Let's Make a Play!

Wise Ol’ Tree Presents: Let’s make a PLAY!!  

In this interactive class, youth will learn the power of owning their resilient story and then bring it to life for a night of live theater- written and produced by and starring all of our students!  Kevin Bowman and Ellen Tanner combine their personal experience and professional expertise to tackle the epidemics of anxiety, perfectionism and fear of failure through the exciting adventure of creating empowered performance art.  While building a show start to finish- teens will learn critical life skills like storytelling, design, planning and budgeting, marketing and sales, performing and execution of their goal.  Meanwhile, during this process students will learn specific lessons about facing new challenges and making mistakes, learn how to safely move through feelings of “not enough” when they arise, and use failure to propel them toward curiosity and creativity.  The tools these teens learn to bring their PLAY to life will transfer to every new beginning they face from here forward!

Bio:

This class is taught by Kevin Bowman & Ellen Tanner.  Kevin has been working in live theater for 30+ years as a writer, performer, designer, director, and producer and currently serves as Production Manager for the St Louis Fringe Festival and Max and Louie Productions.  Ellen Tanner has been an occupational therapist for 16 years and a life, relationship & resilience coach for 3 years.  Both Kevin and Ellen are parents and have been working with and mentoring youth of all ages for over 2 decades.  They have both struggled personally with anxiety, fear of failure, and perfectionism and watched this epidemic spread to the youth in their life holding them back from taking risks, exploring, and creating joyful and empowered lives.

“Every generation faces its own unique set of circumstances and problems different from those that came before them.  We envision an empowered generation of youth who feel capable and limitless in the face of challenges with the tools needed to cultivate community and fulfillment in their lives.”

- Kevin & Ellen

• September 30- November 18
• Thursdays 4:30-7:00pm @ Jacoby Arts Center
• $200 per participant, $175 for siblings
• Scholarships available- contact ellen@ellenmarietanner.com
• 16-20 students