THE 2006 HONORS CONCERT AND ART EXHIBIT CELEBRATES 15 YEARS OF SAINT PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS' STUDENTS ARTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS

For the 15th consecutive year, Ordway Center and Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS), partner to produce an event that celebrates the talent and diversity in the city's high schools.  Starting in 1991 as the foundation for the thriving partnership, the annual Honors Concert and Art Exhibit has showcased the musical and artistic talent of close to 6,000 Saint Paul students through vocal and instrumental performances as wells as a visual art exhibit.

In 1999, the Minnesota Museum of American Art (MMAA) joined the program and has become increasingly involved in jurying, installing, and hosting the visual art exhibit.  This year the MMAA has expanded the visual arts awards available to selected students by offering a professional portfolio critiques through the College of Visual Arts.

Ordway Center's resident arts organizations—The Schubert Club, The Minnesota Opera, and The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra-have contributed to the experience by offering in-school clinics and career panel discussions with professional Twin Cities musicians.

The evening events on April 18th will begin with the Honors Art Exhibit and reception at the Minnesota Museum of American Art. The annual World Party and Honors Concert will follow at Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. Robin P. Hickman will serve as the concert MC, and guest conductors Michael Douglas Scott, Claudette Laureano, and Steve Boehlke will lead the talented student musicians.  Don't miss out this opportunity to support the young artists in the Saint Paul Public Schools!

Info to Go:
Artist Reception at MMAA 5:30-6:30pm
World Party at Ordway Center 6:15-7:15pm
Concert at 7:30 p.m., Main Hall, Tickets are $5 each
Call Ordway Center's Box Office at 651-224-4222 to order tickets.

EARTH DAY BIKE DONATION DRIVE-CLEAN OUT THE GARAGE!

Ordway Center is holding a Bike Donation Drive to collect gently-used bikes, trikes, wagons, scooters, and helmets to be used in ARTmoves Parade workshops.

The ARTmoves Parade is a celebration of creativity in motion and takes place on Saturday, June 3 as part of the Flint Hills International Children's Festival. Ordway Center collaborates with neighborhood and community centers to offer workshops to children and their families. Artists such as Jan Elftmann, Art Car Parade Coordinator and specialist in art mobiles, help turn everyday transport into fine works of art.

As part of this program, Ordway Center provides materials for the workshop, including bikes or other vehicles to kids in need of one. Participants are invited to keep the bikes after the Parade. Last year's drive yielded over 60 bikes and we are hoping to collect even more this year.

How You Can Contribute
On Earth Day, April 22nd we will hold a special event outside the main doors of Ordway Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring those used bikes down and stay a while. We'll have entertainment and snacks for kids while they try their hand at bike decorating at our open ARTbike Studio. Artists will be on-hand for those who need a little guidance. The Minnesota Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance will give a talk about the benefits of bike riding for both us and our planet and also provide pointers on bike safety.

Additional Bike Drop-Off Locations
Saint Paul Fire and Safety has offered five of its fire stations as additional drop-off locations:

Saint Paul Fire Station 5 (Midway/Central) 860 Ashland Avenue 55104
Saint Paul Fire Station 6 (Westside) 33 Concord Street 55107
Saint Paul Fire Station 7 (Eastside) 1038 Ross Avenue 55106
Saint Paul Fire Station 22 (Midway/North) 225 Front Avenue 55117
Saint Paul Fire Station 23 (West/North) 1926 West Como Avenue 55108
http://www.stpaul.gov/depts/fire/stations/StationList.htm

If you are unable to join us on April 22, but have a bike to donate, call the Community Engagement Hotline at 651.282.3025. We will arrange for another drop-off time.

LUIS BRAVO'S TANGOS TO HIT THE STAGE SUNDAY, APRIL 23

Through music, dance, and song, the audience becomes involved in an exciting look at Tango's colorful, flamboyant history, from turn-of-the-century Buenos Aires to its acceptance in high society. April 23, 5 p.m. Main Hall.

Join us for a World Party in the Marzitelli Foyer beginning at 3:30 p.m. which will include a performance by an Uruguayan band-Jose Curbelo and Friends, an art-making activity, a display of South American art, and food for purchase. Free with ticket.

