What's the Big Idea?

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=140 BGCOLOR="#9966CC" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03b00a20ezthtv.png"> <div> <B>H</B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="City Stage Co. of Boston"><U><B>ome</B></U></A><B>     |     </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#330066" FACE="Arial" ><B>City Stage Co. of Boston</B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Performing"><U>Performing</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Educating"><U>Educating</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Museums"><U>Museums</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News!"><U>News!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact info"><U>Contact info</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Participating"><U>Participating</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Calendar"><U>Calendar</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Teen Stages"><U>Teen Stages</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="KidStage"><U>KidStage</U></A>   |   <B>What's the Big Idea?</B>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Buster Has Asthma"><U>Buster Has Asthma</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whos Who Bios"><U>Who's Who & Bios</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="History"><U>History</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FAQ"><U>FAQ</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="After School With City Stage Co."><U>After School With City Stage Co.</U></A></div> <div> <B>What's the Big Idea?</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#CCFF66" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Here are the names of the innovators mentioned in the show</div> <div> <IMG SRC="4a5acbb0.jpg" border=0 width="172" height="443" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="4a7aec30.jpg" border=0 width="174" height="451" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=340 BGCOLOR="#CCFF66" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>We Make the Whole City Our Stage</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> <a href="HTMLobj-1573/What_s_the_Big_Idea_Teachers__Guide.doc"><u>Dowload the Teacher's Guide (Word document)</u> </a>  </B></div> <div> <B> <a href="HTMLobj-1574/What_s_the_Big_Idea_Student_Worksheets.doc"><u>Download the Student Worksheets (Word document)</u> </a>  </B></div> <div> <B> <a href="HTMLobj-1576/What_s_the_Big_Idea_Tour_Logistics.doc"><u>Download Touring Show Logistics Guide (Word document)</u> </a>  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="5163fe40.jpg" border=0 width="319" height="228" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.southendnews.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=4ABEAEFCDE8F44A0A71EFB120332AD1A&AudID=30A8E67FDA3E407A9502CC5A73F64194" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.southendnews.com/ME2/Audience"><U><B>Read About What's the Big Idea in the South End News</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4eaa7700.jpg" border=0 width="167" height="112" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B><B><IMG SRC="510a7700.jpg" border=0 width="167" height="112" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><B> <IMG SRC="515ab720.jpg" border=0 width="171" height="114" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="3f14a690.jpg" border=0 width="74" height="105" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="3f356690.jpg" border=0 width="86" height="105" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="3f5596a0.jpg" border=0 width="89" height="106" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="3f7476a0.jpg" border=0 width="71" height="106" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="3ff546a0.jpg" border=0 width="84" height="106" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="3f94f6a0.jpg" border=0 width="79" height="106" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> "Thanks for putting me on stage.  I hope you go to different schools and show them funny stories about innovators." - Student</div> <div> <A HREF="http://interactives.hostway.com/cgi-bin/slither/Driver.py/InterActives/Poll/Poll.render?poll_id=1167" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://interactives.hostway.com/cgi-bin/"><U><B>Vote for Your Favorite Massachusetts Innovator!</B></U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>   "Thank you for teaching me some things about Paul Revere and Phillis Weatley.  That was a very nice show." - Student</div> <div> <A HREF="http://interactives.hostway.com/cgi-bin/slither/Driver.py/InterActives/Quiz/Quiz.render?quiz_id=645" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://interactives.hostway.com/cgi-bin/"><U><B>Take the Boston Food Innovations Quiz!</B></U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4f0b6250.jpg" border=0 width="438" height="293" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> "I cannot thank you enough for the fantastic performance!  The show was incredible.  My students are still talking about it.  