Organization Details:

Founded in 1996, Making Books Sing began as the family theatre and education program of the Tony Award-winning Vineyard Theatre. After five years of steady growth, Making Books Sing became an independent, 501(c) 3 organization with the mission: to empower children to experience theatre as a vehicle for artistic expression and learning. Making Books Sing’s unique combination of professional musical theatre productions and hands-on workshops, all related to books, inspires children to grow as literate, creative and socially aware individuals. To date, Making Books Sing’s theatre productions and educational programs have reached more than 70,000 children and adults.

Description and/or History:
Major Accomplishments
To date, Making Books Sing has accomplished the following:
• Produced thirteen professional productions of musicals, including eight commissions;
• Served over 70,000 school and family audience members across New York City;
• Implemented in more than 55 New York City public schools
• Involved more than 40,000 children and adults in our Education Programs;
• Disseminated over 4,500 Curriculum Resource Packets and Anthologies;
• Engaged nearly 2,000 teachers in Professional Development Workshops; and
• Involved nearly 6,000 family members in Family Workshops.
• In 2007, with an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, launched the S.A.F.E. program to bring the benefits of our program to the most vulnerable children-- those residing in homeless shelters.

2008-2009 marks Making Books Sing’s 13th season! Each year, Making Books Sing commissions and produces a full-scale family musical that examines a period of history, culture and/or a social issue. In recent years, Making Books Sing has adapted books for the stage that sensitively tackle subjects such as homelessness, immigration and racism.

Co-founded by one of the original founders of the Vineyard Theatre, Barbara Zinn Krieger, Making Books Sing carries on the tradition by producing theatre with high artistic standards. Fully designed lights, sets, costumes and props are distinguishing elements of our quality theatre. Children exposed to these elements can more fully experience the lessons and creativity of this rich art form. In honor of our efforts, The New York Times said of our most recent production,
“Children and adults will find it a rare pleasure.”

The Theatre Program

Currently, Making Books Sing premieres one Mainstage Musical each year that reaches 15,000 school- age children, family, and community members. These works engage families in important social issues and historical moments. In 2007- to great acclaim- we presented The Butterfly, a story of the life-long friendship forged by two girls, one Jewish and one Catholic, in Nazi occupied France. This year our intent is to extend our season and reach a diverse audience by commissioning and producing a new culture-based Dance Musical theatre production for family audiences.

In 2009, we presented Jose Limon: The Making of an Artist- an introduction to Modern Dance and the Mexican-American experience. Making Books Sing was proud to present this full-scale musical and related education programs (which included a four-borough community outreach effort, a four-borough touring musical which celebrated an under-represented culture, deep partnerships with theatrical venues in four boroughs, pre and post-show audience sessions, and family workshops and surround events which imparted information about the historical/social issues represented in the show.

The Education Programs

Each year, our annual musical becomes the centerpiece of a comprehensive education program that engages children in the study of literature, theatre, movement, music and social issues in a manner that is interactive and age appropriate.

Professional Development Program and Resources for Teachers: These 60-90 minute workshops, lead by Making Books Sing’s education staff, give both teaching artists and teachers the information and resources needed to prepare their students to see the show and then integrate theatre into the overall curriculum. In addition, each teacher receives a Teacher’s Resource Guide and a copy of the focal book. Our services have been recognized by the New York City Department of Education and by Partners for the Arts. Due to urging from the field, and demand for our services, Making Books Sing’s Professional Development Program will compete to receive a much coveted award from the Dana Foundation in order to open our program up to the wider field.

In-School Integrated Theatre Arts-Based Residencies: Literature at Play is Making Books Sing’s signature education initiative. In 2007-2008, 4,500 students explored children’s books, historical topics and social issues related to our production, all through the theatre-based arts (playwriting, drama, dance, lyric-writing, music, visual arts, prop-making, etc.). Each year, our 27 highly-trained, experienced teaching artists conduct residencies at 25 public schools throughout New York City. Over the course of three – six months, they meet weekly with nearly 160 classes of Kindergarteners through sixth graders. During the residency, each class adapts a second teacher-selected book into a play or musical. The plays and musicals are developed through a series of theatre games, improvisations, playwriting and lyric writing workshops. After revisions and rehearsals, children perform their plays and musicals for peer groups, who have also participated in Literature at Play. Literature at Play serves children with diverse needs, including English language learners, special education students and others with special needs. Making Books Sing publishes an in-depth PowerPoint/anthology for each partner school to capture student learning through reflections, photographs, plays and other evidence of success.

L.A.F. Together! A Program to Unite Literature, Art and Families
Making Books Sing’s theatrical productions can and should spark a conversation among families. Therefore, Making Books Sing offers several avenues for up to 2,500 parents and children to gain insight into the production’s content. Tailored hands-on workshops, held primarily in the evenings at schools or community venues, allow families to examine core issues, the adapted book and other related books through music, visual art, theatre and discussion. Panel discussions are developed for each public performance. We also develop alliances with local museums, and other important institutions to encourage continued exploration of the production’s subject matter. A Family Guide is made available to all audience members.

S.A.F.E.: Shelters, Arts, Families and Education
Homelessness and its root causes create extreme stress on its victims, especially children. They suffer from high rates of depression and poor physical health, interrupted education, and low self-esteem resulting from their economic and social status. In 2007, Making Books Sing gave voice to this marginalized population by producing a full-scale musical about a homeless mother and child. In 2008, we worked with four transitional housing shelters in the Bronx, reaching some 425 children and their caregivers with art-related activities. The program’s goal is to enable these families-in-crisis to engage in the arts as a form of entertainment, self-expression and literacy skill-building. By reaching out to homeless children and their families and providing services with a therapeutic framework, Making Books Sing is meeting a dire need of children who are usually far behind in their educational and social development. In fact, for a child who is homeless, each move from one shelter to another can mean falling six weeks to six months behind in school. Already “at-risk” and dealing with the stigma of homelessness, they desperately need to remain engaged in and find joy in learning. We believe that S.A.F.E. makes a real difference.

Contact people:

Development Team, Communications Director, (212) 573-8791 X 244, (email) Debra Sue Lorenzen, Executive Director, (212) 573-8791, (email) Kimberly Wilson, Project Manager, (212) 573-8791 X 238, (email)

Address:

340 East 46th Street New York, NY 10017 (See a map)

Directions:

46th Street (near first Avenue) Buses or trains to East 42nd or East 50th Street   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: 4/5/6 Lexington,   Walk distance (in minutes): 8-10   Nearest Bus Stop: M42; M104; M50, 1-5 minute walk