A Book with Alison Fraser

The in-person first grade class with Alison Fraser (May 2021)

 

I post these group shots sometimes and realize it's so easy for others to give a cursory glance before moving on to the next photo, the next post, the next...whatever. Today, photographs have lost a bit of their power. This may be because they are so easily taken, viewed and forgotten. It wasn't always that way.

Nevertheless, I've been looking at this photo and thinking about the individuals in it. I see the unique personalities of each child wrapped in the backstories I know so well, as I was lucky enough to spend two years as their teacher. I know their smiles, delights, struggles, kindness, bravery, tentativeness, humor, sadness, challenges, energy, and unique talents. I've witnessed them all firsthand during a difficult period in our lives that brought us together in unprecedented ways. They are extraordinary. 

Then, there is the woman in the striped shirt, straw hat, and black face mask trimmed with lace. That's two-time Tony Award nominee Alison Fraser nestled in the midst of my first graders. She has moved audiences with laughter (The Divine Sister, Gypsy), frightened and repulsed us with a quiet, menacing calm (Squeamish) or steely presence (First Daughter Suite), made us rise to our feet to tearfully cheer (The Secret Garden), and swept us along with singing and storytelling so good we simply have to revisit the show again and again (Romance/Romance). She is extraordinary. 

We came together in May 2021 to take a group photo memorializing our collaboration on a literary project. I suppose it's impossible to capture all of this life in an image. Yet, it's a snapshot of a moment we wanted to document and remember. Unless you take the time to look a little closer or dig a little deeper, you may only see what's on the surface. Does anyone have the time to slow down these days and think, "I wonder..." 

What brought us all together? What is the story behind the photograph?

I ponder this sometimes with old, sepia-toned photographs. I'll never know the answer for many photos, but I do for this one. The folks in this picture got together to create art, to tell a story and to make a book. We called it Nat's Cats. 

In the doing, we found purpose and joy. Alison wrote the story. My students illustrated it. I orchestrated and oversaw the progress, lovingly putting it together for publication. Alison then asked if I would write the foreword, which I am sharing here.

The Cover of Nat's Cats
The students chose orange, which just happens to be Alison's favorite color.

"Once every 100 years or so society is forced to slow down and readjust due to devastation caused by a global pandemic that will not be ignored. In 2020, the spread of COVID-19 closed NYC public schools. My class of kindergartners took to remote learning. We only saw one another on the computer screen and the children thought about the time when they could laugh and play together again. 

As schools slowly opened up, some students returned for in-person learning and some remained remote. My brave little ones were champions, even as they were full of emotional turmoil. In the midst of all this, I received an email from Alison Fraser. Alison is a celebrated Broadway star, with two Tony Award nominations, and a frequent quest with my Broadway Books First Class program. Attached to her email was a charming story about her two cats. I fell in love with it. The language and style were reminiscent of one of my favorite books for children, Curious George. 

I asked her if my students, now in first grade, could illustrate it. Alison loved the idea and met with the children via Zoom to read her story and invite them to collaborate with her. The class responded with a resounding, YES! and we set off to study children's book illustrations for inspiration. The students experimented with different visual arts media. They worked with watercolors, markers, collage, pen and ink, crayons, paint, and colored pencils for weeks to create their artwork. The result can be seen on the following pages. 

This is how you find joy even in uncertain times. Create art."

Alison reads Nat's Cats while students follow along in their own books.

Our efforts were realized in the beautiful, hardbound copies of our book. One hundred copies, to be exact! As authors and illustrators do, we celebrated with a publishing party. Alison came to visit us in the classroom to read the book, as students followed along in their own copies. 

Children proudly smiled when their drawings came up on the pages. We'd stop and cheer. It was a time of happiness rooted in the satisfaction that comes from the fruition of sustained work. We spent weeks on this project and now we had something tangible to show for it. The lesson of perseverance and goal setting was a good one for the students to learn. 

What is a publishing party without a book signing?

Alison wrote a personalized message for each student. She also made it possible for every child to take home five books to share with family and friends. 

I'd love to see this book in every animal shelter because it stands as a testament to the value of pet adoption. I'm really proud of it - not just the finished product, but the whole process that got us there. And, my goodness, we got to collaborate with Alison Fraser! It's an embarrassment of riches, as they say. 