The Tango Society of Minnesota partners with Ordway Center to host a post-performance milnoga—a traditional tango party. The milonga immediately follows the performance in Ordway Center’s Drake Room, which will be transformed into an Argentine salon. The popular Tango orchestra, Mandragora, will provide live music, and a cash bar and buffet will be available. Milonga tickets are $10 in addition to the performance ticket. To purchase tickets to the Tangos performance and the milonga, contact the Box Office at 651-224-4222 or www.ordway.org.

WELLSTONE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS CREATE IMAGES OF COURAGE

Through a partnership with Ordway Center, Wellstone Elementary welcomed theatre artist and educator T. Mychael Rambo into their school for two days of workshops following their attendance to the VocalEssence: WITNESS performance of Truth.

Six classes of 5th and 6th grade students got a crash course in theatre as they learned about projection, movement, voice, and teamwork with the Twin Cities-based artist.  They then created tableau images of bravery by exploring their own fears and finding ways to overcome those fears through acts of courage-following in the footsteps of activist Sojourner Truth.

Both students and teachers enjoyed learning the theater strategies and finding new ways to express themselves through movement and language.  More than 120 students and teachers at Wellstone were engaged in this unique opportunity!

SAN JOSE TAIKO PERFORMANCE BUILDS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND EVENTS

Internationally acclaimed company, San Jose Taiko performs at Ordway Center Sunday, April 30 at 5:00p.m. In addition to the performance, events with the company and art form are scheduled during their visit.

Master Classes
Students and members from Mu Daiko, Misora Taiko, Arashi Taiko Dan, and Kennedy High School Golden Eagle Taiko are already signed up to participate.
Advanced Class: Monday, May 1, 2006; for experienced taiko musicians
Beginner Class: Tuesday, May 2, 2006; for beginners and curious taiko drummers. 

Classes take place at Ordway Center, 6:00 to 8:00p.m. Classes are $10 or free to all performance ticket holders. Space is limited and filling quickly. RSVP to the Community Engagement Hotline at 651.282.3025 or classes@ordway.org.

A special thanks to Mu Daiko and Misora Taiko for supplying rehearsal drums.

Performance
San Jose Taiko performs Sunday, April 30 at 5:00p.m. Join us for the World Party prior to the performance, starting at 3:30 p.m. where audience members are able to participate in origami (the Japanese art of paper folding), sushi rolling, and button making. There will be anime artists from Manga Anime Society from the University of Minnesota, a bonsai demonstration by the Minnesota Bonsai Association, and a performance by Changmi Korean Dance.  DJ Bach will be spinning deep house and world music.  Fuji Ya will have traditional Japanese food for purchase, including vegetarian items, with The Tea Garden selling bubble tea.

Thank you to Gloria Kumagai, Chair of the Asian Pacific Committee of the Cultural Advisory Council, and member of the Japanese American Citizens League and Lorinda Pearson with the Bloomington-Izumi Sister City Organization for assisting in the creative process for this event.

FESTIVAL RESIDENCIES ENGAGE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS MONTHS LEADING UP TO THE FESTIVAL

Residencies and projects for the Flint Hills International Children's Festival begin long before the week of performances at Ordway Center.  At Webster Magnet (SPPS), Crossroads Elementary (SPPS), and Cityview Performing Arts Magnet (MPS), students and teachers have been busy learning and practicing techniques to create their own Festival-inspired artwork.

K-12 Public Art Project
Why have Mosaic on a Stick artists Lori Greene and Maria Ricke been lugging tile-cutters around Saint Paul schools for the last two months? They've been busy working with classes from Crossroads Elementary and Webster Magnet on this year's K-12 Public Art Project.  Between fifteen and thirty students at each school learned about mosaic design and creation from the two artists and will be finishing their individual tiles next week.  Lori and Maria will take the tiles back to their studio to put them together into two mosaic benches that will be on display (and available for seating) in the Festival Sculpture Garden.  Look for Lori, Mari, and the student-artists at the Festival in the Delta Dental sponsor tent.

