Arts Access School Time Program

Doktor KaboomApril 12, 2018 |9:30 am & 11:45 a.m.

Hofmann Theatreat the Lesher Center for the Arts

PresentingField Trip Sponsor:

theatre ● language arts ● music ● classics ● science ● visual arts

2017-2018 SeaSon

EducationSponsor:

VisionarySponsor: Sharon Simpson

Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA) enriches the lives of thousands of East Bay residents every year by supporting programs at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts (LCA). Through well-established business and community partnerships, fundraising and marketing expertise, we help arts organizations present professional-level theater, music and dance performances, visual arts exhibitions, and family events. Over the years, the Arts Access School Time Program has offered students and children in the community the opportunity to experience high-quality live performances and visual arts exhibits. These programs engage students in the artistic process, cultivating an appreciation for the arts by combining education and entertainment which together help to make the arts a vital part of our schools and community. Many of these programs offer funding for low-income schools, making the arts programs accessible to as many students as possible. Together with corporate, foundation and individual partners, the DRAA is able to make these opportunities possible. This year’s Arts Access School Time Program would not be possible without the generous support of Sharon Simpson - Visionary Sponsor, Target - Presenting Field Trip Sponsor, Wells Fargo - Education Sponsor, along with our other season sponsors including The Hewlett Foundation, Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation, The Jonas Family Foundation, the Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, and all the individual donors who support this program.

1601 C iv ic D r ive ● Walnut Creek CA ● 94596 ● 925 .295 .1470 ● www.draa.o rg

Preparing Your Students for a Field Trip to the Lesher Center for the Arts Drop-off and Pick-Up:

Buses should drop off at the Lesher Center for the Arts by pulling directly up to the curb in front of the theatre on Civic Drive or Locust Street in the designated loading zones, utilizing space efficiently so that the other buses can unload/load at the same time. As soon as students and chaperones have off-loaded safely, buses need to depart and find parking near the LCA to wait until the end of the performance. NO bus parking is available at the Lesher Center for the Arts. Loading zones are ONLY for loading and unloading.

Ticket Information:

Tickets are held by the DRAA and distributed to your group on the day of performance by a DRAA staff member who will be positioned in the area outside the front of the entrance to the theatre.

Tickets should be distributed to each student prior to entering the theatre. Every attendee must have a ticket in hand before entering the theatre.

All tickets are “GENERAL SEATING”, with no reserved seating available. If you have any special seating needs, please notify the DRAA prior to your performance so we can make the necessary arrangements.

The Auditorium and Seating:

The Lesher Center for the Arts features three distinct theatres providing a space tailored for every show and audience.

The Hofmann Theatre seats 785 patrons and is the largest of the three theatres in the Lesher Center for the Arts. It features a spacious main floor and a balcony featuring four sets of box seating areas. The theatre is used for large-scale productions including musicals, operas, ballets, symphonies and larger corporate functions.

The Margaret Lesher Theatre seats 297 patrons and provides a more intimate space for mid-sized productions including musicals and plays.

The George & Sonja Vukasin Theatre seats 133 patrons and is a black-box theatre featuring a space tailored for smaller, more intimate productions and events. Seats can be added or removed as necessary.

1601 C iv ic D r ive ● Walnut Creek CA ● 94596 ● 925 .295 .1470 ● www.draa.o rg

Lighting and MusicThe amount of lighting and music in the theatre will vary from time to time as the play or performance progresses. There may be times where it is almost completely dark. We are aware that this can be an exciting experience for some children and the level of energy can increase along with their excitement. Music can also be used create different impressions or communicate certain moods during the performance which encourages audience participation and spirit.

At the PerformanceThe live theatre performance is not pre-recorded with the mistakes edited out. This makes it more exciting for an audience. Student’s thoughtful attention and responses have a real effect and contribute to the quality of the experience. The audience gives energy to the performers who use that energy to give life to the performance!

Etiquette GuideGoing to a live performance is a special experience, one that you will remember for a long time.Everyone in the audience has been looking forward to seeing the performance.

There is a big difference in going to a theater and to a movie. The actors are performing for you liveonstage, and they can see and hear what goes on in the audience just as you can see and hearthem. So, one behaves a little differently than when you are at the movies or at home watching TV.

Some things to remember:

• Stay with your group at all times.

• Lights will dim just before a performance, and then go dark. Show your knowledge by sitting calmly.

• No talking or whispering during the performance.

• Laughter at appropriate times only.

• Keep body movements to a minimum. You can’t get up and move around during the performance.

• Please use the bathroom or get a drink before seating for performance or at intermission ONLY.

• Show appreciation by clapping. The actors love to hear applause. This shows how much you enjoyed the performance.

• Don’t leave your seat until the performers have taken their curtain call at the end. When the performance ends, wait patiently to exit.

• Be polite and attentive. Everyone in the theater is sharing the same experience and space.

• No taking of pictures or video recording during performance is allowed.

• TURN OFF ALL cell phones, pagers, beepers, alarms, anything that can disturb the production, actors and the audience members during the performance.

Written and performedby David Epley

Grab your lab coats and safety goggles.This one-man science show can be electric!

