Posts filed under '.authors'
Hold On
The Kuumba Singers of Harvard College
“Hold On” featuring Bobby McFerrin
Leipzig, Germany (2002)
Add comment November 24, 2009
The Nutcracker Mash
Add comment November 20, 2009
Romeo and Juliet
STANFORD LIVELY ARTS : Prokofiev Project : Student Matinee : Romeo and Juliet :
- Student Matinee Teacher Guide
- Student Matinee Student Guide Grades 3-5
- Student Matinee Student Guide Grades K-2
A long time ago in the distant town of Verona in Italy, there lived two families called the Montagues and the Capulets. They were feuding with each other, which means they were constantly in conflict and fighting with one another. No one knows the reason for the feud, or even when it began! But it had gotten so bad, the Prince of Verona was forced to make a law against fighting. He vowed to banish, or send away from Verona, anyone who fought.
Juliet, who belonged to the Capulet family, loved games, make-believe, and playing with her nanny. Romeo Montague was a handsome young man –- he loved to daydream and to think about far off places. He also liked to spend many hours in the town square with his friends, playing practical jokes and having fun.
One day, the Capulet family held a magnificent fancy-dress ball, to which all the important families in Verona were invited. All, that is, except the Montagues. Romeo and his friends decided to go to the ball anyway, wearing masks, so they would not be recognized. Within a few minutes of arriving at the ball, Romeo saw Juliet, and instantly fell in love with her. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen!
Romeo made his way across the ballroom and asked her to dance with him — since he was wearing a mask, she did not recognize him as a Montague. But upon hearing Romeo’s sweet voice, Juliet fell in love with him, too. They agreed to meet later that night on the balcony outside of Juliet’s room, where they told each other how much they loved one another. They decided to get married, hoping that their marriage would end the conflict between their two families.
The next day in the town square the Montagues and the Capulets met once again. Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, was quick to anger and soon started another fight. Romeo, overjoyed at his decision to marry Juliet, tried to stop the fight but failed. With one quick lunge of his sword Tybalt killed Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend. This was the last straw for Romeo. He swore revenge! He and Tybalt had a fierce sword fight, at the end of which Tybalt died. Romeo was shocked, especially since he had just killed a relative of his beloved Juliet. To make things worse, the Prince of Verona heard what happened and ordered Romeo to leave the town forever.
Before Romeo left Verona, he and Juliet made their way to the town chapel, where they were secretly married by Friar Laurence. Then Romeo and Juliet tearfully said goodbye to one another, but made plans to meet in another town the next day, run away together, and escape from all the fighting in their families.
Juliet’s marriage to Romeo and her love for him made it impossible for her to marry a man that her parents thought would make a good husband for her. So, after Romeo left, Friar Laurence gave Juliet a magic potion to drink that would make it seem like she had died — she would not have to marry the man her parents had chosen for her. She quickly wrote a letter to Romeo explaining her plan and gave it to a messenger to deliver. Then Juliet went back to her room, drank the potion, and sank into a deep, deep sleep. Word quickly got out in Verona that Juliet had died. Her family was very sad, and made preparations for her funeral.
Juliet’s letter to Romeo explaining her plan had gotten lost — Romeo learned only that she he died (though she was actually asleep), and secretly came back to Verona to see his beloved Juliet one last time. Her body had been laid out in the chapel. Overcome with sadness and knowing he would never be able to live without her, Romeo took out a bottle of poison from his pocket. With one last look at his lovely bride, he began to drink. Just then, Juliet awoke from her sleep. But, was she too late?
Friar Laurence, meanwhile, hurried to the church as fast as he could, hearing that Romeo had returned. When he finally arrived, he found Romeo and Juliet in each others’ arms. Their love for one another was so powerful and magical that is changed their bodies into beautiful spirits. Slowly, the spirits of Romeo and Juliet joined their hands and hearts. They were united in their love forever.
