The bGreat Show is presented by comic-magician Brian Richards, one of the most humorous assembly performers in the country. Using the perfect blend of entertainment and educational content, Brian’s assemblies are loved by students and staff alike. Though they will laugh and be fooled by his tricks, your school will also get excited about character! In this interactive, 45-minute elementary school assembly and camp show, Brian Richards will use magic, comedy, storytelling, audience participation, and more to help your students learn about Anti-Bullying, Trustworthiness, Fairness, Respect, Responsibility, Caring, and Citizenship. The message to students is: “Do you want to be great? It begins with you taking the first step!”

The Parmesan Pig Book Series is a dynamic and engaging children's picture book series designed to inspire imagination, creativity, and a love for reading in young learners. Each book in the series features Parmesan Pig alongside her charmingly named food-animal friends, whose playful and inventive names add an extra layer of fun to their adventures. These stories not only entertain but also introduce important life lessons, such as friendship, problem-solving, and the value of perseverance. The author visits goes beyond storytelling by offering interactive and follow-up activities. Children/Students engage in character exploration activities, where they experience the creative journey of developing character illustrations—from initial sketches to the final artwork. Each session concludes with the exciting task of inventing new character names that could seamlessly join the series. These activities are designed to enhance literacy, boost creative expression, and build confidence in young readers. The Parmesan Pig Book Series is ideal for elementary school students and can be tailored to fit various educational settings, including classrooms, libraries, and after-school programs. By bringing these stories to life through interactive sessions, I aim to foster a deeper connection with reading and learning, making the educational experience both enjoyable and impactful. Key Features: 1) Interactive Storytelling: Bringing the adventures of Parmesan Pig and friends to life through engaging readings and discussions. 2) Creative Interaction: Activities that encourage children to explore their creativity and express themselves. 2) Educational Enrichment: Each session is designed to align with educational standards, promoting literacy, critical thinking, and social-emotional learning. 4) Flexible Format: The program can be adapted to fit the needs of different age groups and educational settings, ensuring a customized experience for each school. Join Parmesan Pig and her friends on a journey of creativity and learning that will leave a lasting impact on young minds!

"A MUST-SEE…” J. K Frimer, Dir. Special Programs, NY Aquarium, Central Park/Bronx Zoo, NY “David was a smash… our teachers loved him …and staff said the kids were engrossed and loved the interaction.” Maureen Daly, Fuquay-Varina Arts Center, N.C For over 30 years, veteran family entertainer and arts educator David Engel has toured nationwide to performing arts centers, festivals, libraries, museums and schools. David offers FOUR distinctly different assembly programs for schools on STEM, Environmental Stewardship and Anti-bullying. See descriptions below. As an eccentric clown, David has performed in venues across the USA, 11 European countries, the Caribbean, Indonesia, and in China. He has worked as a Clown Doctor in major NY metro pediatric hospitals and does annual residencies in NYC for children with special needs with ADAPT Network. Mr. Engel is known for his rich characterizations, scrupulous attention to quality costuming and creative details of his props and scenery. His vaudeville-like talents feature immersive audience-participation, adept magic, bubble-play, witty banter, eye-popping puppetry, cartoon-like sound effects and hilarious brain challenges that keep children and adults mesmerized. David Engel Assemblies: 1. “CAPTAIN NEMO’S ADVENTURE ACADEMY!” 20,000 Laughs Under the Sea! Take a deep dive into environmental stewardship, earth sciences, and plastic abatement with Captain Nemo who helps students discover the vital inter-dependence of living things above and below the waves. During this hilariously interactive show, the reclusive Captain surfaces to inspire kids to become "Guardians of the Deep" and caretakers of our watery-blue planet. Grades K-5. 2. PIRATE SCHOOL: The SCIENCE of Pirates This engaging STEAM-based assembly helps break out of the "mad scientist" theme with an exciting nautical twist! Mariners have pushed knowledge and technology forward ever since humans launched the first log-raft, so who better to explore STEAM and excite kids' curiosity than a swashbuckling pirate!? Featuring real-life demonstrations and immersive audience participation this show asks: How are the winds and ocean currents made? How is a sail like a wing? What are the forces behind a cannon ball's flight? Are navigation and map-making really math? Did pirates use simple machines? These and other mysteries are explored and exploded during "Pirate School! The Science of Pirates!” Grades 2-5. 3. PIRATE SCHOOL: Follow Your Compass! Pirate School! Follow Your Compass is an innovative, humorous and moving character education/anti-bullying assembly that promotes empathy, social courage and provides memorable strategies for the witnesses and victims of bullying.  Students are prompted to follow their hearts, their inner compasses and the vital concepts of Respect, Responsibility, Compassion and Courage are explored and underscored. This 60-minute assembly is designed to reflect state curriculum standards, and features lighthearted mayhem with a boisterous blend of full-audience participatory clown-theater, cartoon-like sound effects, a rich musical score. Grades K-5. 4. “Dinosaur Hunter Safari!” is a wholly hilarious, educational romp into the Jurassic Era with the bumbling Paleontologist Professor Livingpebble. Join the nutty professor and his full-sized puppet velociraptor Mary on an inspirational dino-dig. Embody your favorite slithering herbivores and roaring carnivores, meet the missing link and carefully cart a fossilized bone to its final resting place in the museum in this popular assembly. How do dinosaurs sound? How are fossils made? Why look into the past to understand our future? These and other questions will be answered in this engaging act that features full audience participation, magic, bubble-play, puppetry and cartoon-like sound effects. “All the teachers surveyed said Captain Nemo was their favorite part of the festival.” Producer, SUBMERGE Marine Science Festival, Hudson River Park, NYC “David had 2000 Pre-K-5th graders on the edge of their seats for the entire hour performance. He tied the STEM curriculum into the performance in a way that engaged and motivated the kids to want to learn more. His humor, use of props and sound effects were top notch! David was easy to work with from beginning to end and I highly recommend his act. Book him! You won't regret it. A. Roellgen, Caldwell Arts, Broyhill Theatre, Lenoir, NC