Pruning the Stone Garden

Pruning the stone garden is a phrase that washed over me in hypnopompia - that time when our minds are slipping back into reality after slumber. My head on the pillow, my mind in the clouds, those words kept a continual loop while I tried to decide if I should get up to write them down or repeat them often enough so I'd remember them later. 

They also confused me. What the hell does "pruning the stone garden" mean? I tried to make sense of it as images of a graveyard came into view as though I were a passenger looking out the window of a slow moving car. I wondered, "Is a stone garden a sea of headstones in a cemetery?" It may be, but I knew that didn't tell the whole story. 

I woke up intrigued by the phrase. I may not be clear on the meaning, but I certainly appreciate the way the words and images play together. Someone told me it could mean futility. That makes sense too. 

I do know that it is twisted in with the concepts of life, loss, death, grief, and longing. I continue to struggle with the reality of a life without my mom. It is constantly on the forefront of my mind as I journey on in this diminished state. I can sometimes talk myself into the calmness of believing she is not gone. In those moments, I shift back into who I was for a spell. But, that's not reality and I'm not crazy enough to live in that delusion. 

Perhaps pruning the stone garden means snipping away the hard things to make what is here, what I'm left with, more beautiful. It may mean I need to deal with my shit and appreciate what I've been given in the past and all that I still have. 

What do you think?

Remember Me

Dickie Hearts with some of the first grade students

 

Remember Me is a song from the Disney/Pixar animated Dia de los Muertos themed feature film, Coco. The haunting lament to dearly departed loved ones tugs at the heartstrings, especially for those of us currently dealing with separation and loss. 

Yet, grief is a serpentine trickster. For mixed in with the pain is the joy of remembrance. Those bittersweet memories that speak to our core and make us appreciate what was, even as we struggle to somehow process it all. Death, life, memories, meaning, purpose, struggle, and finally the possibility of peace slither through our thoughts. As is often said about many things, "It's complicated". 

This year was filled with loss of many kinds. COVID-19 changed our educational landscape. Children were separated from classmates, teachers, and the school community. However, we all found new ways to connect - remotely through Zoom or in person keeping socially distanced and wearing masks. 

In the midst of all these changes, Kori Rushton of IRT Theater reached out to ask me to partner with her on new project. Our last collaboration was an American Sign Language (ASL) music video for Dear Theodosia from the wildly successful Broadway musical, Hamilton. This time she suggested my first graders record the up-tempo version of Remember Me in ASL and Mexican Sign Language ("legua de señas mexicana" or LSM). I was immediately onboard, so the planning began.

Students sign Recuérdame (Remember Me) in LSM

To start, we needed a Director of Sign Language (DSL) to interpret the song into ASL. Dickie Hearts, an actor, screenwriter, and filmmaker, who is also Deaf, openly gay, and trés charmant was a perfect choice. Dickie recorded his wonderful ASL interpretation and I taught it to the in-person children, while my friend and coworker, Maria, taught the remote students.  

The class embraced this project with gusto. Every morning for weeks we spent time perfecting another line, adding the right facial expression to go with the movements, breaking down a complex sequence, or working on timing and fluency. At night, parents told me their kids reviewed it on their own with unbridled enthusiasm. The project brought excitement and purpose back into the stressful reality of our daily lives. It was something joyful we could create together.

Kori and Dickie enlisted the help of Gabriel Arellano for the LSM translation. Everyone (students included) met for a Zoom workshop with Gabriel to learn general information about LSM and, specifically, how to sign the Spanish verses of the song. 

Recording the song in four languages (English, Spanish, ASL, and LSM) was Kori's idea...and challenge. Miraculously, we pulled it off! Well, we did it with lots of work and lots of practice. As time went on I began to realize just how much I was asking of my students. It was a lot, but they were champs. That was never more apparent than when we started filming. 

Our Director, Alana Campbell (left), setting up a shot

Enter our indefatigable Director/Director of Photography, Alana Campbell. Alana is a documentary filmmaker who's worked at NBC Dateline, NBC News, National Geographic Channel, PBS, Oprah Winfrey Network, and more. She came up with the story or framework to contextualize the song. Her vision placed the lyrics as an ode, not only to lost loved ones, but also the loss of social interaction brought about because of COVID. 