1 comment November 16, 2009
Turkey in the Straw
As I was a-goin’
On down the road
With a tired team
And a heavy load
I cracked my whip
And the leader sprung
I says day-day
To the wagon tongue
Turkey in the straw
Turkey in the straw
Roll ‘em up and twist ‘em up
A high tuck a-haw
And hit ‘em up a tune called
Turkey in the Straw
Went out to milk
And I didn’t know how
I milked the goat
Instead of the cow
A monkey sittin’
On a pile of straw
A winkin’ at
His mother-in-law
Turkey in the straw
Turkey in the straw
Roll ‘em up and twist ‘em up
A high tuck a-haw
And hit ‘em up a tune called
Turkey in the Straw
I came to the river
And I couldn’t get across
So I paid five dollars
For a big bay hoss
Well, he wouldn’t go ahead
And he wouldn’t stand still
So he went up and down
Like an old saw mill
Turkey in the straw
Turkey in the straw
Roll ‘em up and twist ‘em up
A high tuck a-haw
And hit ‘em up a tune called
Turkey in the Straw
Did you ever go fishin’
On a warm summer day
When all the fish
Were swimmin’ in the bay
With their hands in their pockets
And their pockets in their pants
Did you ever see a fishie
Do the Hootchy-Kootchy Dance?
Turkey in the straw
Turkey in the straw
Roll ‘em up and twist ‘em up
A high tuck a-haw
And hit ‘em up a tune called
Turkey in the Straw
Wikipedia Lyrics
Turkey in de straw, turkey in de hay
Turkey in de straw, turkey in de hay
Roll ‘em up an’ twist ‘em up a high tuc-ka-haw
An’ twist ‘em up a tune called Turkey in the Straw
Add comment November 14, 2009
The Little Red House with a Star Inside
Once upon a time a little boy named Johnny asked his mother to make a mommy magic for him.
“How would you like to find a little red house with no windows, no doors, a chimney on top, and a star inside?” asked his mother.
Johnny said he would like that very much.
So Johnny and his mother went for a walk.
They saw Johnny’s friend, Jenny, jumping rope.
“Do you know where I can find a little red house with no windows, no doors, a chimney on top, and a star inside” asked Johnny?
“No.” said Jenny. “But maybe Farmer Jones knows that.”
Johnny and his mother walked until they came to Farmer Jones.
Johnny asked him, “Do you know where I can find a little red house with no windows, no doors, a chimney on top, and a star inside?”
“No.” said Farmer Jones. But I bet my Grandma knows. She has lived a long, long time, and she knows most everything.”
They went to see Grandma Jones. She was rocking back and forth in a rocking chair on the front porch.
Johnny asked her, “Grandma, Jones, do you know where I can find a little red house with no windows, no doors, a chimney on top, and a star in the middle?”
“Go into the orchard and ask Mr. Wind.” said Grandma Jones.
So Johnny went into the orchard.
Mr. Wind came and blew so hard, that an apple fell down onto Johnny’s lap.
“This is what we’ve been looking for!” shouted Johnny. They cut it open, and inside was a star.
Johnny and his mother walked home and showed Grandma Jones, Farmer Jones, and Jenny the apple. Then each of them ate a piece of the apple.
Download: pdf
Add comment November 1, 2009
Haunted House
There’s a house upon the hilltop
We will not go inside
For that is where the witches live,
Where ghosts and goblins hide.
Tonight they have their party,
All the lights are burning bright,
But oh we will not go inside
The haunted house tonight.
The demons there are whirling
And the spirits swirl about.
They sing their songs to Halloween.
“Come join the fun,” they shout.
But we do not want to go there
So we run with all our might
And oh we will not go inside
The haunted house tonight
Add comment October 31, 2009
IT’S HALLOWEEN
It’s Halloween! It’s Halloween!
The moon is full and bright
And we shall see what can’t be seen
On any other night.
Skeletons and ghosts and ghouls,
Grinning goblins fighting duels,
Werewolves rising from their tombs,
Witches on their magic brooms.
In masks and gowns
we haunt the street
And knock on doors
for trick or treat.
Tonight we are
the king and queen,
For oh tonight
it’s Halloween!
Add comment October 31, 2009