Digital Kids
What do Aschenputtel (Cinderella) and the Children of Uganda's Tour of Light have in common?  They are both 2006 Festival performances and subjects for this year's Digital Kids project.  Led by media artist Usry Alleyne, this project takes two classes-one in Cityview Performing Arts Magnet and the other at Webster Magnet-through the process of interviewing, videotaping, editing, and website research to create a Festival documentary as unique as each year's artists.  Students interact with artists both at Ordway Center and in their classrooms to create the documentary content, the final version of which serves as an in depth portrait of the Festival. See the finished version during the Festival in the Best Buy area.

ARTbuilds Sculpture
What do you do with lots of cereal boxes, soup cans, and yogurt containers? Build a sculpture! A new residency project for the 2006 Festival, ARTbuilds will create a series of sculptures out of General Mills product packaging. Resident artist and project coordinator Armando Gutierrez G. will work with two high schools invited to design a historically-inspired or futuristic model of some form of architecture. Students will build on-site during the week of the Festival School Days and the final work will be on display during the Family Weekend of the Festival.

FAMILY FUN DURING THE FESTIVAL SCHOOL WEEK WITH "WORLD OF..." EVENTS

World I Create evening family events during the Flint Hills International Children's Festival will provide interaction with local and international artists. The events are free and open to the public. They will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Rice Park, weather permitting.

• World of Music, Tuesday, May 30
  Twin Cities musicians come together with international artist Fawzy Al-Aiedy and share their art and explore global rhythms through a music circle. Bring your own instrument and join in as we experiment with improvisation.
• World of Theatre, Wednesday, May 31
  The United Kingdom's Big Wooden Horse Theatre Company explores the process of taking a popular children's book and transforming it into a play that retains the energy and fun of the text. You'll get the chance to work with the company in translating a story into an animated theatrical performance.
• World of Puppets, Thursday, June 1
  Chris Griffith and Shari Aronson of Circus Minimus Puppetry lead a workshop in the art of puppetry with special guest artists from Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia and Lille Kartofler Theatre from Germany. You will be instructed in the skills of bringing a puppet to life through characterization and movement by trying it yourself with the puppets they provide.
• World of Dance, Friday, June 2.
  Join us in celebrating the rich cultural tapestry that makes up the Twin Cities. Youth groups share song, dance, and music in this display of the incredible talent that is right here in our community. International artists including the Children of Uganda, as well as many of the Festival World Stage performers, will participate in the event. The evening concludes with a party where everyone dances, sings, and plays together.

The World I Create family events are recommended for anyone age four and up. The events are free but capacity is limited, so reserve your place by calling the Community Engagement Hotline at 651.282.3025 or classes@ordway.org.

2006 ARTwalk AND ARTmoves PARADE OPPORTUNITIES STILL OPEN FOR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS

ARTwalk 2006 Submissions Still Being Accepted
The ARTwalk, an annual exhibit of youth artwork in downtown Saint Paul, still has space available.  This is a great opportunity for blooming artists to display their art for thousands of downtown St. Paul visitors, workers, and residents. The art is installed May 8-11 and on displayed May 12-June 4, 2006. Two and three-dimensional visual art is requested. The submission deadline is May 1; however, we won't need your art until the installation days.

If your school, group, or organization is interested in exhibiting, please go to the ARTwalk page on our website, ordway.org/festival/artwalk.asp, for more information and fill out a submission form. You can also contact David Shack, Community Engagement Coordinator, at dshack@ordway.org or 651.282.3017.

ARTmoves PARADE: CREATE YOUR OWN UNIT
Everyone loves a parade! Create you unit and join in the ARTmoves Parade during the Flint Hills International Children's Festival Saturday, June 3, 2006. Children and adults, families and groups, are invited to create banners, flags, puppets, musical instruments, and anything else and adorn bikes, trikes, wheelchairs, strollers, scooters, wagons, and any other non-motorized vehicle (wheelchairs can be motorized) to ride, walk, run, jump, float, fly, stroll, shake, rattle, and roll in a pageant of moving art pieces.

