Art: Tom Slaughter BEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER The New 42nd The New Street, 42nd Inc. Street, 1Inc.
welcome BEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER NEW VICTORY SCHOOL TOOL TM RESOURCE GUIDES THE NEW VICTORY THEATER The New Victory Theater is New York City s first and only full-time performing arts theater for kids, their families and classmates. Since it opened in 1995, The New Victory has quickly become an integral part of the cultural landscape in New York City, presenting a full season of adventurous multidisciplinary works from around the globe and close to home. The New Vic seeks out sophisticated, thought-provoking, professional productions that are as artistically rich as they are entertaining. The international productions on New Victory stages inform and inspire the work of the award-winning New Victory Education Program through a dynamic combination of school and public programs. Our school programs serve over 30,000 Pre-K through 12th grade students and teachers each season at almost no cost to the kids or their schools. Many of our partners are NYC-area Title I schools, with a high percentage of students who would be unable to experience live theater if it weren t for The New Victory. The enthusiastic young people who greet you on your way into the theater are part of the New Vic Usher Corps, a 3-year program that provides 28,000 hours of paid employment for 75-80 high school and college-age youth each season. Families who attend the New Vic together pair their theater-going with New Victory Family Workshops, as well as in-theater exhibits and arts activities. Together, these nationally-recognized programs exemplify the organization s long-standing commitment to the intrinsic value of cultural participation in the lives of young people and families. NEW VICTORY EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP The New Victory Education Department is committed to building impactful and long-lasting relationships with schools and after-school programs. We believe that creating strong and meaningful partnerships between schools and arts organizations allows school communities to deeply enrich their arts programs and infuse creativity across the curriculum. By annually enrolling in the unique and award-winning New Victory Education Partnership Program, schools take advantage of $2 tickets to New Victory school-time and after-school performances, free classroom workshops led by highly skilled teaching artists, in-depth resources and professional development that allow teachers to incorporate the arts into their classrooms. Available to Education Partners for every show in our season, New Victory School Tool Resource Guides provide educators with comprehensive materials that explore the artistry and key themes of each production. Filled with practical, ready-to-implement activities that allow any teacher to incorporate The New Victory into their classroom, the New Victory School Tool Resource Guides are designed to enrich the performance experience before, during and after the students trip to the theater. The New Victory TheateR 209 W 42nd street new york, ny 10036 Contact Information Education@NewVictory.org 646.223.3090 MAKING CONNECTIONS TO LEARNING STANDARDS New Victory School Tool Resource Guides align with the Common Core State Standards, New York State Learning Standards and New York City Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts. We believe that these standards support both the high quality instruction and deep engagement that The New Victory Theater strives to achieve in its arts education practice. Please be advised that the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of New Victory School Tool Resource Guides for any purpose other than educational, such as for commercial or monetary gain, may constitute copyright infringement and may be punishable by law. For more information, please contact the New Victory Education Department at Education@NewVictory.org. The New VICTORY THEATER / NEWVICTORYSCHOOLTOOLS.ORG 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS provides teachers and students a behind-thecurtain look at the artists, the company and the art form of this production. 5 6 7 Creativity Page: Clowning Around BEFORE provides teachers engaging, ready-toimplement classroom activities that explore the themes and art form of the show prior to traveling to 42nd Street. EN ROUTE provides teachers with all of the essential information they need on the day of the performance, including easy-to-digest information about the show, trip logistics, and discussion points for the journey to the theater. This section also includes a brief student activity to be completed shortly before seeing the show (either in class or on the way to 42nd Street). AFTER provides teachers engaging, ready-to-implement classroom activities that offer the opportunity to reflect on and extend the experience of attending the performance. provides students and teachers innovative ideas on ways to amplify the impact of the performance experience outside of the classroom. 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 BEFORE Funhouse Mirror Slips and Trips Writing Knock Knock Jokes Creativity Page: Knock Knock Template EN ROUTE Info to Go Get the Wheels Turning heads Up! Trip Guide Creativity Page: Daredevil in the City AFTER Performance Reflection In-Classroom Workshop Extension: Double the Fun! Classroom Connections: It s a Funny Story Creativity Page: It s a Funny Story template 24 25 Extending the Experience: [Your Name Here] Mania! Resource for Families The New VICTORY THEATER / NEWVICTORYSCHOOLTOOLS.ORG 3
