I had the unique opportunity earlier this week to appear as Mrs. Cordelia Harvey at the Kenosha elementary school that bears her name. Before her marriage, Miss Cordelia Perrine taught school in Southport, Wisconsin -- renamed Kenosha in 1850.
I presented Mrs. Harvey to an all-school assembly of +/-340 students. They stayed focused, they asked intelligent questions at the end, and (here's the kicker) they are in K through grade 5! I have a version of the show that I do for students 5th grade and up, and I planned even more changes to accommodate the youngest students, the age range, and the large size of the group. And then, I made changes on the fly as I was performing. I fit the show into the allotted time frame. No puppets, no music, no magic tricks. Just me, a costume, and history. And a lot of teachers sitting around the edges. The kids were great, the principal was pleased, a faculty member complimented me...BAM! WOOHOO! YES!
I have performed Cordelia Harvey for some great groups of kids. But what a joyful thing to pull it off when the challenges going in were more than the usual! Of course, the kids would have been well prepared by their teachers. And, most likely, the personal connection gave them a particular investment in Mrs. Harvey's visit.
Still, what a high!
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I am proud to say that I have been playing Cordelia Harvey, including helping to develop the content of the program, under the auspices of the Kenosha Civil War Museum since 2008. Inquire as to performances of Cordelia Harvey for your civic/professional/community group, historical society, public library or school at bookings(at)marykababik(dot)com orblobello(at)kenosha(dot)org.
I presented Mrs. Harvey to an all-school assembly of +/-340 students. They stayed focused, they asked intelligent questions at the end, and (here's the kicker) they are in K through grade 5! I have a version of the show that I do for students 5th grade and up, and I planned even more changes to accommodate the youngest students, the age range, and the large size of the group. And then, I made changes on the fly as I was performing. I fit the show into the allotted time frame. No puppets, no music, no magic tricks. Just me, a costume, and history. And a lot of teachers sitting around the edges. The kids were great, the principal was pleased, a faculty member complimented me...BAM! WOOHOO! YES!
I have performed Cordelia Harvey for some great groups of kids. But what a joyful thing to pull it off when the challenges going in were more than the usual! Of course, the kids would have been well prepared by their teachers. And, most likely, the personal connection gave them a particular investment in Mrs. Harvey's visit.
Still, what a high!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am proud to say that I have been playing Cordelia Harvey, including helping to develop the content of the program, under the auspices of the Kenosha Civil War Museum since 2008. Inquire as to performances of Cordelia Harvey for your civic/professional/community group, historical society, public library or school at bookings(at)marykababik(dot)com orblobello(at)kenosha(dot)org.
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