In the video, students begin on Zoom, removed from one another physically. After months cooped up in their apartments they were feeling antsy and restless. The video strives to capture that forlorn period of time, as well as the thrill of being back together once again. As the camera moves back and a row of happy, smiling children stand alongside Dickie signing and dancing, it feels, to me, like an exhale. 

Take a look...

REMEMBER ME | ASL Cover from IRT Theater on Vimeo.

Now watch it again to see if you can spot the Curious George "Easter eggs" I've placed in the background.

Top Ten 2020 - 2021

It's been one hell of a year, but despite all of the COVID related hardships - and there were many - I found joy in teaching my incredible students. Together, we created an energized classroom community full of activity and purpose. We shared and created stories. We explored and questioned. We not only got through a difficult year, we prospered.

At the end of the school year, as in years past, I asked the children to think back to the stories that meant the most to them. Which children's books packed the biggest punch? Which ones left a lasting impact? It turns out our deep dive into Greek mythology ignited everyone's imaginations (three titles made our top ten list). And another strong showing were books showcasing characters who defied stereotypical gender roles (two titles made the cut) and similar books with strong messages about identity, self-love, and individuality. 

So, here it is. The first grade student picks for the TOP TEN children's books of the 2020 -2021 school year. 

Number One on our Top Ten list

 

#1. Nat's Cats written by two time Tony Award nominee Alison Fraser. This came as no surprise because it's a great story about the merits of pet adoption, but it's also illustrated by the students themselves! 

Alison, who is a frequent guest artist with my Broadway Books First Class program, sent me the story because she thought the children might like it. I knew they would, so I invited Alison to read it to the class. I also suggested turning the story into a children's book and inviting the class to create the illustrations. Alison loved the idea, so we ran with it. 

After months of work, Nat's Cats made its way to print (via Shutterfly). We celebrated with a publishing party, which included a reading, book signing, and snacks. It was a tricky thing to pull off with COVID restrictions, but we did it and had the best time.  (A more in-depth post about the making of Nat's Cats is in the works.)

Greek mythology came in strong with the next three entries. 

#2.  Young Zeus by G. Brian Karas.

This is the origin story of Zeus (and his brothers and sisters) with lots of action and engaging illustrations to go with the exposition. It has monsters, Titans, Olympians, battles, bickering, tension, love, hope, despair, defeat, and triumph all mixed together for an oddly relatable tale. 

It isn't the first time this title has landed on an end-of-year top ten list and I'm sure it won't be the last.

#3. Why Spiders Spin: A Story of Arachne retold by Jamie and Scott Simons with illustrations by Deborah Winograd. 

Interactive read alouds are my stock-in-trade and when a story lifts off the page and gets on its feet we really soar! How fun it is for the children to act out the immovable arrogance of Arachne and the fiery wrath of Athena. The illustrations allow for lively debates about which tapestry was the finest and the plot leads to discussions about power and privilege. 

The description and imagery of Arachne's punishment is the stuff of legend - literally!

#4.  Let's Go, Pegasus! retold and illustrated by Jean Marzollo. 

This is the book that starts it all for us! The story that hooks my students into the Greek myths every time. Medusa is playful and terrifying as she taunts Perseus into gazing into her eyes (Spoiler: He doesn't.) This retelling ushers us into an exploration of perspective and starts us analyzing the ways stories change over time. We begin to compare different versions of this myth, which is an excellent way to explore power dynamics with a critical eye. Question everything, kids!

An added bonus is our introduction to Athena (here as a wise protector) and my current favorite God, Hermes. 

#5.  The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce. 

I've written about my love for this book in previous posts. It speaks to an aesthetic I cannot resist. There is a nostalgic feel that brings me comfort. It is easy to imagine myself as Morris, getting lost in words and images, appreciating and relishing time alone with books, and thinking of them as friends. 

But, why do the kids like it so much? I think the brilliant Academy Award Winning Short Film helps pull them into the story. I certainly appreciate that it is a visual treat without words, so it is easily accessible to all of my students. Ultimately though, I believe they like it for the same reasons I do. To think children miss the power of getting lost in a good book is to underestimate them. And I never want to do that.

