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“Bees” buzz into Wickenburg High School

Release Date: Nov 14, 2009 Author: Cathy Weiss

WICKENBURG, AZ - After weeks of preparation, Honors English and Theatre students at Wickenburg High School will culminate their study of the 2002 best-selling book by Sue Monk Kidd, “The Secret Life of Bees”, with a week-long classroom residency project featuring New Yorks The American Place Theatre.

The residency program sponsored and curated by the Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, with grant support from WESTAF, is designed to give students a new kind of access to literature through performance based art.

The work is a part of The American Place Theatres LITERATURE TO LIFE® series that presents professionally staged, verbatim adaptations of significant American literary works. The program offers students a new perspective of literature by bringing the world of the book to life with performances that create an atmosphere of discovery and spark the imagination. Literature to Life encourages reading, writing, and critical thinking and provides a catalyst for learning and self-expression.

Partnering with WHSs English Department Chair, Sue Baker and Theatre teacher, Mark Modzelewski; English students have prepared for the interaction by reading the novel and theatre students have studied the film version of “The Secret Life of Bees”. In addition, educators have worked with a curriculum based study guide provided by The American Place Theatre.

Each class will participate in an exercise with Master Teaching Artist, Heidi Jackson, learning the detailed process of bringing any piece of literature to life; while encouraging students to read and write.

Then students will then have the opportunity to experience the verbatim performance of the book by actress Denise Wilbanks on stage at the Webb Center; with pre- and post-show conversations led by Ms. Jackson.

For details on the project go to www.delewebbcenter.org and click on the “Arts for Kids Project” tab, then click on Secret Life of Bees Study Guide, or call the Webb Center Box Office 928-684-6624.

The Webb Center wishes to acknowledge our collaborative partners at the Wickenburg Unified School District: Sue Baker, Mark Modzelewski, Vicki Sweeney, Jackie Jacobson, Greg Clark and Dr. Howard Carlson for their work on bringing this program to fruition.

Public performances of “The Secret Life of Bees” will be held at the Webb Center on Nov 18 & 19 and are currently sold out.

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