ArtsPowerpresentsNuggetandFangStudyGuide

ForTeacherClassroomUsePerformance:March1,2018at10amand12:15pm

ThisprogramismadepossiblethroughthesupportofAdvocateMedicalGroup,

theFogliaFamilyFoundation,NICORandComEd

ThisprograminconjunctionwiththisstudyguidesupportsthefollowingCommonCoreStandards:RL.K-5.2,RL.K-5.3,RL.K-5.5,RL.K-5.6,RL.K-5.6,RL.K-5.7,RL.K-5.9

RI.K-5.2,RI.K-5.3W.K-5.3,W.K-5.7SL.K-5.2,SL.K-5.4

A501(c)3non-profit,charitableorganizationdedicatedtoenrichingthelivesofallthroughthearts.Locatedinhistoric,downtownCrystalLake,Illinois.26.N.WilliamsStreet|BoxOffice815-356-9212

Buyticketsonlineatrauecenter.org

WhatHappensinNuggetandFang

NuggetandFangbyTammiSauer

IllustrationsbyMichaelSlack

ArtsPower’sunder-the-seamusicaltellsthestoryofNugget,aminnow,andFang,ashark,whoarebestfriends.Infact,theylovetoplaytogetherandspendmostoftheirtimewithoneanother.Thesetwopalstrulyenjoyeachother’scompany–untilNugget’sfirstdayatMissMini’sMinnowSchool.

AtMissMini’sMinnowsSchool,Nuggetlearnsthatminnowsaresupposedtobeafraidofsharksbecausetheyarescaryandliketoeatotherfish.AlthoughNuggetknowsinhisheartthatFangisthenicestofsharksandwouldneverhurtanotherfish,histeachersandfellowstudentsarecertainthatsinceFangisashark,heisnottobetrusted.

ToregainNugget’strust,FangtriestoshowNuggetandhisclassmatesthathereallyisaniceguyandwouldneverbeathreattothem.Butnothingworks.Oneday,whenFangisswimming,sadandunnoticedindeepwaters,heseesNuggetandhisminnowfriendscaughtupinsomebigtroubleandoneverybigfisherman’snet!

Holymackerel!CanFangsaveNuggetandtheotherminnowswhoarecaughtinthenet?

WhenYouDropAnchorataPerformance

Inordertobeagoodaudiencemember,rememberto:

●Listenquietly.●Payattentiontothethingstheactorssayanddo—somethingsmightmakeyouhappyandsomemightbefunny.Feelfreetolaughatthingsyouthinkarefunny!●Sitquietlyanddonottalkduringtheperformance,unlessyouarerequestedtodosobytheactorsonstage.●Ifyouenjoytheplay,youcanapplaudaftermusicalnumbersandattheend.

TeacherInformation

Thisstudyguideisdesignedtohelpyouandyourstudentspreparefor,enjoy,anddiscussArtsPower’smusicalplay,Nugget&Fang,beforeandaftertheperformance.YoumayreproduceanddistributethisStudyBuddytoyourstudents.

TopurchaseanyoftheNUGGET&FANGbooksonAmazon,visit:https://www.amazon.com/Nugget-Fang-Friends-Forever-Snack/dp/0547852851

WhatisaMusical?Amusicalisastorytoldthroughspokenwordsandsongsbyliveactorsonstage.Thespokenwordsarecalledlines.Thewordsthataresungarecalledlyrics.Themusicthatwascomposedjustforthisshowiscalledtheshow’ssoundtrack.Forthisperformance,thesoundtrackhasbeenrecordedontoaniPadwhichisoperatedbythestagemanager.ThemusicalNugget&Fangfeaturesfourprofessionalactorswhoplaysomeofthecharactersfoundinthebook.Theactorswearcostumesandperforminfrontoftheirset.Becausereadingabookisdifferentthanseeingaliveperformanceonstage,theplaywright,orthepersonwhowritesthelinesthattheactorsspeak,mustchangepartsofthestoryorbringnewqualitiestothecharactersthatarenotfoundinthebook.Inotherwords,theplaywrightadaptsthebookintoamusicalplay,orchangespartsofittoturnthewordsonthepageintoaliveperformance.

ArtsPowerNationalTouringTheatreArtsPowerisatheatrecompanythatcreatesmusicalanddramatictheatreproductions,basedonbooksforyoungreaders,andtoursthemforyoungandfamilyaudiencesthroughoutthenation.

Thefouractorsandonestagemanager:

●presentperformancesinregionaltheatres,culturalcenters,universityauditoriums,andschoolsallovertheUnitedStates.

●packtheset,costumes,andsoundequipmentintheirvan.

●setupandbreakdowntheshow.

●takecareofcostumesandprops(objectsthatarehandledbytheactors).

●stayinhotelswhentheytravel.

●sometimespresentupto9performancesinaweek.

LearningActivityDiscuss!

WhyisArtsPowercalledanationaltouringtheatre?

Ifyouwereanactor,doyouthinkyouwouldliketotraveltodifferentplacestoperform?

Doyouthinkaudiencesfromdifferentpartsofthecountryrespondtotheperformanceinthesameorindifferentways?Ifso,why?

CreatingTheatreCreatingamusicaltheatreproductionlikeNugget&Fangtakesalotoftimeandcreativeenergyfromagroupofpeople.Manypeopleworktogethertomakethechangesandadditionsittakestoturnthebookintoanhour-longmusical.

●Theplaywrightwriteslinesthattheactorsspeak.

●Thecomposerwritesthemusic.

●Thelyricistwritesthewordstothesongsthattheactorssing.

●Theactorsperformtheshow.

●Thedesignerscreatesets,costumes,andlighting.

●Thedirectorrehearsestheactorsandmakesdecisionsaboutwhathappensonstageduringtheshow.

●Thestagemanageroverseesallbackstageelementsofashow.

●TheproducersraisethemoneytocreateandmanageallaspectsoftheproductionanditstourthroughouttheUnitedStatesandCanada.

TheCreativeTeamforNugget&FangGREGGUNNING(Playwright,CoLyricist,andDirector)isArtsPower’sArtisticDirectorandhaswrittenorcowrittenthescriptstoallofArtsPower'stheatreproductions.Greg’sscriptforArtsPower’sLily’sCrossing,basedontheNewberyHonorbookbyPatriciaReillyGiff,isincludedinPenguinBooks’“TheSignetBookofShortPlays.”

RICHARDDEROSA(Co-ComposerandCo-Orchestrator)ispresentlyAssociateProfessorandDirectorofJazzCompositionandArrangingStudiesattheUniversityofNorthTexas.RichardhascomposedandorchestratedthescorestoallbutthreeArtsPowerproductions.jazz.unt.edu/derosa

TAMMISAUER(Author)graduatedfromKansasStateUniversitywithaB.S.inElementaryEducation.Sheiscurrentlyafull-timepicturebookauthor.Inadditiontowriting,Tammilovestoread,ski,spendtimewithherfamilyandfriends,gotomovies,andeatoutasoftenaspossible.ShelivesinEdmond,OklahomawithherhusbandRonandtheirtwochildren,JuliaandMason.www.tammisauer.com

GARY(left)andMARKBLACKMAN(Producers&ArtsPower’sFoundingCo-Directors)foundedArtsPowerin1985.TheBlackmansaregraduatesofColumbiaCollege,ColumbiaUniversityandFloridaStateUniversity’sCollegeofMusic.Intheirformerlivesasmusicians,eachwasnamedasan“OutstandingJazzSoloist”inDownbeatmagazine’sStudentRecordingAwards.Intheirpresentlives,GaryservesasArtsPower’sManagingDirectorwhileMarkisDirectorofDevelopmentandMarketing.GaryhasservedasaboardmemberontheNewJersey

StateCouncilontheArtssince2014.AlthoughtheBlackmanslookverymuchalike,theyhave,infact,beenseentogether.

AllAboutNugget&FangArtsPower’sNugget&FangisadaptedfromthebookofthesametitlebyauthorTammiSauerandillustratorMichaelSlack.“Adapted”meansthatArtsPowerbaseditsshowonthebook,turningtheprintedwordsinthebooktodialoguespokenbyactorswhoplaythecharactersfromthebook,includingNuggetandFang.

GregGunning,thepersonwhowrotethedialogueandlyricsforNugget&Fang,firstreadthebookandworkedwithauthorTammiSauerincreatingthefirst-evermusicaltheatreproductioncalledNugget&Fang.Greghadtoimaginewhatthecharactersfromthebookwouldlooklikeasrealpeople,whattheywouldsayinadditiontotheirdialogueinthebook,andhowthesetandcostumeswouldworktohelptheaudiencethinktheshowistakingplaceunderthesea.

LyricsandLinesBecauseNugget&Fangisamusical,thestoryistoldthroughspokenwordsandsongs.Spokenwordsarecalledlines.Themusical’slinestelltheaudienceaboutthecharactersandthestory.Wordsthataresungaspartofasongarecalledlyrics.Actorsworkwiththedirectortospeakor“deliver”theirlinesandlyricswithexpression.

LyricsThereisnomusicalwithoutmusicandlyrics.Lyricsarethewordstothesongs.GregGunningwroteboththelinestheactorssayandthelyricstheysinginNugget&Fang.♪Whatdotheselyricsfromthesong,“AFriendIsaFriend,”tellyouaboutwhatafriendis?♪Cananyonebeafriend?♪Whatdoyoulikeaboutyourfriends?YOURFRIENDSCOULDBE,WELL–ANYONE.ONFATEITALLDEPENDS.BUTOH–THEWORLDMAYDISAPPROVEANDSAYYOUCAN’TBEFRIENDS.BUTWHYLETOTHERSTELLYOUWHOYOURFRIENDSSHOULDBE?GETTOKNOWTHEMFORWHOTHEYAREINDIVIDUALLY.SOALTHOUGHYOUKNOWYOURFRIENDMIGHTBEQUITEDIFFERENTTHANYOU,REMEMBERTHIS–AFRIENDISAFRIEND–NOMATTERWHO.

TheNugget&FangSetThesetdesignerbuildsasmall,foamcoremodeloftheset(someofthepiecesareincludedabove)sohecandeterminehowtheindividualpieceswilllookandwheretheyshouldbeplacedonstage.Hethengivesthemodelandhisplanstothesetbuilderwhocreatessetpiecesthatare6to8feethigh.Theentiresetisportableandtravelsinalargevanwiththeactorsandstagemanager.

LinesThewordsspokenor“delivered”bytheactorsarewrittenbytheplaywright,GregGunning.Eachactormustmemorizethescriptor“lines”forhisorherowncharacter.Theymustalsobefamiliarwiththelinesoftheothercharacters,too.HereiswhatthefirstpageoftheNugget&Fangscriptlookslike:

NUGGET(runningin–aheadofFang)(entering)(happily&playfullyshouting,bragging,laughing)HeyFang,comeon!Betyoucan’tcatchme!Hurryup,slowpoke!I’mwayaheadofyouasusual!Man,areyouslow.BetIcouldbeatyouinaraceanyday…Knucklehead,youcan’tfoolme.Hey,holdit-whatamIdoing?Forgetit.Idon’tneedtoproveIcancatchyou–I’mstillthefastestinthewholeocean!(freezes)

FANG(runninginbehindNugget)(entering)(happily&playfullyshouting,bragging,laughing)(spokensimultaneouslywithNugget)Ohyeah!Youcan’tgetawayfromme!Igotyacovered!Lookout–alwaysrightbehindya!Nowaycouldyoueverswimfasterthanme!…Heywait–stop!Nowwe’llseewho’sthefastestandthesmartest!Uh-oh,lookout!Thisguyisthebest!Giveitupallyoufishesoutthere!I’mthebestunderthewaves!Yeah!(freezes.)

LetUsKnowWhatYouThink!AfteryouseeNugget&Fang,usethespacebelowtowritetousORsendusapictureshowingyourfavoritepartoftheperformance.PleasesendthemtoArtsPower,9SandParkRoad,Suite6,CedarGrove,NJ07009.Youmayalsovisitusonlineathttp://www.artspower.organdclickon“ContactUs.”