#6.  The Sound of All Things written by Myron Ulberg with stunning illustrations by Ted Papoulas. 

It's easy to see why this book was selected. The book portrays the story of Myron's childhood growing up in Brooklyn with deaf parents. The author recounts how his father would ask him to describe, in fine detail, the sounds around them - like Coney Island's famed Cyclone or the explosive fireworks soaring from the pier on the Fourth of July - using American Sign Language. 

As educators, we strive to select books that mirror the lives of our students. We want them to be able to see themselves in the characters they read about. This can include race, culture, class, etc. The Sound of All Things does this because many of my students have parents or family members who are D/deaf and can relate to it on a personal level. 

#7.  Sparkle Boy by Leslea Newman. 

This year I introduced a new study focusing on gender identity and expression. It was inspired by family circumstances within the student population, but is a topic that is worth exploring even without those connections. 

Sparkle Boy is about a young boy who likes sparkly, shimmery, glittery things. It causes a bit of a stir until his family comes to understand that freedom of expression should be accepted, respected, and even celebrated. 

I asked legendary drag performer and Tony Award nominated playwright, Charles Busch, to read it to the students. He was, of course, brilliant, and helped deliver the message that being true to yourself is the only way to find happiness and success.

#8.  Ocean Meets Sky by The Fan Brothers.

Oh. My. Goodness! This book! It is so breathtakingly beautiful. Do yourself a favor and get this book. It is the story of a young boy named Finn who is mourning the loss of his beloved grandfather. When he dozes off, he enters a magical landscape where the ocean meets the sky and they are reunited. 

The Fan Brothers have moved into the top spot of my favorite children's book authors/illustrators. This book continues their streak of high-quality children's books and my students obviously get the appeal.

#9. Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love. 

This was another book in our study of gender identity and expression. It is the story of Julian who sees some beautiful mermaids on the subway and falls in love with their outfits. When he arrives home he finds a way to recreate the costume using his Abuela's curtains and a potted plant. This is a moment of tension when she finds him posing, but she is fully supportive and shows it by bringing him to the Coney Island mermaid parade.

The book and its sequel, Julian at the Wedding, showcase the importance of self-love and individuality. 

#10. Firenze's Light by Jessica Collaco.

A children's book about gratitude, compassion, and self-appreciation rounds out our Top Ten list. This is another instance where the read aloud added a touch of something special. 

I invited three-time Tony Award nominee, Mary Testa, to read it to my students (you can watch it by clicking here). Mary's inspired interpretation brought a deeper understanding of the message and encouraged the children to "let their lights shine". 

*Honorable mention goes to The Olympians series of graphic novels by George O'Connor. 

My first graders devoured these books and learned so much about Greek Mythology from them. Students even purchased the boxed sets and spent hours reading them. Many of the titles were represented on individual student lists, but, like the selection process for the Academy Awards, they canceled themselves out of the final cut because nobody could decide on an overall favorite. We all have our favorite god or goddess in the Olympic pantheon. 

Who is your favorite?

Creating Worlds with Daryl Roth

My views on success have changed over time. I used to equate success with money and fame. Those outward manifestations of societal achievement don't necessarily touch the heart, but they are great for fostering a prideful sense of "look at me" whilst walking down a red carpet. I thought attention and admiration from others were the ingredients that made a successful person. It was a child's view on life. An immature, limited outlook that I know some folks never outgrow. 

But, I now gauge success in happiness. Am I joyful? Peaceful? Is it well with my soul? 

There have been many, many people in my life who've served as my teachers in this regard. Sometimes it is the great influencers, like my mom, and sometimes the lessons come from unexpected places. One of the latter happened years ago when I saw an interview with Daryl Roth. I, of course, knew her as a Tony Award winning producer credited with "the singular distinction of producing seven Pulitzer Prize-winning plays".  She even has her own theater! I've been there many times. I knew her as a powerful force on Broadway and imagined she breezily waltzed through life luxuriating in all of the perks pursuant with her achievements. 

And then I watched that interview. 

