The Hundred Dresses Drawing Contest

In The Hundred Dresses, the students in Miss Mason's class competed in a drawing contest, designing their own dresses and motorboats. SCT's Education Department sponsored the same contest during the run of the play, and received over 160 entries.

The results were really incredible, especially when seen all together. All of the entries were displayed at SCT while the staff was invited to ooh and ahh and vote for the winner.

The overall winner is currently on display on SCT's website, but there were just too many good entries not to share some more. Here we have the next three highest vote-getters:

by Susanna

by Isabella

by Libby

Thank you to all of our participating artists!

Have you ever...?

The suggestion for this blog post comes from the mother of our first guest reviewer. She asked us to pose this question to the cast of The Hundred Dresses, which she didn't have the chance to ask during the post-play talkback:

Have you ever found yourself in a position like Maddie or Peggy or Wanda?

Intrepid actor Sarah Harlett, playing Peggy in the play, was brave enough to share her answer.

We asked ourselves this question the first few days of rehearsal. We sat around a table and shared our own experiences from when we were kids. Allison Narver (our wonderful director) described occasions in her life when she felt like one of these characters. Then she asked us all to share our memories. We all recalled being teased ourselves. We also recounted tales when as kids ourselves we didn't stand up for someone else because we were too scared all of that brutal attention would turn on us. We also had memories of times when we didn't realize we were hurting other kids feelings. When we were bullying kids ourselves. It's part of what makes this play so achingly poignant. We've been there. Chances are we've been ALL of these kids at one time or another.

Allison made it clear that none of these characters in the play were just "bad kids." That we shouldn't be able to write them off so easily. These kids love fun and games. They love to laugh and everything has the possibility to turn into a game. Which on the surface sounds like pretty fun-loving behavior. They create teasing games with nearly everyone in the play. It's a big game of "you're it" and one of the scariest things is to be the brunt of that attention.

These characters are at different points in the development of their "moral compass." When I think that this story was based on actual experiences of the writer, Eleanor Estes, it makes me think even more about my own experiences. What I learned from them, how I learned lessons and the hope that I continue to learn from them.

The Hundred Dresses runs through April 6th.

Activity: Heroes!

In The Hundred Dresses, Maddie wants to be a hero. In her fantasies, she is a superhero, while in her everyday life she struggles to make the heroic choices. In the end, Maddie learns what it means, and what it takes, to be an everyday hero.

This activity, designed by our Drama School, gives participants a way to think about different kinds of heroes, as well as working on listening, imagination, and decision-making skills

Heroes

Gather all of your participants into a group. If you have a large enough group, you may ask half to do the task while the other half observes, and then switch.

Ask participants to create a frozen picture of a superhero. Gives them about 5 seconds to accomplish the task. The activity leader should reflect on the frozen picture he or she sees – noting shape, level, image, facial expression etc.

Add a layer: ask the participants to think of one word that superhero might say. Tap a few superhero frozen pictures on the shoulder and hear what they say. Try saying the word all together.

Add another layer: ask the participants to think of what power the superhero might use to help people. Tap a few superhero frozen pictures on the shoulder and hear what they say.

Then ask participants to create a frozen picture of an everyday hero (i.e. firefighters, police officers, soldiers, doctors, teachers, parents.) Give them 5 seconds to accomplish the task.

Again, reflect on the frozen picture he or she sees – noting shape, level, image, facial expression etc.

Add a layer: ask the participants to think of one word that the everyday hero might say. Tap a few everyday hero frozen pictures on the shoulder and hear what they say.

This activity works as a great springboard into discussion about different kinds of heroes. Reflect on what qualities make a real life hero. What are the choices, qualities, or characteristics, or personality qualification for a real life hero?


The Hundred Dresses runs through April 6, 2008 at Seattle Children's Theatre.

The Hundred Dresses Discussion Deal

One of the most rewarding parts of our production of The Hundred Dresses so far has been the talk back sessions following the play, where the audience has an opportunity to ask questions of the actors. Often when we do talk backs, the questions are more technical - how long does it take you to learn your lines? was it hard to learn the sword fight? But for this play, the questions deal more with the story, because its themes of bullying and friendship really resonate with kids.

We want to encourage these kinds of conversations, and so we are offering a special group play and discussion package:

Seattle Children’s Theatre’s production of The Hundred Dresses is a wonderful springboard into conversation with the children in your life. Whether it’s the difficulties faced by immigrants or the ever-present threat of bullying, this play tackles these topics in an engaging and entertaining way. To help facilitate this conversation we are offering a special package to groups of 10 or more. Choose one of the special performances below and receive a FREE facilitated discussion moderated by either a KCSARC or SCT educator.

This special discussion package includes tickets to the show, a meeting space at SCT, and curriculum materials, prepared by SCT’s Education Programs, for you to take away.

Saturdays at 2pm—March 22nd, March 29th, April 5th
Sundays at 5:30pm—March 23rd, March 30th, April 6th

ABOUT THE PLAY: Based on the Newberry Honor book by Eleanor Estes, The Hundred Dresses introduces us to Wanda Petronski, a young girl who just wants to make friends. But in 1930s small town America, a Polish immigrant doesn’t easily fit in. When Maddie’s best friend starts to tease Wanda, Maddie knows this isn’t right and realizes that allowing her friend to be a bully is just as bad as acting that way herself. Determined not to let her fear get the best of her again, Maddie braves the scorn of her classmates and stands up to them, making an unlikely friend in the bargain.

To order your group tickets, please contact School & Group Sales Manager, Heather Botts, at (206) 443 – 0807 or email her at heatherb@sct.org.

Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy an incredible and moving play, fully engaging your children in the themes and message of the story

Our First Guest Reviewer

Behind the Curtain welcomes guest reviewer, Abby B., who was kind enough to agree to check out "The Hundred Dresses" opening weekend and share with us, and you, what she thought.


Choosing the hard right over the easy wrong is Maddie’s struggle in the Seattle Children’s Theatre’s production of Eleanor Estes’ The Hundred Dresses. Written for the stage by Mary Hall Surface and directed by Allison Narver, The Hundred Dresses is an charming show about a young Polish girl, Wanda (Sharia Pierce), who, in an attempt to fit in with her peers, mentions that she has a hundred dresses. This is so unbelievable to the other girls because they have only seen Wanda wear the same dress every day to school that they start a teasing game. Maddie (Betsy Schwartz) feels horrible about the game but she does not have the courage to stand up to her best friend Peggy (Sarah Harlett) because Maddie is also poor and afraid that Peggy would turn the teasing game on to her.

Sarah Harlett, Emily Cedergreen, Troy Fischnaller, Tim Gouran and Betsy Schwartz in "The Hundred Dresses". Photo by Chris Bennion.

Believable as 10 year olds, the actors draw us on to the playground to witness how easily miscommunication can blow up into a series of mean fun and hurt feelings. They remind us that if we take the time to listen, to get to know to each other and to look past our differences, we can make a new friend or two. We also learn through Maddie after Wanda moves away that it may be too late to say we’re sorry but it’s never to late to learn from our actions or inactions so we do not make the same mistake again.

As always in the “less is more” fashion of SCT, the sets, lights and sounds add a delightfully seamless connection to the action on the stage. Major “props” go to the actors though who kept the audience so engaged in the story that when a tree was struck during the second act into the overhead curtains, it was hardly noticed.

I highly recommend this production of The Hundred Dresses to all my peers and their parents. Not only was it fun to watch but it has opened up many discussions of how at times in our lives we all have been a Wanda or a Maddie, and even at times a Peggy.

"The Hundred Dresses” is now running at the Seattle Children’s Theatre until April 6th, 2008. Ticket prices range from $17 to $33. Visit www.sct.org for more information.

Guest reviewer and veteran SCT audience-member Abby B. is 10 1/2 yrs old and lives in Bonney Lake, WA.

Braving the elements

There are those that believe the actor's life is a glamorous one, and there may be days when they are right. The day pictured below, our first PR photo shoot for The Hundred Dresses, was not one of those days.

We needed an action shot, which would have been nearly impossible to capture under direct lights in the theatre (the shadows wreak havoc). So, it had to be outside, and when the scheduled day arrived, the weather decided not to cooperate. We had to scrap the original site because it was too far from any shelter, and moved instead to one of our rooftop patios.


It was windy. And wet. And cold. Here our photographer, Chris Bennion, works with Betsy Schwartz, Sharia Pierce, Emily Cedergreen and Sarah Harlett. I believe Sharia's face tells the story pretty well.

And we simply aren't the kind of people that let actors suffer in solitude, and so we braved the elements along with them.



This is director Allison Narver's (left) first show with us. We nearly promised her that our outdoor shoots aren't always like this, until we remembered back to the washed-out High School Musical shoot in the fall.


The hardworking and patient cast diligently worked through take after take, playing 4-Square in a near-squall.



Production Assistant Deb Lyon may have been the smartest of us all, making a dash for the relative warmth of indoors.


The actor's life isn't always glamorous, and perhaps is only rarely so. But, they are a hardworking bunch, and game for just about anything. For them, "the show must go on" is more credo than cliche.

We hope you take the opportunity to reward that diligence, and enjoy the fruits of their labor, by coming to see The Hundred Dresses, which opens tomorrow night, February 22nd, 2008.

So...

...our writing contest for The Hundred Dresses was not a stellar success. We received no entries.

I blame myself for coming up with the idea too late, and not getting word out quickly enough. Not that it will stop me from trying, I just promise to try better next time.

And, there was, as there so often is in this crazy business we call theatre, an unexpected savior. A long-time veteran member of our audience has stepped forward, dragging her mother and sister along, to volunteer to write a review of The Hundred Dresses for this blog.

Check back next week for her review. I, for one, can't wait, because I sat in on dress rehearsal last night, and I think we're going to knock her out.

Jim Jewell, SCT PR Manager and Blog Moderator

The Hundred Dresses Writing Contest!

In The Hundred Dresses, young Maddie learns the value of courage, of standing up for what she believes is right, even in the face of opposition from friends. Certainly for Maddie, and I think for all of us, these moments of courage come to define our lives.

What was your moment of courage? In 150 words or less, tell us about a time in your life that required courage, when you felt brave. We’ll post our five favorite responses here and a final winner will be selected from those five by The Hundred Dresses playwright Mary Hall Surface. The winner will receive an invitation to attend (with up to three guests) the opening night performance of SCT’s production of The Hundred Dresses on Friday, February 22, 2008 at 7pm (winner may choose another date if unable to attend opening night).

Email entries to Jim Jewell, SCT PR Manager and Behind the Curtain moderator, at jimj@sct.org by 5pm on Friday, February 15. Winners will be announced Monday, February 18.

General rules and stipulations:
• Contest open to anyone 18 years and younger.
• The decision of the judges is final.
• Finalists and winner will be identified on the blog by first name and last initial only.
• Prize is not transferrable. If the winner is unable to attend The Hundred Dresses, a new winner will be chosen from the remaining finalists.