InterAct Story Theatre: performances, workshops for children, staff development, educational products, after-school programs

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Testimonials

Interact Story Theater, led by the gifted Lenore Blank Kelner, brings to all students the opportunity to not only read and interpret children’s literature; they actually live it! Students adore the performances and during the residencies, students are intensely engaged as they attain a level of understanding of literature that has no parallel in the traditional classroom. The professional development opportunities for staff are excellent and the results for children are extraordinary.

Mrs. Danielle Sultan, Staff Development Teacher,
Sargent Shriver Elementary School - Silver Spring, Maryland

Productions

Students' reactions
" I give you 5,000 Thumbs Up!"
- 2nd grade student, Schuykill Valley, Leesport, PA

"The show was so funny! I laughed so hard I had to be moved!"
- 3rd grade student, Apex Elementary, Apex, NC

Performances

InterAct has been performing in Garrett County, Maryland every year for over 20 years. I was in elementary school when I saw my first InterAct performance and now I am a teacher in the same school. I looked forward to your shows when I was a kid and I still do. We have already booked your show, The Shirt of Happiness for the fall!
- Teacher, Route 40 Elementary, Garrett County, MD

Too Much Nose was one of the best children's performances I've seen in a longtime...truly a pleasure.
- Lynne Silverstein, Senior Program Consultant, The Kennedy Center

Two-Tone Tale
I am ready to book Two-Tone Tale now. I saw it six years ago with my family at Theatre-in-the-Woods at Wolf Trap. My kids loved it! Great show with a great message! Now I want all my students to see it.
- Parent/Teacher, Timber Lane Elementary, Fairfax, VA

Shirt of Happiness
Bravo! Once again your production was outstanding and both the students and the staff thoroughly enjoyed it. We usually change our cultural events every year, but InterAct is an exception. You never let us down.
- Cultural Arts chair, Farmington Woods Elementary, Cary, NC

Harriet Tubman: The Chosen One
I was one of the lucky ones. I got to see the show twice. The 4th and 5th graders kept talking about how great the show was at lunch.
- Teacher, Benjamin Banneker Elementary, Prince George's Co., MD

We could not have asked for a more powerful depiction to begin Black History Month than Harriet Tubman: The Chosen One. Gwen is a marvelously talented actress.
- Kelleigh Mahoney, Outreach and Education, Portsmouth Museums

Stories on Stage
Wonderful! Really held the attention of even our youngest listeners. The best storytelling
performance we have had.
- Teacher, Bala House, Bala Cynwyd, PA

We were delighted with the Stories on Stage production and we are still talking about it. There was a hum in the hall after school with children repeating the lines. Tremendous!
- Teacher, Buena Vista Elementary, Greer, SC

Workshops:

The InterAct artists all seem to know exactly how to connect with Head Start children, parents, and teachers. Everyone gets involved in the "learning through the arts" experience and everyone has a wonderful time.
Judith Dighe, Education Specialist, Head Start/EEEP Unit

Playbuilding
The students were riveted. I have never seen them be so creative. We wrote the story after you left and plan to illustrate it. Also, I appreciated the wonderful classroom management skills of the actor.
- Teacher, Stonegate Elementary, Silver Spring, MD

Songbuilding
What a strong vocabulary builder! The workshop grabbed the student's attention and was fast paced. The songs were appealing and the instruments were beautiful. It captured the interest and attention of all the children and the teachers too.
- Teacher, Fairfax Employer ChildCare Center, Fairfax, VA

Rainforest
The workshop fit in perfectly with our unit on the rainforest. I have never seen my fifth graders so engaged and focused.
- Fifth grade teacher, PS 95, Bronx, NY

Colonial Village
We did not know what to expect and boy were we happy. For the first time our students understood how people lived in another time period. Thank you for this fun and rich experience.
- Teacher, Westlake Elementary, Cary, NC

Staff Development Workshops

We have found using drama in the classroom provides teachers with additional strategies that both enhance and capture the students’ attention when they are working with literature. As a result, all students are able to participate actively with their classmates while developing higher level critical questioning skills. It has been a wonderful experience!
- Meredith A. Casper, Pine Crest Elementary School, Principal

Lenore Blank Kelner is one of the most experienced arts educators I know. She has been leading drama workshops for educators for many years, works directly with students in classrooms, and has written books that have proved to be invaluable resources for teachers. Teachers tell us her work makes a difference in their ability to reach the students in their classrooms.
- Barbara Shepherd, Director - Partners in Education, Education Department, Kennedy Center