As we were studying a scientist, a couple of students announced the “What's the Big Idea?” phrase - complete with actions <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Wingdings" >J</FONT>  The performers were amazing professionals with an admirable rapport with the children.  Thanks again for allowing our school to be part of such an incredible experience" - Teacher</div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4f29f160.jpg" border=0 width="415" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Here's a link to the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities' </B><A HREF="http://www.massmoments.org/teachers/grade3.cfm?uid=7" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.massmoments.org/teachers/grad"><U><B>"Mass Moments"</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="4025a5b0.jpg" border=0 width="90" height="91" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="4034c5b0.jpg" border=0 width="76" height="91" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="4055b5b0.jpg" border=0 width="91" height="91" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="40a7a5a0.jpg" border=0 width="122" height="90" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="4077a5c0.jpg" border=0 width="122" height="92" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>What’s the Big Idea?</B></I></div> <div> Script by Susan Gassett & Larry Coen of City Stage Co., Boston</div> <bR> <div> <B>Overview</B></div> <div> <I>What’s the Big Idea</I> is an energetic, funny original play about the Boston area’s tradition of innovation, invention and cutting edge ideas.  <I>What’s the Big Idea</I> is directed toward a third grade Social Studies curriculum and features MCAS-friendly lessons in an easy-to-learn and fun environment.  The show is 30 minutes in length and is performed by 2 actors.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="40c5b650.jpg" border=0 width="91" height="101" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="40e48670.jpg" border=0 width="72" height="103" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="41053670.jpg" border=0 width="83" height="103" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="4124d680.jpg" border=0 width="77" height="104" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="414546a0.jpg" border=0 width="84" height="106" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="4174d6a0.jpg" border=0 width="77" height="106" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Featured Innovators – including microwave oven inventor Percy Spencer, first published Black poet Phillis Wheatley, and computer terminal developer An Wang.  </div> <bR> <div> The performance is accompanyed by a curriculum packet.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="4157e7a0.jpg" border=0 width="126" height="122" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="41b7c7b0.jpg" border=0 width="124" height="123" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="41959770.jpg" border=0 width="89" height="119" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="41d5d770.jpg" border=0 width="93" height="119" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4206d4e0.jpg" border=0 width="109" height="78" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="4224d4d0.jpg" border=0 width="77" height="77" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="424754e0.jpg" border=0 width="117" height="78" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="427684e0.jpg" border=0 width="104" height="78" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Here's what the press says...</B></div> <div> <I>What's the Big Idea:</I></div> <div> <I>Play Introduces Children to Innovators of Yesteryear </I></div> <div>  Published in the MetroWest daily news</div> <div> April 17, 2005</div> <div> By Chris Bergeron (Daily News Staff)</div> <bR> <div> "It takes a special play to get a theater full of third-graders cheering about smallpox vaccinations, the invention of the microwave oven and Julia Child in drag.</div> <bR> <div> But that’s exactly what happens in “What’s the Big Idea,” a fun and informative play about innovative inventions at the Boston Children’s Museum.</div> <bR> <div> Shakespeare, eat your heart out. Playwrights Larry Coen and Susan Gassett know how to get kids excited about serendipity and science.</div> <bR> <div> Their 30-minute play is an educational romp that will get audiences, young and older, interested in Bay State scientists whose discoveries changed the world.</div> <div> <I><IMG SRC="432476c0.jpg" border=0 width="71" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="430646c0.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="42c556c0.jpg" border=0 width="85" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="4333e6d0.jpg" border=0 width="62" height="109" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="434466d0.jpg" border=0 width="70" height="109" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </I></div> <div> And, parents, it’s just in time for school vacation next week.</div> <bR> <div> Written and directed by Coen and Gassett of City Stage Co., the play was presented by the BCM in association with the Boston History Collaborative and City Stage. The play is directed toward a third-grade social studies curriculum and incorporates MCAS-themed lessons.