Seasonal Specials: "Witch" Trials, "Sleepy Hollow," Traditional Ghost Stories, or "Tell Tale Heart"

Booking Information

Receive this program and 9 more for one low price when you purchase the CILC Virtual Expeditions package. Learn more

For more information contact CILC at (507) 388-3672

Provider's Cancellation Policy

Unless cancelled due to official emergency (e.g., school closed due to weather emergency), cancellation must be received in writing by The Actors Company at least 1 week in advance of scheduled program, to avoid fees for late cancellations. Those who cancel within 1 week, and do NOT re-book program (subject to 20% re-booking fee) will still be responsible for full program fee.. Please contact us with any questions.

About This Provider

Waltham, MA
United States

The Actors Company's professional teaching artists offer original, engaging, historical and literary character-based shows, as well as customized workshops in theater topics and mindful & creative movement. 

Our highly interactive programs support educational objectives in ELA, HSS, STE, SEL, performing arts & physical literacy, in schools, as well as life-long learning goals in community settings. Our carefully researched historical & literary shows are presented in period costume, and all our programs are adaptable to specific curricular, developmental, and scheduling needs. 

TAC was founded by J.T. Turner (SAG-AFTRA, AEA), an award-winning professional writer, actor, director, and educator, and is managed by Marci Diamond (MPA, SAG-AFTRA, AEA), also a professional teaching artist/performer. Additional programming is provided by Marisa Diamond (BFA, SAG-AFTRA, AEA). 

All our teaching artists have extensive performance and teaching experience, both virtually and in-person, working with film and theater companies, universities, schools, senior communities, museums, universities, corporate and government clients, and non-profits. For more information: www.jtturner.org www.diamondcircus.com www.marisadiamond.com

Program Details

Format

For WITNESS: Miller's The Crucible and the Salem "Witch" Trials:
1) Participants will assume the roles of witnesses and jurors in a "Witch" Trial using the program guide provided, based on historical information
2) Discussion of social and historical context of the actual events in the 1600s, and the dramatic rendering in the play "The Crucible" during the U.S. McCarthy era in the 1950s

For Traditional American Ghost Stories:
1) Selection of traditional ghost stories enacted with direct audience address and engagement
2) Question and answer time with teaching artist/perfomer

For Edgar Allan Poe: The Raven and The Tell-tale Heart
1) Teaching artist J.T. Turner performs a dramatization of The Telltale Heart, and a dramatic reading of The Raven
2) Participants engage in a discussion with Turner about Poe's life and work, in its historical and literary context (e.g., 1800s American poetry and short stories)

For Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow:
1. Washington Irving welcomes participants to the Old Dutch Church in Tarrytown, NY.
2. Washington Irving performs his most famous work, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
3. Question and answer time with Washington Irving.

Objectives

For WITNESS: Miller's The Crucible and the Salem "Witch" Trials:
1) Participants will have a greater understanding of the causes and consequences of the Salem "witch" trials during colonial time.
2) Participants will be able to connect the socio-historical events of the Trials to McCarthyism / "The Red Scare" of the 1950s in the U.S.

For Traditional American Ghost Stories:
1) Participants will explore traditional American storytelling from different historical eras.
2) Participants will develop an appreciation for character, language, and plot development & devices through exploration of both comedic and dramatic ghost stories.

For Edgar Allan Poe: The Raven and The Tell-tale Heart
1) Engage with and understand structure of classic early American short story and poetry
2) Develop an appreciation for early American literature and the life of Edgar Allan Poe

For Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow:
1. Engage with and understand the structure of a classical American ghost story.
2. Develop an appreciation for early American literature through the work of the first "international best-selling American author" and "Father of American literature."