Create Your Own Unit
No idea is too big or too small, too wild or too zany! Get a group of people together; it can be from your community center, place of worship, neighborhood, school, or just friends. Everyone's invited to participate-no one is too young or too old.

Develop a theme for your group. Be creative. All we ask is that there are no motorized vehicles (wheelchairs are the exception) and no corporate/political logos. Things to consider: what will move? What will we wear? How will we decorate ourselves? What props will we need? How will we find supplies?

Name your unit. It can be the name of your group or organization or it can be something that reflects the theme. We suggest that you have a banner for your unit so that everyone knows who you are when you march.

Choose a unit leader. The unit leader will be the person to work with Ordway staff to coordinate both in advance and on the day of the parade. All unit leaders are asked to attend an orientation and meet their Ordway volunteer.

Sign up. Email artmoves@ordway.org  or call the Community Engagement Hotline at 651.282.3025 to let us know you're coming. We'll get you all the materials you will need to participate. The Parade takes place on Saturday, June 3 at 1:00pm. Plan to arrive by 12:00 p.m.

2006 EDUCATION AWARDS AND SCHOOL LIAISON RECEPTION A HIT

Each year, more than 40,000 seats are filled with teachers and students at Ordway Center, brought here on nearly 1,000 buses!  Integral to making the Performing Arts Classrooms and Festival School Days a success are Ordway Center Liaisons that serve as organizers and points of contact at each school site. 

On March 24th, 90 liaisons and guests attended a recognition event held in their honor at Ordway Center. Attendees enjoyed a catered reception, music from Saint Paul Conservatory student Eric Mayson, a special visit from ‘Sister' of Late Nite Catechism II, and then attended the performance.

During the reception the 2006 Education Awards were awarded to four outstanding member of our Education community. The awards were presented to contributors of Ordway Center's education programs in the fields of Commitment, Service, Philanthropy, and Vision.

Jerry Shannon, commitment-for his long-term service on the Education Advisory Committee
Gene Bauer, service-has been an usher at student performance since the inception of Performing Arts Classrooms in 1990-1991.
Ordway Circle of Stars, philanthropy-for their fundraising efforts to support Education at Ordway Center.
Aaron Smith, vision-for his outstanding vision and support of the ARTwalk

ORDWAY CENTER ANNOUNCES A DREAM LINEUP FOR THE 2006-2007 SEASON

On Tuesday April 11, Jamie Rocco, Vice President of Programming, announced a dream season to an audience gathered in Ordway Center's McKnight Theatre. With appropriate pomp and circumstance, the audience was treated to a first hand glimpse of next year's dynamic offerings with comments by Mayor Chris Coleman and stunning performances by Krissy Richmond, Broadway star in formerly in Chicago and Mathew Bourne's Swan Lake, and Michael Gruber, the original leading man of Irving Berlin's White Christmas.

Main Hall:
Rent, Aug. 8-13
On Golden Pond starring Tom Bosley and Michael Learned, Aug. 22-Sept. 2
Irving Berlin's White Christmas, Dec. 1-Jan. 7, 2007
Chicago, Jan 16-21, 2007
Camelot starring Michael York, March 6-17, 2007
Edward Scissorhands, April 10-15, 2007
Monty Python's Spamalot, July 24-Aug. 12, 2007

McKnight Theatre:
Tea at Five starring Kate Mulgrew, Sept. 19-Oct. 1
Ballet of the Dolls: Night of the Living Dolls, Oct. 18-Nov. 5
Diva Dish!, Nov. 17-19
Love, Janis, Feb. 6-April 15, 2007

For more information and full show descriptions go to ordway.org/performances.

Season subscription packages ranging from $199.90 to $379, are now on sale. Call the Box Office at 651-224-4222. Single tickets go on sale this summer.

Education at Ordway Center is sponsored by 3M. Additional major funding is provided by Ordway Circle of Stars, The Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation, General Mills Foundation, hundreds of individuals, foundations, corporate contributors, and by the patronage of thousands of theatre attendees.

To be added or removed from this newsletter distribution, please reply to education.news@ordway.org.