Alexander, Who s Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move Presented by TheatreWorks USA

Transcription

1 Alexander, Who s Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move Presented by TheatreWorks USA Story Synopsis: Alexander s father has a new job and his family is packing up and moving 1,000 miles away. His older brother and his parents have already started packing, but Alexander has made the decision that he is not moving. He thinks that maybe he will live with his neighbors, however, when he visits he realizes the houses aren t right for him to live, and then he tries to even hide in a barrel of pickles at the grocery store. Alexander s mother suggests that maybe he should start saying goodbye to his friends, and they give him many presents. Alexander eventually realizes that his real home is with his family and the move may not be so bad when his dad promises him they could get a new dog.

2 Now that you have read the book How do you think the play will be acted out on stage? Do you think it will include some of the same words and phrases from the book? If so, what words and phrases may be used in the play by the characters? What parts or scenes from the book are you most excited to see on the stage? Do you think there may be a part of the book that will not be shown on stage? Why might the playwright not include a part or scene from the book in the play? Do you think you understand how Alexander feels about moving to a new home? How do you think the actor portraying Alexander will act out his role with his facial expressions and his body? Look at the pictures of Alexander in both the book cover and the play banner to the right? Check out the look on his face. Check out the way his body parts are shown. Predict how Alexander will speak, show emotion, and move in his character. Are you ready to see how the book was adapted or changed into a play? Turning The Story to Play

3 Meet the Author: Judith Viorst! Judith Viorst writes all the hilarious Alexander. books. She actually has three sons that she uses for inspiration, and her youngest son s name is Alexander. She wrote the first Alexander book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day after her own son who had a very bad day, as well. That book was written in 1972 and this book (Alexander, Who s Not Going to Move was published 23 years later in How old were you when this book was written? What makes Alexander a relatable character even after over 40 years? What kinds of lessons does Alexander learn in the books Judith Viorst has written?

4 Who Makes a Performance Happen? Playwright The person who writes the words or dialogue for a play or adaptation Director The person who makes the decisions about how a play will look and sound on stage Designers The people who create the sets, props, and costumes for actors Actor The person who creates the character by speaking or singing on stage for the audience Stage Manager The person who makes sure lighting and sound works, and that props, sets, and costumes are in the appropriate place. Theater Manager The person (along with theatre staff) who makes the arrangements for you and your teacher to attend a play at Clowes Hall

5 Try This In the play, Alexander is very sad to leave his friends and neighbors. Get out a piece of paper or notebook and try writing a journal entry about one of these prompts. If I had to move, the thing(s) I would miss most is/are My favorite place in my neighborhood is If I could move anywhere in the world, I would move to One time I had to say goodbye to my friend and

6 Map it Out! Alexander s family is moving 1,000 miles away. How far is 1,000 miles from your home or school? Looking at a map, can you find a place town, city, state, or country that is 1,000 miles from your home or school? Look at all directions: North, South, East, and West. Answer the following questions: 1. Is the place in another time zone? 2. Does this place have seasons or a similar climate all year long? 3. Could the people possibly speak another language at this location? 4. Do the people living 1,000 miles away have different customs? 5. How might this place look different from the location you live or attend school?

7 How to be a Good Audience Member No play is complete without the audience you! Here are directions for playing your part: Watch closely. Think about how actors change their voices, body movements, and costumes when they double, or change characters. Listen carefully to the dialogue, lyrics, and music. Laugh or applaud if you enjoy the play. Remember that you and the actors are in the same room. Talking, whispering, or making noise during the performance is impolite and makes it hard for actors to do their best. Help other audience members with your quiet attention.

8 Now that you ve seen the show How was the play different from the book? How was it the same? Did you have a favorite part of the show? What about a favorite character? How did Alexander s feelings change from the beginning to the end of the show? What do you think his life will be like at his new house? Why do you think he changed his mind about moving? Did you like the book or the play better? Why? How well did you play your role as a good audience member? Thank you for coming to see a performance at the Butler Arts Center, Clowes Memorial Hall. We hope you ll come back to see another wonderful and engaging performance! Visit our website at for upcoming events! Ty Sutton Executive Director Donna Rund Interim Education Manager Allie Combs Assistant Education Coordinator Butler Arts Center, Clowes Memorial Hall Education Department 4602 Sunset Avenue Indianapolis, Indiana Written and edited by Donna Rund Designed by Butler University