The following Artists-in-the-Schools performances will be held in the various Johnston County Schools listed below during February 2005. Newspaper coverage is encouraged and public attendance at performances is usually welcomed by the schools*. We respectfully ask that you please mention that these programs are supported by grants awarded through the Artists-in-the-Schools program**. Programs scheduled during February are as follows: Trent Arterberry will entertain the students at Polenta Elementary School on February 1 at 1:00 and 2:00 PM with a blend of mime, story-telling and puppetry as he involves the audience and teaches the mime techniques. Trent Arterberry will perform at Cleveland Middle School on February 2 at 9:30 AM. He will again involve the audience as he entertains with a blend of mime, story-telling and puppetry. Theatre IV will perform Buffalo Soldier at McGee's Crossroads Elementary School on February 4 at 9:15 AM and at McGee's Crossroads Middle School at 1:15 PM. Buffalo Soldier is a theatrical production intended to entertain and instruct students on core subjects and provide character lessons. Storyteller Joe Ferguson will perform at Benson Elementary School on February 7 at 1:00 and 1:30 PM. Mr. Ferguson blends music, movement, games, humor and straight talk into his stories which encourage social, emotional, and academic success. The Greg Gelb Swing Band will give a jazz performance at South Johnston High School on February 8 at 1:00 PM. They will perform jazz tunes from the various eras (20's to the present) sprinkled with brief historical notes and demonstrations of techniques and unique characteristics of jazz. Storyteller Felix Pitre will share Latin American and Hispanic stories and traditions using a blend of music, songs and puppetry with the students of Micro-Pine Level Elementary School on February 10 at 8:30 and 10:00. Storyteller Michael "Badhair" Williams will share Appalachian and pioneer folk tales and folkways with the students of South Smithfield Elementary School on February 10 at 9:00 and 10:00 AM. Mike Wiley will perform his one-man play "One Noble Journey" about the efforts of one man to escape the perils of slavery in 1849 by crating and shipping himself to a new life in Philadelphia at Riverwood Middle School on February 10 at 9:00 AM. Transactor's Improv Company will perform for Princeton High School students on February 10 at 1:00 PM. Using music, dance and dramatic skills based on audience suggestions, they will take the audience on a roller coaster ride through the human experience. Solazo will entertain and educate students about Latin American arts and culture at Smithfield Middle School on February 17 at 1:30 PM. Using music, ethnic instruments, and dance, students will be introduced to a variety of Latin music borrowed from Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Ecuador as well as Cuba and Spain. Educator, storyteller and naturalist "Birdman Dave" Gulick will lead West Smithfield Elementary School students on two "trips" through the Amazon Rainforest, past many wonders of its diverse ecosystem to discover piranha, monkeys, poison arrow frogs and a LIVE parrot. These "trips" will depart on February 17 at 8:50 and 9:30 AM. A scientist from Mad Science will present Up, Up and Away at Cleveland Elementary School on February 18 at 9:00, 10:00, & 11:00 a/m. They present an interactive program of amazing science and unbelievable feats of science and nature. Another scientist from Mad Science will also present Up, Up and Away on February 18 at Selma Elementary School at 9:15. Carnavalito Latin Music Group will perform at Selma Elementary School on February 18 at 1:30. Carnavalito exposes its audience to a variety of Latin music of various styles and provides background information on cultures, history and language in their program which involves the audience and incorporates discussion. Almost Recess will perform "All About A Cappella", a performance packed with music, entertainment and education for Meadow Elementary and Middle School students on February 22 at 9:00 and 10:00 AM. Stageworks Theatre will present The Write Stuff at: Clayton Middle School on February 22 at 9:00 AM; and at Cleveland Middle School on February 22 at 1:00 PM. The Write Stuff is intended to nurture the love of story writing through improvisational theatre and creative dramatics. Mad Science will present Fire & Ice on February 24 to four groups at Wilson's Mills Elementary School at 9:30,11:00, 12:30 and 2:00. Fire & Ice is an interactive program of amazing science and unbelievable feats of science and nature. Hobey Ford will perform at McGee's Crossroads Elementary School on February 28 at 9:15 AM and at McGee's Crossroads Middle School at 1:15 PM. Hobey Ford's performance includes a variety of puppetry styles using his unique Golden Rod Puppets and sets. The Magic of African Rhythm will visit with 7th Social Studies classes at Riverwood Middle School on the mornings of February 21-25 to share the integrative learning experience of the African Ngoma tradition. They will blend the rhythmic arts with songs and skills such as textile design and storytelling. Artist and environmental educator Bryant Holsenbeck will be an artist-in-residence at Cooper Elementary School on February 21-23 helping students learn about different types of books from different times and cultures, how they are made and helping them create books of their own design, with emphasis on using recycled materials. Glenn McNitt will teach Origami for Everyone at South Smithfield Elementary School on February 28-March 4 from 9:30 to 2:20. Mr. McNitt will conduct hands-on origami workshops for the classes during the week with the goal of having each student make one or more models. *Please ask the public to call the school to request permission to attend and to confirm the date and time of a performance. **The Artists-in-the-Schools program is supported by the Fred Smith Company, the Johnston County Arts Council, Johnston County Schools and corporate, foundation and individual donors. This program is modeled on the Artists in the Schools program of the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County and is supported in part by services provided by United Arts.