The Arts Engagement and Education Department serves as a vital bridge between artistic expression and community involvement. Rooted in the belief that art is transformative and essential for personal and societal growth, the department is dedicated to fostering creativity, nurturing talent, and promoting cultural understanding through various educational and engagement initiatives. Our mission is to enrich lives and strengthen communities through the power of the arts. By providing accessible and inclusive arts education, innovative programs, and meaningful community engagements, we aim to inspire creativity, cultivate diverse talents, and foster a deep appreciation for the arts. We offer many programs such as Junior Theatre Celebration, On School Time performances, a high school musical theatre awards program, residencies, 4 theatre camps, and more.

Taikoza is a Japanese Taiko drum group that uses the powerful rhythms of the Taiko drums to create an electrifying energy that carries audiences in a new dimension of excitement. The Taiko is a large, barrel-like drum that can fill the air with rolling thunder. Drawing from Japan's rich tradition of music and performance, Taikoza has created a new sound using a variety of traditional instruments. In addition, the Taiko Taikoza incorporates bamboo flutes. Taikoza has performed in Europe and Asia. Taikoza appeared on the History Channel and “The Last Samurai “DVD set. Taikoza presents a unique and exciting program using Japanese Taiko drums (weighing 200lb drums) and bamboo flutes. The program will take you on an unforgettable journey through Japan. It will take students to different areas and through the seasons of Japan. Students will be experiencing a new culture in a fun and exciting way, they will get a chance to see and at times touch the ancestral drums. The taiko drum can touch everyone with its thunderous sounds and vibrations. Taikoza hopes to open the student’s eyes to the richness of Japanese culture and spark an interest. We hope that this will spark an interest in other world cultures. Taiko has been associated with many aspects of Japanese culture since ancient times. It is said that Taiko was used to drive away the plague and evil spirits. In the Shinto religion, it was used to call upon and entertain the gods, or kami, and in Japanese Buddhism, its sound was the manifestation of the voice of the Buddha. Taikoza’s programs can be tailored to your school’s needs and interests. In a performance by Taikoza your students may experience: They will hear and see taiko songs. Taiko is often compared to martial arts, as the drums are played very physically using sticks that resemble baseball bats. They will hear songs played on the bamboo flutes. Some will get to play on the drums and interact with the performers.

Author visit with Stephen Swinburne Hello! It is my pleasure to recommend author Stephen Swinburne for an author visit to your school. Trust me, you will be so pleased that you have. I have been booking authors for the past 20 years in my career as a librarian and can honestly say that Steve is one of the most engaging authors that you will ever book. All of my teachers love his visits and compare all other authors to Steve. Students will be so enthralled in his session and will not want to leave. If I financially could book Steve for my school every year, I would. There are five other elementary schools in my district and they all feel the same way. I know from experience that some authors are fabulous writers but unfortunately lacking in their presentations - Steve is not one of them. Booking Steve for your school is a win for you - your staff will love him. If you have any questions, please feel free contact me. Best wishes and enjoy your visit with Steve! Sincerely, Leslie Balzano lbalzano@trumbullps.org Teacher-Librarian Middlebrook Elementary School 220 Middlebrooks Avenue Trumbull, CT 06611

We are a movement of second chances and self-worth through media content, music, school assembly programs and outreaches. Reminding people that it's NEVER too late for a CLEAN SLATE! You are WORTHY to "Rewrite Tomorrow

Established in February of 2011, the Theatre Institute at Sage is dedicated to providing quality live theatre and arts-in-education programming to Capital Region youth, educators and residents. The Institute also provides opportunities for Russell Sage students as performers, technicians and teachers. Programs include educational support services (such as in-class preparations, teacher in-services, post-show residences, and study guides), after school drama programs, weekend workshops, and several theatre camps during the summer for children ages 6-18.

