Special delivery Another program
Arcata Playhouse 'Wonder Wagon' brings art, dance opportunities to area's children
The Arcata Playhouse will be bringing artistic opportunities to children throughout northern Humboldt County with a little help from its “Wonder Wagon.”
“Once shelter in place was ordered, the Arcata Playhouse, like most organizations, had to look at our programming and make quick shifts evolving with the times,” said Sarah McKinney, education director, in an email interview with the Times-Standard.
Arcata Playhouse — which opened in 2007 — is a nonprofit community arts center located at 1251 Ninth St. in Arcata. It offers a wide array of events, including live theater, music, variety arts, poetry, speakers and films and is also dedicated to its bevy of youth programs.
“Our ‘Artists in the Schools’ program was about to begin our final workshop series in the schools, and we adapted the curriculum and offered video tutorials,” McKinney said. “This made us think outside the box as far as summer programming was concerned. The Playhouse Wonder Wagon was born out of a necessity to continue our creative engagement with our community, especially the children who are in great need of programming right now.”
The Arcata Playhouse Wonder Wagon will hit the road July 6 to 8, delivering art packets to elementary school and community center parking lots in Blue Lake, Fieldbrook, Arcata, Cutten and Eureka. All drop-offs will take place outside, with COVID-19 virus safety precautions in place. Arcata Playhouse staffers will mark physical distancing spaces at all material pickup locations and everyone must wear a face mask when stopping by.
The free art packets — designed for kids of all ages — will include materials for crafting and dancing. Supplies and instructions will be delivered July 6 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Mad River Grange in Blue Lake; from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Fieldbrook Elementary School; and from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Arcata at the corner of Hallen Drive and Valley East Boulevard.
On July 7, pickups are from 10 to 11 a.m. at Pacific Union Elementary School in Arcata and from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Redwood Coast Montessori, also in Arcata. On July 8, the Wonder Wagon will visit Grant Elementary School in Eureka from 10 to 11 a.m. and Cutten Elementary School from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
“The Playhouse Wonder Wagon is for everyone,” McKinney said. “Most of our drop-off sites are at local elementary schools that are involved in our ‘Artists in the Schools’ program. We
are hoping to tap into the school communities, but we also hope to attract anyone interested in participating in some fun summer arts programming.”
The art packets will contain a ribbon dancing stick, file folders or paper plates, construction paper, tape if needed and a worksheet with simple instructions on how to make a theatrical animal mask. Art teachers will be on hand to demonstrate ribbon dancing skills and display examples of crafts made from the packet materials.
“We will have three stations at the Playhouse Wonder Wagon sites. There will be a station where the children pick up the art materials, a station with a live tutorial on how to make a mask and a station with a live tutorial on movement with the dance ribbons,” McKinney said. “The children will also receive a paper
with instructions and a link to online tutorials for backup assistance once they are home.”
A culmination of the Wonder Wagon fun will take place July 11 from 11 a.m. to noon when Arcata Playhouse staffers host a “physically distanced spectacle.” All young animal mask makers and ribbon dancers are invited that day to Arcata Playhouse — located in the city’s Creamery District — to show off their creations and moves from a safe distance.
“The children will gather outside the Playhouse for a socially distant parade around the block to show off their beautiful masks and fun movements,” McKinney said.
Bandemonium will provide live music at the event.
“Humboldt Bandemonium is a community driven music ensemble based in Humboldt County,
offering an utterly original sound inspired by music from around the globe,” McKinney said.
While the event is primarily for Arcata Playhouse Wonder Wagon participants, spectators are welcome to watch the festivities from across the street.
“We will have hand sanitizer available and additional staff to assist everyone in maintaining a safe distance,” she said. “PPE masks and social distancing are required for everyone at the drop-off sites at the beginning of the week as well as on the day of the parade.”
There are also plans to put a tape of the parade on the Playhouse website for those who cannot attend.
The Arcata Playhouse Wonder Wagon program is funded by Humboldt Sponsors, the Charles and Anna M Pedrazzini Foundation and Jane Minor. For more
information, call the Arcata Playhouse at 707-8221575 or visit arcataplayhouse.org/playhouse-wonder-wagon.
Arcata Playhouse is also hosting a summer event for teenagers, “Pageant in the Valley,” July 27 to Aug. 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Laurel Tree Charter School in Arcata. The cost for this program is $200.
“Teenagers 13 to 17 are invited to join us for two weeks of learning and creating,” McKinney said. “The classes aim to develop physical theater skills and ensemble-building foundations. The students will cultivate their creativity and find ways to express themselves.”
For more information about this program, call Arcata Playhouse at 707-8221575 or go to https://www. arcataplayhouse.org.
The Arcata Playhouse Wonder Wagon will hit the road July 6 to 8, delivering art packets to elementary school and community center parking lots in Blue Lake, Fieldbrook, Arcata, Cutten and Eureka. All drop-offs will take place outside, with COVID-19 virus safety precautions in place.