Backstage: “All they have to do is show up,” said director of NY BookPALS’ Maria Cabezas. “They learn some tricks to further engage the students in the classroom, and then we look at some books. The volunteers always walk away [from training] with at least two or three books. We give everything to them; they just have to be willing to volunteer their time.” And your morning or afternoon will be well spent reading to dozens of children. As the program’s website points out: “Who better to bring the magic of stories to life than performers?”
2 comments:
Neat! I didn't know such a program existed. It's great that SAG gives actors this opportunity to give back to their communities, as well as support the gaps in the education system these days (oy).
I am so curious, though, about how these events are advertised to, and then received by, the students in these classes. Are they coming in expecting big stars, or just nice people coming to read stories to them? I remember going to a Barnes and Noble event when I was younger, where "cast members from Into the Woods" were reading children's books. Those of us in the crowd who were old enough to know Into the Woods waited around afterwards for autographs, and the performers had to admit that they were not cast in the show, "but you never know on Broadway." It was such a huge disappointment, and I hope these kids don't go through the same deceit, especially if the writer advertises this program by featuring Betty White and Elijah Wood. Was that in SAG's press release? Or what if the kids are being told that they will meet "famous actors" and not recognize any of them? The disappointment could make the event more of a deterrent towards the arts and reading if this were the case.
This is interesting. I think this is a really cool and thoughtful idea to have actors be as teachers and fill in the gap of education. To me, this would work especially to the kids, because it helps them develop their skills in many ways, especially reading, and the actors to use their skills and adapt it into something that is very very useful and support the education and communities. This can also be another choice of career to actors. Educating children is the most important thing, and I think since actors are trained to have an extremely high skills in vocalization, story telling , psychology, and many more, I think if this SAG campaign works it has potential to be improved into long termed classes for students in the country too.
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