</div> <div> <I><IMG SRC="4cabcc70.png" border=0 width="188" height="199" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">                               <IMG SRC="4ccb8c40.png" border=0 width="184" height="196" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <div> Actors Ben Webber and Kevin Casey teach the history of science through goofy poems, and mix pratfalls with serious insights about inventors who overcame disabilities and bias.</div> <bR> <div> Think Madame Curie meets “Zoom” or SpongeBob SquarePants meets the Discovery Channel.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><IMG SRC="4ce8ab10.png" border=0 width="138" height="177" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <div> Wearing colorful costumes and mugging for the audience, Webber and Casey, of KidStage Actors, perform skits “about people from around Boston whose ideas changed the world.”</div> <bR> <div> “Everybody’s looking for a brand-new way,” they told the audience. “Sometimes innovation happens by chance.”</div> <bR> <div> Their routine includes Phyllis Wheatley, an ex-slave who became the first black published poet in America; Fanny Farmer, a wheelchair user who wrote a famous cookbook; and Percy Spencer who invented the microwave after accidentally melting chocolate in his pocket while testing radar.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><IMG SRC="4d0e6b90.png" border=0 width="230" height="185" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <div> Aiesha Savage, a third-grader at the Josiah Quincy School in Boston, said she was most impressed by Wheatley’s accomplishments. “I learned poetry can be innovation too.”</div> <bR> <div> Webber and Casey mixed in comic spots, including an appearance by famous chef Julia Child in an apron and fright wig and a recurring bit about Paul Revere galloping across the stage without his horse.</div> <bR> <div> Using simple props, they demonstrated how Spencer, a Raytheon engineer, made an important connection in 1946 between radar waves and what became the microwave oven.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="4f498110.jpg" border=0 width="408" height="273" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Throughout the play, Webber and Casey got audience members to join them reciting short funny poems that summarized the importance of innovation.</div> <bR> <div> Using the rhythms of a familiar marching cadence, they asked: “What did Percy Spencer do? He put together two and two. He got chocolate in his pants. He invented microwaves by chance.”</div> <bR> <div> “In-no-va-tor,” Webber and Casey intoned. “In-no-va-tor.”</div> <bR> <div> For the play’s most ambitious segment, they coaxed eight young audience members onstage for a skit that explained how inoculations slowed the spread of smallpox in Colonial America.</div> <bR> <div> In 1721, minister Cotton Mather got the idea of inoculating people against the disease from his Africa-born slave Onesimus, they said. To explain the idea of “contagious,” they held up several tennis balls to represent the disease-carrying virus.</div> <bR> <div> After each child recruit was given a Velcro vest, the actors gently tossed tennis balls that stuck to their chests, suggesting they were infected.</div> <bR> <div> To explain how “inoculations” made some people “immune” to the disease, they turned the vests over exposing a green surface without Velcro. This time, the tennis balls representing infection dropped to the stage.</div> <bR> <div> Webber and Casey later brought more volunteers onstage to form a Parade of Innovators, including Clara Barton, Theodor “Doctor Seuss” Geisel, Mary Baker Eddy and Lewis Latimer.</div> <bR> <div> What do the young critics think?</div> <bR> <div> “I loved it. It was very funny. It made me think,” declared Valeria Berrio, a 9-year-old who attended a midweek preview with third-graders from the Donald McKay School in Boston. “It helped me learn about people who made history in Boston. They made things better with technology.”</div> <bR> <div> Her classmate Argenis Losano said his favorite part of the play had been when the “actors used tennis balls to show how to stop disease.”</div> <bR> <div> “I learned how to innovate,” said the bright-eyed 9-year-old after the play. “That’s when you create something new that wasn’t there before.”</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.bostonhistorycollaborative.org/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.bostonhistorycollaborative.or"><U><I><IMG SRC="3ef24500.gif" border=0 width="548" height="80" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></U></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://www.bostonkids.org/index2.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.bostonkids.org/index2.html"><U><I><IMG SRC="3e7fd600.gif" border=0 width="253" height="96" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></U></A></div> <div> <I><IMG SRC="4abaab90.jpg" border=0 width="170" height="441" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="4aaadb80.jpg" border=0 width="173" height="440" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> </td> </tr></table></body>