I have been teaching for 20 years. This was the best staff development workshop I have been to. Engaging! Practical! Perfect for ELL and all my students. Thank you.
- Teacher, Farmland Elementary, Montgomery Co. MD

The three hours flew by. I could use a part two- I got so many great ideas.
- ESL Teacher, Green Bay, WI

My teachers were absolutely right-you are the best! What fun it was to have you with us to kick off our very first Early Childhood Educator's Workshop Series! People left enthused, and encouraged to expand their repertoire of interactive group play with the children.
- Director, Fairfax United Methodist Church Preschool

The presentation was excellent and very relevant for helping our student achieve the S.O.Ls.
- Teacher, Crossfield Elementary, Herndon, VA

Parent Workshops
We saw you at the school the other day and I said "Look Mathew, there's the lady who taught mommy how to make a story can!" And he said, "We better go say thank you!" He loves the story can we made in the workshop. We make up stories all the time. Thank you for all your great ideas.
- Parent, Washington Grove Elementary, Gaithersburg, MD

The Songbuilding Parent Child Workshop felt like the highlight of the year. It was a wonderful time for our community, our families to be together in a very meaningful way. One of the wonderful things was that several of the parents were so inspired…that they did not leave until they had written songs for each of their children. The entire event was huge success.
- Susan Rosendahl, Pre-School Division Head, Key School, Annapolis, MD

Staff Development Residencies
The step by step organization of the residency was very effective: starting with the staff development workshop and then moving on to the classroom observations and then team teaching with the students. I now feel comfortable assimilating what I observed and I am ready to try it out on my own.
- Teacher, Haiku Elementary, Maui, HI

Observing you work with my students and then team teaching along side you has been like an awakening. I have a whole new approach to teaching. Thank you.
- Teacher, Wilson Elementary, Oklahoma City, OK

Thank you with all your efforts with my staff this year! They really felt the professional development model you used worked and they have grown! Kudos! That means our children are “getting it” too! You have been a gift for us!
- Laura Kingsley, Principal, Fruitville Elem. Sarasota, Florida

Products
Audio Tapes...
My kids love your story tapes. We always play them on car trips. They are the first tapes we reach for!
- Parent, Minneapolis, MN

Story Sacks...
I love your Story Sacks! What a wonderful and ingenious way to promote emerging literacy.
- JoAnn Elliott Cooper, Director Baltimore County Head Start, Baltimore, MD

Book, A Dramatic Approach to Reading Comprehension…
The next time you hear a doubter question the efficacy of arts-integrated learning, tell that traditionalist to shut up, and hand over a copy of this book.
- Eric Booth, Founder of the Arts-In-Education Program at Julliard

These authors are offering a wonderful gift for teachers and for students. Pick up this book and give yourself the chance to delve into a new way of working and enjoy it.
- Roberta Mantione, author, Weaving Through Words

Book, The Creative Classroom...
Absolutely the best book for drama in the classroom. I always find something I can use.
- Drama Specialist, Detroit, Mich

Please hurry and send me another copy of your book. I've used my copy so much it has fallen apart.
- Teacher, Moreland Hills, OH

I recommend your book to everyone. I even recommended to a woman I sat next to on the plane. She was an ELL teacher too. I have post-it notes on all the pages I still want to use. It is such a great resource.
- ELL teacher, Burnt Mills Elementary, Silver Spring, MD

Creative Kids Classes
I knew my youngest daughter would like this program and I was right, but I was surprised how much my older son loved it. He tried it for one week and begged me to sign him up. They both loved your choice of books, the parts they played, and their teacher. We will see you in the fall.
- Parent, Dufief Elementary, Montgomery County MD

My child loves Creative Kids so much he refused to go to his dentist appointment which we accidentally scheduled on the day of class. By the way, he loved playing the peddler in “Caps For Sale.” We have acted it out at home at least 100 times.
- Parent, A Child's Place at Hollin Hall, Alexandria, VA

Do you give Family discounts? We put one of our kids in Creative kids, and now all three want to go!
- Parent, Stonegate Elementary, Silver Spring, MD

My kid lives for Wednesdays. Every morning he wakes up and asks if today is Creative Kids. It is a great program.
- Parent, Bethesda Country Day School, Bethesda, MD

Please send me the list of books you are using for the Creative Kids program. My son wants to read them all. You really have gotten him turned on to books.
- Parent, Henson Valley Montessori, Mitchellville, MD

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