This section is part of a full New Victory School Tool TM Resource Guide. For the complete guide, including information about the New Victory Education Department check out: newvictoryschooltools.org inside Bello mania BEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER Creativity Page: Clowning Around WHAT IS Bello Mania? provides teachers and students a behind-the-curtain look at the artists, the company and the art form of this production. Utilize this resource to learn more about the artists on the New Victory stage, how far they ve traveled and their inspiration for creating this show. In addition to information that will enrich your students experience at the theater, you will find a Creativity Page as a handout to build student anticipation around their trip to The New Victory. MAKING CONNECTIONS TO LEARNING STANDARDS New Victory School Tool Resource Guides align with the Common Core State Standards, New York State Learning Standards and New York City Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts. We believe that these standards support both the high quality instruction and deep engagement that The New Victory Theater strives to achieve in its arts education practice. COMMON CORE Speaking and Listening: Standard 1; Standard 3 Language: Standard 1 NEW YORK STATE STANDARDS The Arts: Standard 1; Standard 4 English Language Arts: Standard 1; Standard 4 BLUEPRINT FOR THE ARTS Theater: Developing Theater Literacy; Making Connections Visual Arts: Art Making; Making Connections The New VICTORY THEATER / NEWVICTORYSCHOOLTOOLS.ORG 4
inside Bello mania BEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER Creativity Page: Clowning Around [ ] Laughter + Physical Comedy + Trampolines + High-Wire Handstands + "America's Best Clown" = BELLO MANIA! where in the world is bello MANIA from? NORTH AMERICA X ATLANTIC OCEAN BELLO MANIA is a brand new show directed by and starring the one and only Bello Nock. Bello is a seventh generation circus performer who most recently toured for eight seasons with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, becoming the only person in the company s over 100-year history to have a production named after him! With a crazy haircut that defies gravity as much as his soaring stunts, Bello and his talented troupe tackle the most towering, terrifying and tough-to-do tricks with jokester genius. Bello Mania features trampoline routines, bungee-style bouncing and handstands on a high wire. This clown will dazzle you and your students like never before. PACIFIC OCEAN SOUTH AMERICA FLORIDA closer look at BELLO MANIA X sarasota Here are some facts about Bello Nock and circus to familiarize you with the art form, and build excitement around your trip to see BELLO MANIA. Bello s career began when he joined Disney on Parade s Peter Pan as Little Michael Darling at age six with Cathy Rigby. Just three years later, he had his own wire-walking act and toured with his family. Bello is a seventh generation clown; he comes from a family of performers. He is a descendant of the family that founded Switzerland s Circus Nock in the 18th century. Bello s first performance was at the age of three! He played the baby in the burning house in a Dumbo clown routine. Bello creates his acts at a place called The Funny Farm. There, he makes a mini-3d scale of any stunt he wants to try, and has a full scale area to practice all the stunts he does in his shows! Sarasota, Florida Sarasota is located on the Gulf of Mexico between Tampa and Ft. Meyers. John Ringling, one of the most influential names in the history of circus, called Sarasota home during the winter. There, he decided to build a place to house all of the art he had collected from his travels. He hired architect John H. Philips to design his museum, and in October 1931, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art was officially open! The New VICTORY THEATER / NEWVICTORYSCHOOLTOOLS.ORG 5
inside Bello mania BEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER Creativity Page: Clowning Around THE ART FORM Circus The circus has western roots in the traditions of the Roman Empire. Acrobats, jugglers, and trained exotic animals wowed crowds in large tiered stadiums before battles and chariot races. The tradition of a traveling circus has been upheld for centuries in cultures around the world. Circus legends such as P.T. Barnum (who infamously reinvented the circus in America in the late 1800s) paved the way for the modern reinvention of circus by making it an awe-inspiring spectacle for all ages. Daredevil Clowning There are many different types of clowns, but Bello is in a category all of his own. Bello is a circus clown, a master gymnast, and comedic daredevil entertainer. In BELLO MANIA!, you will see his unprecedented physical strength as he performs stunts like climbing up a 60 foot pole with his bare hands! Bello will perform with a small troupe of other circus performers, taking on daring tricks like headstands on a high-wire, while at the same time making you laugh! WHAT DO YOUR STUDENTS KNOW NOW? Prior to exploring BELLO MANIA! with your students, find out how much they already know about circus and clowning. Use the Prior Knowledge questions below, and the Creativity Page handout (next page) to get a sense of your students understanding of the art forms and themes in the show. You may be surprised by how much they know already, and in the process of exploring these areas, you ll spark their curiosity to see the show and enhance their anticipation for the trip. Have you ever been to a circus? What did you see in the circus? Have you ever seen a clown? When? How can you tell someone is a clown? Do they wear anything in particular? Have you ever seen an acrobat? What stunts do they typically perform? What is a "daredevil?" When have you heard this word before? Can someone be both a clown and a daredevil in the same show? Who are your favorite comedians? Is there something you can do that makes people laugh? The New VICTORY THEATER / NEWVICTORYSCHOOLTOOLS.ORG 6
CrEATIVITY PAGE: CLOWNING AROUND CLOWNING AROUND Bello Nock is a one of a kind performer with style and pizzazz all his own. Check out the breakdown of Bello s signature look below, and create the clown version of you! HAIR: Bello s signature hair stands straight up (and stays that way through the whole show)! COSTUME: His clothing is big and bold with bright colors, and his tuxedo is not one you would find in stores! SHOES: Bello s signature shoes are dressy, but include a classic silly oversized shape. Step #1: Draw your face here! Step #2: Write down three elements of your physical appearance that you will exaggerate and "Clown-ify!" Example PHYSICAL FEATURE Hair Costume Shoes YOUR PLAN FOR CLOWN-IFICATION Make it stand straight up on end! Step #3: Now draw your signature clown character! YOUR CLOWN NAME: