|
Is an award winning group of professional actors and musicians that have been performing since 1989 and have won the following awards:
2000 - Virginia Nick Arts in Education Award by TACA
1997 - ‘Dream Collectors Day’ proclamation by City of Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, May 19, 1997
1996/97 - Arts Basic Award for exemplary arts education programming by Texas Commission on the Arts
1995 - ‘Dream Collectors Day’ Proclamation by City of Mesquite Mayor Cathy Ray, March 2, 1995
1994 - Arts and Education Award by the (North Texas) Business for Culture and the Arts
1991 - Cultural Achievement Award by the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce
 The Music of Poetry
This program integrates poetry, classical music, Native American sign language, silk juggling, sketching, ecology awareness and more!
Target Audience: Grades 1-5
Program Duration: 30-40 Minutes
Students will hear classical music by Bach, Rossini, Bizet, Rodrigo and Tarrega, along with traditional folk melodies and jazz performed on oboe, clarinet, flute, guitar, accordion, xylophone and drums. They will experience poetry spoken in Chinese, Italian, Spanish and English; and one poem performed with authentic Native American sign language accompanied by traditional Sioux music, in addition to information on writing poetry. The Dream Collectors illustrate the poetry and music with storytelling, magic, puppetry, hula hoops, painting, comedy and silk juggling. The program includes poetry by Carl Sandburg, Shel Silverstein, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni, Federico Garcia Lorca, Joy Harjo and Ke Yan. When time permits, the Dream Collectors present a short musical instrument demonstration following the performance.
Each performance is customized with grade-appropriate curriculum in compliance with State of Texas mandated TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills).Teacher Guides are provided.
 Variety Show
A celebration of music and poetry created especially for senior adult facilities. Program Duration: 30-40 Minutes
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Hum along to America the Beautiful while hearing phrases from the Declaration of Independence and one of America's most cherished poems about the Statue of Liberty, "The New Colossus"
 Marvel at the grace of silk juggling while listening to Chinese poetry and music
Laugh with the musical salute to Italy and Opera on accordion and clarinet
Savor the Old West through the sounds of the guitar, harmonica and cowboy poem, "Out Where the West Begins"
Enjoy the beauty of Native American Indian poetry, sign language, music and hoops
RAVES FROM SENIOR
COMMUNITY AUDIENCES
Dream Collectors
(l-r) Rogene Russell, Bo Gerard,
Gretchen Walz Gerard, Winston Stone
DREAM COLLECTORS
PERFORMER BIOGRAPHIES
BO GERARD, actor, recorder
Specialist in professional children’s theater with extensive experience in script writing and stage direction
Co-Owner of Gerard Entertainment
Extensive work in industrial, local and national commercials
Former Assistant Professor of Theater, Mankato State University, Minnesota
Numerous roles in New York City theater productions including the National Tour of the
Broadway show Barnum
WINSTON STONE, guitar, recorder
Bachelor of Music & Master of Music degrees from State University of New York
PhD Aesthetics Studies, University of Texas at Dallas
Music Faculty, University of Texas, Dallas
Former Music Faculty, Greenhill School of Dallas and Cedar Valley College of Dallas
Extra Musician with Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Dallas Opera Orchestra
ROGENE RUSSELL, oboe, piano
Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Master of Music degree from Yale University School of Music
Artistic Director of the Fine Arts Chamber Players
Member of the Fort Worth Symphony and the Dallas Opera Orchestra
GRETCHEN WALZ GERARD, actress, flute, percussion
Presidential Scholar & Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theater from Adelphi University
Professionally performing, teaching, directing and writing for children since 1977
Co-Owner of Gerard Entertainment
Ten years as mime artist with Young Audiences
Actor in numerous New York City and regional theater productions, television commercials, voice
animation (Sesame Street) and frequent guest host of the children's television show, "Club 27"
|
