WILL Press Room
Local Actors Star in Fundraiser for Book Mentor Project
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Words in the Wind
7:30 pm Saturday, Sept. 12
A fundraising event for Illinois Public Media’s Book Mentor Project, featuring actors from The Station Theatre, Parkland College Theatre and the University of Illinois Department of Theatre, bringing to life various children’s books in a concert-style performance.
Words in the Wind will take place at Faith United Methodist Church, 1719 S. Prospect Ave., Champaign. Tickets, available at the door, are $10 each.
The first-time event is the brainchild of Tom Mitchell, associate head of the U of I Theatre department, and includes books recommended by The Center for Children’s Books within the Graduate School of Library and Information Science. Local musicians will provide vocal, piano or guitar accompaniment for several selections.
“It’s fun way to promote books and learning in a way that we usually don’t get to do,” Mitchell said. “Plus, it offers a unique opportunity to showcase the great acting talent we have in Champaign-Urbana.”
Confirmed performers include longtime Station Theatre regulars Gary Ambler, Joi Hoffsommer and Kay Holley; Parkland College Theatre veteran Dallas Street; U of I Department of Theatre faculty Henson Keys, J.W. Morrissette and Brant Pope, as well as numerous other area stage professionals. Actors will present 22 pieces, ranging from classics such as Peter Pan, The Three Little Pigs and The Wind in the Willows to contemporary works such as Knuffle Bunny, Moo Who and the alphabetic poetry of Alpha Beta Chowder.
“This event is a perfect fit with our goal of generating excitement about books and connecting that enthusiasm to the classroom,” said Molly Delaney, educational outreach director for Illinois Public Media, which includes the WILL television and radio stations.
The Book Mentor Project, in cooperation with Champaign County Head Start, the Champaign Early Childhood Center and local service organizations, provides books to families who otherwise might not have access to books at home. As part of the program, Delaney trains parents, teachers and volunteers on how to interact with children through books, how to use television as a teaching tool and how to use books and related activities to enhance learning.
At its start in 2003, the WILL-TV project assisted 54 families. It currently serves 578 families in Champaign County, trains 60 teachers and 50 volunteers each year, works with 42 classrooms in eight locations and distributes more than 3,500 books to low-income families.
For more information, call 217-333-7300.