YourSchool_______________________________________ School’sCity&State________________________________ Date_____________________________________________DearArtsPower,IsawNugget&Fangat_____________________________________________________________________Here’swhatIenjoyedabouttheperformance:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Here’swhy:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Here’swhatIwouldchangeabouttheperformance:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Here’swhy:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ From, YourName:_______________________________________

Pre-ShowQuestions

1. Compareit!Beforetheperformance,readtheNugget&Fangstories.Aftertheperformance,compareandcontrastthecharacters,settings,andeventsineachversion.Whatpartsofthedifferentstoriesareimportanttoremember?WhydoyouthinkNuggetdecidednottoshowFangfriendship?

2. WhatareotheradaptationsyoucanthinkofbesidesNuggetandFang?Doyouhaveafavoritebookthatyou’dliketoseecometolifeonstage?Whichone?

3. Discussthedifferentcharactersafteryoureadthebook.Describehoweachmayspeak,moveorlook.

4. Whatarethedifferencesbetweenasharkandaminnow?5. Cantheybefriendsevenwiththeirdifferences?6. Isiteasytogetalongwithpeoplewhomightbedifferentthanyou?7. Whenyouseetheperformance,therewillbedifferencesbetweenitandthebook.Trytoremember

thesedifferenceswhileyouwatchtheperformance.8. Havethestudentsseenanyshowsthatwerebasedonbooksorstoriesbefore?Whataboutmovies?

Howdotheyexpectthisshowtobedifferentfromwhattheyhaveseeninthepast?Howdotheyexpecttheshowtobedifferentfromthebooks?

9. Havethestudentsdraworwritepredictionsonwhattheythinktheywillseebasedonwhattheyreadinthestudyguide,pictures,andhistory.Aftertheshow,lookatthepredictionsandseewhowascorrect.

10. Havethestudentsresearchstorytellinginothercountriesorhistory.HowisitdifferentorsimilartoAmericanfolktalesandfables?Thiscanbearesearchpaper,projectorjustahomeworkassignment.Havethempresentwhattheyfoundtotheclass.

11. Sincethemainthemeoftheplayisfriendshipandavoidingprejudice,haveaclassdiscussiononthetopic.Havethestudentsthinkofamoraloralessonthattheywouldwanttoteachsomeoneandwritetheirownfable.Havethemgoastepfurtherandillustratethestory.Havethempresenttotheclassexplainingwhytheytoldthestoryinthewaytheydid.Discusstheotherthemesinthebook–actionsandconsequencesandresponsibility.Havetheyeverfeltlikeanyofthemaincharactershave?Howdidtheyreact?

12. Havethestudentsreadanotherbookorwatchamovie.Whataresomecommonthemesofthestory?Whatisthemainthemeofthestory?Arethereotherstoriestheycanthinkofthathavethesametheme?Considerusingotherfolktalesandfablestoillustratethispoint:Greekmythology,fables,Americanfolktales,etc.Whataresomeotherfamousstories?Wasthelessonthesameineachstory?

13. Havethestudentsresearchotherstories.Howarethestoriessimilartothestoryinthisshow(themes,characters,setting,etc.)?Howaretheydifferent?Eveniftheyhaven’treadthestories,isthereanythingthattheycantellfromthedescriptionorevenpicturesthataresimilartothestoryintheshow?

14. Whenthestudentsattendtheperformance,listentothemusicthroughouttheshow.Didallofthemusicyouheardhavelyricstoit?Didyousometimeshearmusicwhentheactorsweretalkingbutnotsinging?Didthemusicandlyricshelptellthestory?Didthemusichelpconveydifferentemotions?

15. Intheplay,actorshavetoactlikethecharacterstheyareplaying.Haveyourstudentspickananimaltoresearchandthenportraythroughphysicalaction.Eachstudentwilllearnaboutaparticularanimal’sbehaviorandtraitsthroughresearchinbooksoronline.Thestudentscanthencreateaposterwiththeirresearchfactsandapictureoftheanimal.Withoutrevealingtheirsubject,havethestudentstaketurnsactingastheiranimalwhiletheclasstriestoguesswhatitis.

Post-ShowDiscussion

(Someofthesearegoodtodiscusswithyourstudentswhileyouwaitforyourbustoarriveatthetheatreaftertheshow!)