Brian Zickafoose is an award-winning Hudson Valley muralist, illustrator, and educator whose work bridges fine art and community engagement. As founder of Splash Art Murals, he transforms storefronts and public spaces across New York with vibrant seasonal and thematic designs that celebrate creativity, collaboration, and local identity. His large-scale projects—such as the Seeds of Connection mural at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds and the Art Day in the Village community banner series—demonstrate how art can activate public spaces and inspire collective pride. Through interactive workshops and artist-in-residence programs, Brian guides students in exploring visual storytelling, symbolism, and design thinking while building confidence and teamwork. His programs align with Visual Arts and SEL standards and can be adapted for grades 3–12 in classroom, assembly, or mural formats.

Stomping Ground is an overnight camp in the gateway to the Adirondacks in Saratoga Springs, New York. We are building radically empathetic communities through humble curiosity, personal responsibility, restorative practices, and unbounded creativity. In the off season, we offer more focused programming around community building, conflict resolution training through circles, and practices focused in empathy and inclusion. Our mission is to partner with young people to inspire the next generation of radically empathetic decision makers. Together we re-imagine a more perfect world.

Airigami is, at its heart, a team of artists who create large-scale installations, illustrations, and experiences entirely out of balloons—from small single sculptures and STEAM programs to stadium-sized, record-breaking installations. The common element in all our work: Attention-grabbing wonder. Our clients come to us for all kinds of projects. Airigami has built a range of inspiring programs around balloons that’s educational and unforgettable. We’ve worked with organizations of many types all around the world. Our displays can interpret important cultural touchstones like famous masterpieces and historic environments that inspire. Balloon sculptures can invigorate curiosity about familiar subjects. Balloons can even serve as the center of powerful team-building exercises. * How to Catch a Mouse: Simple Machines at Work While working on his master’s degree in elementary education, Airigami partner Larry Moss created How to Catch a Mouse as a presentation for grade-schoolers. The response to the first performance was so strong, he developed it for larger audiences. The show combines math, science, art and fun. Balloons are used to construct a Rube Goldberg-style mousetrap intended to solve the problem of a mouse on the loose. Student volunteers are invited to participate in building the working machine. It’s a dynamic way to teach kids how machines work and inspire them to eagerly set the trap in motion for themselves. The show is ideal for elementary school assembly programs and children’s museums. * Bubble Mural™ Designed by the experts at Airigami, this hands-on exhibit engages visitors in a collaborative project that offers maximum impact with minimal mess. Participants work together to construct a 2-D installation made entirely of biodegradable latex balloons. * Team Building Airigami’s Team Building program is designed to foster cooperation among participants—rather than competition. And the best part is, everyone who joins in starts at the same level: square one.

Award-winning, nationally touring actor and educator Tim Collins has performed his acclaimed one-man shows for over 1,000,000 students and educators around the country. Tim offers a range of engaging shows for all ages, K-12, as well as interactive workshops for students and adults. STANDING BY, STANDING UP (3rd-7th grade) ?This powerful solo play depicts a compelling range of characters confronted by bullying and cyberbullying. Timely and thought-provoking, this impactful drama identifies ways students can prevent violence in their schools and communities. TO BE HONEST (8th-12th grade) A performance created specifically for middle and high school audiences, this moving show addresses a range of trending issues including cyberbullying, bystander intervention, and the impact of social media on friendships and relationships. NO MORE BULLYING (K-3rd grade) This fun and exciting program engages kids and provides strategies on how to avoid bullying and how to become an empowered bystander and work to prevent bullying and cyberbullying. INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS (all ages) Utilizing an innovative combination of innovative games and activities, small and large group discussion, and compelling and memorable role-playing exercises, Tim provides transformative workshop sessions for students and professionals. Workshops on a variety of topics are available, including: Healthy Communication, Conflict Resolution, Team Building, Bystander Intervention, Cultural Responsiveness, Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion, Bullying Prevention, Cyberbullying Prevention, Healthy Masculinity, Creative Writing, Improvisational Comedy, Acting and Public Speaking.