She spoke with a calm, quiet intensity that seemed to be fueled by love. Hmmm....I was intrigued. I was drawn in and listened to her talk about her passion for theater, for producing projects that meant something to her, for wanting to provide a platform for stories that aren't generally told, and for bringing people together in that glorious space where the audience and performers can share a cathartic or uplifting experience. As she spoke, I remembered why I loved theater so much and why I wanted to be a part of it in the first place. How could someone this outwardly successful still glow with the light of connection to their uncomplicated, grounded truth? 

I realized her success wasn't merely based on or defined by money and fame. It was forged in happiness. She appeared joyful, peaceful. All seemed well with her soul. Evidently, it was possible for both versions of success to be true at once. They weren't necessarily mutually exclusive, but without happiness and purpose, the rest is meaningless. 

That interview, which I cannot locate now, opened my eyes a bit. I read and watched more interviews with her and imagined how incredible it would be to have her share her story with my class of first graders. How could that ever happen? I had no idea, so I kissed it up to the universe and went about my business. 

The years went by and I guess the universe was listening because Daryl Roth joined Broadway Books First Class via Zoom this past May! 

I wanted her to read something special related to creating beautiful worlds from the imagination (as Daryl does in the theater), so I suggested Ocean Meets Sky by The Fan Brothers. The illustrations are breathtaking, magical, awe-inspiring. They take you soaring into places, which are at once strange and familiar. But, for all the eye-popping wonder there is a heartbeat underneath it all. The story is propelled by loss and longing. A young boy dreaming of meeting his beloved grandfather in the mystical place where the ocean meets the sky. 

The book had parallels we could make with Daryl's work as a producer - bringing all the parts together in one place to create a cohesive whole that is meaningful and healing. Just how she does that is something the children wanted to know. What does a producer do? 

Daryl explained that her role is to first find a story that speaks to her in some way and then put together the creative team to bring the story to life on stage. This includes the director, set designers, costume designers, etc. Daryl called them the "family" of a particular show.  A producer, she explained, gets to work with everyone. For someone like her - who has a deep love and passion for the theater, but who isn't a singer, dancer, actor, or director - being a producer is a perfect fit. Her gifts for making things happen is one that suits a producer well! 

Closer Than Ever:
The first show Daryl produced

The children asked how she became a producer. She told them the very first show she produced, Closer Than Ever, came about because a little voice inside of her spoke up. 

Her friend, lyricist Richard Maltby, invited her to a small venue in Greenwich Village to attend a presentation of some new songs he'd written. As she watched, the songs spoke to her in a way that felt personal. She envisioned the songs "coming together into a beautiful musical evening, a real show". 

Afterwards, she shared her thoughts of producing it and things took off from there. She learned on her feet, pushing forward with a belief in herself and in the work. Those are important lessons young children need to hear/see again and again. 

The students also asked about accessibility for audience members who are deaf and hard of hearing. How do producers do this? Daryl advocates for ASL interpreted performances and believes more of them will be offered in the future. Producers also sometimes provide scripts upon request, so audience members can become familiar with the material beforehand. Interestingly, Daryl supports Deaf West Theatre (they put on successful Broadway revivals of Big River and Spring Awakening). Side note: Our school is planning a collaboration with Deaf West next spring! 

Some in-person students hold up their copies of Ocean Meets Sky (personalized by Daryl Roth)

She's currently producing a riveting show called Blindness. It's a perfect theatrical offering in this time of restricted activity due to COVID. However, I am most excited about Between the Lines. I mean, it makes sense. It's got Broadway. Books. Class. :) And I really want to look into providing opportunities for my students to attend children's show performances at the Daryl Roth Theatre. After all, it's only 8 blocks away from our school!

Our Zoom visit lasted almost an hour. That's a long time for young children, but as Daryl told us, when you are doing something you love you stay energized and engaged. We loved our time with her. She is an extraordinary person to interview because she was game to answer all our questions and always had an additional something special to interject into the conversation. 

New York City school kids are blessed with a great many cultural opportunities. I am so grateful to Daryl Roth for opening her heart, sharing her success, and allowing us to step into that magical space where new worlds are created. The place where the ocean meets the sky. 

A child's thank you card for Daryl Roth showing all of us sitting in front of the TV during our Zoom session.