1. Haveeachstudentcomeupwithoneortwooftheirfavoritepartsoftheshow.Whatwastheirleastfavoritepart?

2. Comparetheshowtheyjustsawwithothertheatreshowsormoviesthey’veseen.Howaretheydifferent?Howaretheysimilar?

3. Whatisthedifferencebetweenabookandtheplaythey’vejustseen?Aretheresimilaraspectsineachoraretheycompletelydifferent?

4. Dothestudentsthinktheycouldwriteaplaybasedontheirlives?Havethestudentswriteastorythatcouldbeturnedintoaplay.Maybeincludetheirfavoriteday,vacationthey’vetaken,schoolorfriendadventures.Toexpandonthisactivity,havethestudentswriteasceneoftheirplay.Gotothelibraryandlookattheformatofaplayincludingstagedirections,dialogueandscenedescription.Havethestudentsperformtheirscenefortheclass.Iftheycan’tcomeupwithsomethingontheirownlives,havethemwritesomethingforanotherstory.

5. Writeajournalentryabouttheplay.Includefavoriteorleastfavoriteparts.Scenesortimesintheshowthatstudentsrelatedtoinsomeway.Havetheyeverfeltlikeanyofthecharactersinthestory?Weretherethingstheywoulddodifferentlyiftheywereinthatcharacter’sshoes?

6. Havethestudentspretendyouareareporterforanewspaperandwriteareviewoftheplaytheyhavejustseen.

7. Havethestudentsreadthesynopsisandbackgroundinformation.Whatarethecommonthemes?Whatisthemainthemeoftheplay?Aftertheshow,havethestudentsrecallwhattheyreadaboutthestorybeforetheycametotheshow.Doestheirideaofthethemechangeafterseeingtheshow?Howiswhattheysawdifferent/similartowhattheyread?Didtheplayusespecificwordsordescriptionstoaddtothestoryorcreatethemoodofthestory?Usespecificexamples.

8. Havethestudentspickouttheirfavoritepartofthestoryanddescribeitindetailfromtheperspectiveofthemaincharacterinthescene.Havethemrewritethestoryfromanothercharacter’sperspective(i.e.fromNugget’stoFang’s).Didthatchangethestoryatall?How?Howiseachstorytold—firstpersonorthirdpersonperspective?Havethestudentsrewriteitonemoretimefromtheirownperspectiveasanaudiencemember.

9. HowdoesNuggetlearnhislesson?Explaintheideaofcauseandeffectandactionsandconsequencesusingtheactionsofthecharactersinthestory.

10.Havethestudentschoosetheirfavoritecharacterintheplay.Howaretheyimportanttothestory?Whataretheylike?

11.Animportantaspectoftheshowisthemusicchosen.Howismusicusedinsettingthemood?Whatkindofmusicisplayedforthehappyparts?Thesadparts?Tellthestudentstolistenformusicthatsetsthemoodthenexttimetheyseeamovieoratelevisionshow.Doyouthinkthesongsareintentionallychosenorjustbecausethedirectorlikedthesongs?

12.Reviewthemoralofthestoryanddiscusswhathappenedtothecharacterstoshowthemoral(whatbadthinghappenedthatmadethemlearnthelesson).Howmightyouapplythislessontoyourlife?

13.Arethereotherwaysthestudentscanthinkoftotellthestories?Play,storyboards,etc.Havethemtrytellingastoryusingthatmedium.

14.Therearemanypoemsthatarewrittenfromstoriesandfables.Presentpoemstotheclassandhaveadiscussiononthedifferencebetweenapoem,aplayandastory.

15.Howdidtheplaymakethechildrenfeel?Talkabouthowtheactorsassumedifferentroles(characters)andhowaplayisdifferentfromamovie.Askthechildrenwhattheythinkhappenedinthelivesofthecharactersaftertheactionoftheplay.

16. Havethestudentschoosetheirfavoritecharacterintheplay.Howaretheyimportanttothestory?Whataretheylike?Dothemannerismsoractionscoincidewiththecharactertheywere?

17. WhywereNuggetandFangsuchgoodfriends?18. WhathappenedtoNuggetwhenhewenttoschoolsohemightfeelscaredofFang?19. WouldyouhavebehavedlikeNuggetandlistenedtowhatyourclassmatessaidaboutyourfriend?20. WhydidNugget’sminnowclassmatesfinallyrealizethatFangwasreallyaniceshark?21. Whatdoyoudotoshowyourfriendsthatyoucareaboutthem?