- DR.
GESUNDHEIT'S WORKSHOP SERIES
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Craig received his
elementary teaching certificate from Grand Valley State
University in 1975. He has taught
thousands of students in workshops and residences, from
Alaska to Massachusetts. Craig has worked with very diverse
populations: Northwestern University Medical Students;
developmentally disabled adults and kids; teachers (for the Erikson Institute); therapists; graduate students (at
California State University, Humboldt); actors; dancers;
executives; homeschoolers; and countless students of all
ages. He can help your kids create theater about any
subject, including history, science, social studies,
literature, and music. Craig also specializes in using
theater to help students learn conflict resolution and the
tools of peace.
His
workshops include:
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Performing
Workshops:
A CLOWN
IS A POET WHO IS ALSO AN ORANGUTAN
Clowning and Circus
Skills (Ages: 6-13) Find the clown inside of you. Craig
will help you allow your inner clown to come out
and fall down. This class will focus on clown character
work, trips, falls, slapstick, juggling, shtick, and
classic routines. Students can also learn to juggle,
balance, do solo and partner acrobatics. Bring a red nose,
if you have one. Be there, or be a parallelogram.
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- BE
HERE NOW
- Improvisation and
Physical Comedy (Ages: 10 +)
Combining theater
games, physical comedy, and his own skewed sense of humor,
Craig presents an introduction to improvisation
and kinetic komedy. This workshop will focus on ensemble
work, learning to listen, elements of comedy, and
agreement. We will also explore classic commedia-style
lazzis and comedy routines. Then we'll go to my house
and clean the basement.
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Writing/Performing
Workshops: |
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FAMILY
FABLES
A Storytelling
and Performance Workshop for Kids and Parents
Share family legends,
grandparents' tales, and stories of "the old
days." Learn how your own family can act out these
stories using many theatrical styles and tricks. This is a
great PTA/PTO Family Fun night activity.
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- SLAMMIN'
WITH DR. G
- A
Poetry Reading and Writing Workshop (Middle &
High School)
Dr. Gesundheit presents
poetry, with drama and humor. Students are encouraged to
read their own writing, or bring in work of their favorite
poets. The environment is safe and supportive. Dr. G adds
some juggling and comedy to the mix and leads the audience
in some writing exercises, creating poetry on the spot.
This is fabulous way for libraries to involve older
students.
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- DR.
G's CLOWN SCARE-APY
- Stories, Silly and
Scary (Middle & High School)
Dr. Gesundheit explores the
supernatural, from Poe's Tell-Tale Heart to campfire
classics. Dr. G shares his love of tales that can raise
the hairs on the back of your neck. He gets the kids up to
tell their favorite haunted stories, and using group
storytelling techniques, gets the audience to create and
perform their own scary tales. |
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- CUSTOM
PLAYWRITING WORKSHOPS
- Creating
Theater To Educate and Delight (4th Grade to High
School)
Dr. Gesundheit
integrates his unique ability to motivate and inspire
students to write with your curriculum. He has helped kids
write plays about the Bill of Rights, Illinois and
American history, environmental & science themes, and
their favorites books and stories.
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- CRAIG
CAN PRESENT SHORT WORKSHOPS, PERFECT FOR CAMP, PARK AND
LIBRARY SITUATIONS. HE CAN ALSO CREATE LONG-TERM
RESIDENCIES (FROM 3-20 WEEKS) CULMINATING IN A WONDERFUL
PERFORMANCE BY THE
STUDENTS.
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Selected
Teaching Experience:
- Daniel Wright
- Middle School
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Vaudeville,
Circus, Commedia, Storytelling - Lincolnshire, IL |
| Washington
School |
Created
Historical Plays About Social Justice, Shanti Foundation -
Evanston, IL
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| Ebinger
School |
Residencies
for 3rd grades. Wrote and performed plays about Chicago
history. - Chicago, IL |
| King
Lab School |
- Residencies for
4th grades. Wrote and dramatized poetry -
- Evanston, IL
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- Northwestern
University
- Medical School
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- Taught performance
skills and physical comedy to medical
- students - Chicago,
IL
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| Kingsley
School |
- Helped students
create and perform original theater pieces
- about the
Constitution and the Bill of Rights - Evanston, IL
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| Addison
Park District |
- Directed and
wrote original musical plays for students aged
- 7-15 in summer
camp program for 8 years - Addison, IL
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- Orozco Academy
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- Eighth-grade
students wrote and performed original plays
- based on Illinois
history - Chicago, IL
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- South Shore
High School
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- Sophomore students
wrote and performed original plays
- based on early
American historical events - Chicago, IL
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- Orchard Village
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- Helped
developmentally disabled adults create plays based on
- stories about
their lives - Skokie, IL
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- California
State
- University,
Humboldt
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Taught playwriting
and physical theater to undergraduate
and
graduate students. Playwright-in-Residence
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- Training Center
for the Working Actor
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- Taught physical
theater and mask work to theater students
- and cast members
of The Scarecrow - Chicago, IL
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- Woodbine School
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- Taught playwriting
and theater and helped students create
- original plays
about their family stories and based on
- literature -
Cicero, IL
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- Elk Grove
Public Library
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- Led poetry
and storytelling workshops and helped students
- perform their work
- Elk Grove, IL
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- North Slope
Schools
- & Lower
Kuskokwim
- Delta, Alaska
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- Toured Yupik and
Inupiat villages, performing and teaching
- clowning, circus
skills, writing, and gymnastics - Alaska
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Contact
Craig for a more complete and detailed listing of
Workshops
and for Workshop References.
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