The Seth W. Ahlborn Performing Arts and Lecture Series (PALS)

In it’s eleventh year, the Seth W. Ahlborn Performing Arts and Lecture Series (PALS) is hosted by Chesapeake Academy to provide quality art, music, science, theatrical, and social enrichment programs to students in Preschool through Eighth Grade. PALS was originally established as the Early Childhood Enrichment Series as a way to bring professional performers and educators to our Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten students, since most performance venues are located in cities too far away for early childhood field trips. The popularity of the performances inspired the Academy to offer the programs free of charge to public and private preschools and daycare centers in our counties. PALS has grown to include interactive workshops, events, and presentations for lower and middle school aged students, a character education lecture series, and parenting workshops. PALS has hosted exceptional organizations such as The Science Place, Poetry Alive!, Jamestown Foundation, Theatre IV, the Virginia Aquarium, Jim Weiss Storytelling, and Wolf Trap, and has been successful in bringing a bevy of professional story tellers, acting companies, scientists, historians, and dance troupes to our rural area to the benefit of hundreds of local children. PALS is made possible by the generosity of philanthropic organizations like The Nettie Lokey Wiley and Charles L. Wiley Foundation and The Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts with support from the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

 

PALS Events 2014-15

Tunes That Teach   

Wednesday, September 24

(Age 3 through Grade 2, 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.)

Award winning singer and song writer Cathy Bollinger kicks off the 2014-2015 PALS program. She will enthusiastically perform lively songs that teach social skills, letter sounds and much more! Her songs will inspire children to learn and adults to play. Cathy will provide follow-up activities for teachers. Listen to her recordings at www.rivannamusic.com.

Reptiles Alive!    

Wednesday, October 8

(Age 3 through Grade 2,  9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.)

(Grades 3 through 8,  10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.) 

This popular show is a great introduction to the world of reptiles. Learn snake secrets and laugh at lizard stories and turtle tales. Featured animals may include a boa or python, tortoise, lizards and other amazing animals. The audience will learn about the environmental importance of these awesome creatures.

Bremen Town Band  

Wednesday,  November 12

(Age 3 through Grade 3,  9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

A menagerie of unlikely friends, including a donkey, dog, cat and rooster, set off in search of musical stardom. Making their own music along the way, they manage to outwit a gang of robbers and find a wonderful new home. We welcome back Theatre IV for this delightful adaptation of the Grimm's fairy
tale. (supports VA SOL's. Visit www.theatreIV.org for specific information and study guide)

The Tailor of Gloucester  

Wednesday, December 3

(Age 3 through Grade 4, 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.)

What a treat to discover a holiday classic by Beatrix Potter. When a poppycock mayor orders a cherry-colored coat for his Christmas wedding, the poor Tailor of Gloucester works his fingers to the bone. All goes well until the tailor realizes he lacks the piece of twisted silk needed to sew on the final button. He sends his faithful cat to purchase the thread and this is where the story of friendship and collaboration begins. Join the actors of Theatre IV for this perfect holiday story. (www.theatreIV.org)

Princess and the Pea 

Wednesday, January 21

(Age 3 through Grade 4, 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.)

Virginia Opera

A humorous adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s famous story with a few modern twists. A young girl whose royal blood could only be confirmed by testing her sensitivity to a pea becomes a short opera sure to bring many laughs for young audiences. Just what tests will thisyoung princess have to undergo to prove her lineage? (Supports VA SOL's. Visit www.vaopera.org for specific information and study guide)

Todd Rosenleib Dance Company

Todd Rosenleib, Chair of the Dance Department of The Governor’s School for the Arts, Director of The TRDance Center and a faculty member at Tidewater Community College, will bring two very different, age-appropriate performances to Chesapeake Academy.

Landscape of Dance

Wednesday, February 11

(Age 3 through Kindergarten,  9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.)

This performance, focused specifically on the three to five year old child, is designed to inspire dance movement using concepts such as shapes, textures, numbers and nature.

The Horse of Many Colors  

Wednesday, February 11                                                                 
(Grades 3 through 8,  10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.)

The Todd Rosenleib Dance Company performs the South American story of the Rainbow Horse. This popular tale is found in Puerto Rico, Mexico and throughout Latin America. The story is first read to the students in Spanish and English. Then the dancers perform modern dance and traditional ballet to interpret the story. This visibly powerful program interprets the story perfectly and is certain to keep the audience engaged. (Supports VA SOL's. Visit www.YAV.org for additional information)

The Tortoise and the Hare        

Wednesday, March 18         

(Age 3 through Grade 3,  9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m)

“Slow and steady wins the race” may be the moral of Aesop's familiar fable, but we arrive at it only   after an action-packed, fun-filled romp through forests and meadows filled with a host of hilarious critters – including, of course, the ever patient tortoise and his over confident, mile-a-minute rival. Music and laughter abound! (Supports VA SOL's. Visit www.theatreIV.org for specific information and study guide)

Books! The Magic is Real!     

Wednesday, April 22
(Age 3 through Grade 4,  9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.)

Returning to Chesapeake Academy after an extraordinary performance in 2014, Joe Romano will once again engage the audience with fun magic, dazzling illusions and music as books are brought to life. This new program is sure to keep the students (and chaperons) hanging on with expectations at every moment!

Piccolo's Trunk   

Wednesday, May 6
(Age 3 through Grade 3, 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.)
(Grades 4 through 8, 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.)      

Mark Jaster studied mime with Etienne Decroux, the celebrated teacher of the legendary Marcel Marceau and served as Mr. Marceau's teaching assistant. His diverse skills as actor, musician, dancer and mime, his experience in children's theater, and his imagination have made his solo shows a popular success. Piccolo's Trunk enchants with illusions and musical surprises. A gentle, wordless and slightly kooky character engages the audience with a variety of comical and musical surprises. Piccolo's Trunk contains spectacular skill, foolish antics, playful participation and fun for all. His work combines live music on unusual instruments and non-instruments and acrobatics.  Mr. Jaster has appeared at The Kennedy Center and The White House.

 

PALS events are generously sponsored by
The Nettie Lokey Wiley and Charles L. Wiley Foundation,
The Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts, with support from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.