least that was what I had. And I still love that old woman (she really wasn't 80).
         The article talks about how behind America is on it's children. Europe has already been on this trek for years now. Arts create higher academic performance and higher test scores. My main motivation for children's theatre is stated on page two of the article :If you inspire a love of theatre early on, there's a better chance that your child will develop creative gifts, and maintain a lifelong appreciation for the performing arts. The people that are producers and that fund the arts today were once inspired by the arts long ago. We need audience members, just like products need customers. We have to create them and mold them. "Theatre makes for smarter, braver, human beings. Theatre helps connect the head to the heart." It's about teaching emotions and connections to the world.
         "Facts are just facts and as a society, with a touch of the calculator or hit of google, kids can find a factual answer." We have no need for books because of all this technology-however "that can't teach a mind to be subtle and flexible." Facts and technology are important, but art is what makes us human. Art reflects life. It mimicks humanity. And humanity and life are what we want to share with our children.
         And not just fairy tales. No. I want to take it farther. I want the Holocaust and Shakespeare and stories that have been passed down from ages ago. If you don't think kids can understand them or get anything out of them, just think about your favorite things as a child. I watched Pretty Woman at the age of 6 and ADORED it. I loved the music and the passion. I felt the emotion of wanting to be connected to another human being. No I didn't get that she was a prostitute and no I didn't understand why she had to leave upset and yes I thought the condoms were lollipops- but I got something out of it. I saw Gone With the Wind at age 10 and I've never stopped loving it. Each time I watch it I learn something more about emotions, about life's hardships, and about what it means to be alive. That's why I chose Noodle Doodle Box-an absurdist peice instead of a fairytale or silly story about some duck who learns that being pretty gets you everything.

http://dspace.uah.es/jspui/bitstream/10017/5035/1/Absurdist%20Trends%20in%20American%20Children's%20Theatre.pdf

Absurdist Trends in American Children's Theatre
           This article was the deciding factor in my peice. It is exactly what I want to say. Children's theatre must be better. After all, have you ever heard anything but the awful truth out of a child's mouth? Kids say the darndest things. They are the biggest critic because they are so honest with the world, they don't know what else to be. In asia, only the best actors can perform for children. Here in America, we'll let our kids watch anything (Note: Boo Bah or The Wiggles and Dora the Explorer who is most certainly an illegal immigrant). Anyways. Noodle Doodle Box has a silly title, yes, and it has silly characters who do silly things. However, strip it down and you'll see the reality of it all. It's about sharing personal space and being possessive. It's about the father and child relationship, the superego and the ego and the ID. It's about the power of manipulation and misuse of authority. It's about keeping those you love close. Two cardboard boxes serve as physical representations of social alienation. These things may seem over the top- but it's very obvious when you really look at the script.

http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED319532.pdf

First Grade Children's Comprehension and Recall of Noodle Doodle Box
          I never read this article/study all the way through because it's a lot of information, however I just find it interesting how much there is to find on such a small play. It seems a lot more popular than I assumed. This also confirms my belief that this play should be performed for K-3rd grade and no higher. My advisor would like it to be for 5th graders but I just don't think it translates well to them. They have phones and facebooks and things now a days and I just think they'll look at this and say it's silly and blow it off. The movies have made them static to theatre. It is too late to change them.