Janet Casson—creator/director Janet has played many roles onstage and off, including youth theatre director and Music for Aardvarks teacher. She has a BA in performance studies from the University of Northern Iowa, her home state, and earned a graduate certificate in youth theatre working with the Creative Arts Team at the City University of New York. She also completed the Children’s Yoga Teacher Training Program at Karma Kids Yoga in NYC. Janet has worked in a variety of theatrical and educational settings, with children and adults from all walks of life. Since 2005, Janet has offered her own brand of drama and storytelling with “Play Me a Tale.”
Janet’s philosophy: Using theatre to teach is the very best use of the art form that I love best. What better, or more fun, way to develop lifelong skills? Theatre inherently teaches cooperation, communication, and creative problem-solving. A vivacious sharing of books is necessary to instill a love of literature, and getting the story in young people’s bodies is a way to ensure an experience that will linger long after the last page is turned.
Here’s what one fan has to say about Janet:
Janet brings a story to life and life to any story! Her children audiences are wholeheartedly involved in mirroring her actions or inventing their very own. For over a year as a co-worker at a unique children’s bookstore, I observed how she delighted the kids and young adults alike. Janet’s weekly storytime had her listeners always returning for more, more, more!
~Ellen, Minneapolis, MN
| These are a few of my favorite things… (Places, people, and food! Oh, my!) |
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|---|---|---|
| Wild Rumpus Books for Young Readers | www.wildrumpusbooks.com | |
| Groove Performing Arts | www.findgroove.com | |
| Music for Aardvarks | www.musicforaardvarks.com | |
| Audra Rox | www.audrarox.com | |
| Karma Kids Yoga | www.karmakidsyoga.com | |
| ish design | www.ishdesign.com | |
| SARK | www.planetsark.com | |
| Peter Sis | www.petersis.com | |
| Shaun Tan | www.shauntan.net | |
| BookSense | www.booksense.com | |
| Tattered Cover Book Store | www.tatteredcover.com | |
| Hampton Chutney Company | www.hamptonchutney.com | |
| New York Public Library | www.nypl.org | |
| Museum of Modern Art | www.moma.org | |
| American Museum of Natural History | www.amnh.org | |
| National Geographic Kids | kids.nationalgeographic.com | |
| Putamayo World Music | www.putamayo.com | |
| The Yoga Room | www.the-yoga-room.com | |
These are a few more of my favorite things…
Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food Ice Cream
Sushi
All seven Harry Potter books, but especially number 3
My guitar
My cat Simon
Hoops & Yo-yo
Poems by A.A. Milne, especially from the book When We Were Very Young
His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman (Wait till you’re older, like 12, maybe.)
Blue
Face painting
Streamers and scarves
Dancing
Singing loudly with friends
What are your favorites? Email me and let me know.
all content © 2007 Janet Casson & Play Me a Tale!
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