David M. Rubenstein Chairman

Deborah F. RutterPresident

Darrell M. AyersVice President, Education

Additional support for Doktor Kaboom: LIVE WIRE! is provided by The Clark Charitable Foundation; Kaplan, Inc.; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; and the U.S. Department of Education.

Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

Education and related artistic programs are made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge

Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, a program of the Kennedy Center Education Department.

Learn more about Education at the Kennedy Center at  www.kennedy-center.org/education

The contents of this Cuesheet have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

© 2014 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by

Practicing Safe ScienceAs Doktor Kaboom says, “Science can hurt you, especially if I’m the one doing the science.” In working with electricity, he has to watch out for sparks, burns, and fires. Even an expert experimenter can face unexpected dangers, so Doktor Kaboom suits up even if there’s only the tiniest chance that it’ll be necessary—and you should, too. And remember, you should only experiment with electricity with the help of a responsible adult.

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After the performance, try these activities with your friends and family.

Bonzo BalloonsUse balloons to explore static electricity. You’ll need: a dry winter’s day, two balloons, two long pieces of string, and a piece of fur or wool clothing. Blow up and tie closed one balloon. Press it against the wall. Does it stick? Now quickly rub the balloon back and forth against the fur or wool. Try the wall again. What happens, and why? Next, blow up and tie closed a second balloon. Tie a piece of long string to each balloon. Rub both as before. Holding each by the string, try bringing them together. What happens? Why?

Heads Up for ElectricityMake a list of all the electricity you use in one day of your life. Include things around your home like lights (and don’t forget things that run on batteries!). Also include things outside your house like traffic lights. What would life be like if electricity hadn’t been discovered?

And remember…being a good audience member isn’t rocket science—just stay seated and quiet, don’t eat, and remember to watch, listen, and clap.

Go to KC Connections on ARTSEDGE

artsedge.kennedy-center.org/kc-connections

Gloves—you guessed it—protect his hands.

Let’s look at the gear that Doktor Kaboom wears to protect his body.

Lab coat with long sleeves covers his clothing and skin.

Goggles protect his eyes.

The Electricity Tour

Michael FaradayYou can thank this man and his endless curiosity if you enjoy riding in cars. He discovered how to generate electricity using magnetic effects and this became the first generator. From there, his experiments led to electric motors and many other devices we use every day.

What’s His Name? Doktor Kaboom! But his real name is David Epley, and he’s a comedian who loves science. When he performs, he plays the role of a scientist from Germany. To show that you agree with Doktor Kaboom, remember to say “ja” (“yah”), which is German for “yes.” David performs “improvisational comedy,” which means he “improvises” (changes) his jokes depending on what’s happening on stage.

One Man and the Power (and Fun!) of ElectricityScience is a blast, and nothing says scientific discovery quite like “kaboom.” Get ready for a hilarious hour of electrical entertainment with Doktor Kaboom. Although this may be a “one-man show,” Doktor Kaboom will ask for your help in this fun and funny exploration of electricity. Learn more here, and pay special attention to the bolded words, which you will hear on stage.

Get to Know a Scientist…or Two

Electro-magnet-ificent!Magnets (materials that can attract other items) have two opposite points—north and south magnetic poles—where the magnet’s force is the strongest. This creates a magnetic field that can create electricity. Neodymium (pronounced nee-oh-DIM-ee-uhm) magnets are among the strongest available. Is it magic or…electromagnetic? Watch how Doktor Kaboom lights a lamp without touching it!

Know Your Electrical MeasurementsYou may hear Doktor Kaboom use these words as he performs his experiments:

amps the number of electrons moving in a circuit (a closed loop)

voltage the pressure pushing electrons along an electrical current

watt a unit for measuring electric power

frequency how fast sound or electromagnetic waves travel

resistance how much a conductor slows the passage of current

Those Crazy ElectronsElectricity begins with atoms. Everything is made of these molecules that are so small millions could fit on a tiny pinhead. Protons, neutrons, and electrons make up atoms—and how they play together is where things really get interesting. Protons have a positive charge and electrons have a negative one (the neutrons have no charge). Because opposite charges are drawn to each other, protons and electrons usually stay in the same atom. But sometimes electrons make a radical move to another atom…and kaboom! This is electricity. Watch…as Doktor Kaboom and audience volunteers test the idea that opposites attract.

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On the MoveElectricity is all about movement. When you rub your shoes on the carpet on a dry winter’s day and touch a doorknob, you get a little shock, right? That’s because you picked up extra electrons that move when you touch something else. This is called static electricity. Watch…for Doktor Kaboom’s hair-raising demonstration of static electricity.

Conductors (like metals) help electric charges move more easily. Insulators (like plastic) prevent charges from moving easily. Grounding removes a charge. The flow of electrons is called the current. In direct current, the charge moves in one direction. In alternating current, it moves back and forth. Machines called generators turn energy created by movement (such as wind turbines) to electricity. Watch…how Doktor Kaboom and friends turn riding a bike into a power-full experience.

It’s a Gas!Substances have four states—solid, liquid, gas (think ice, water, steam), and another gas-like state called plasma that conducts electricity (think lightning). Watch…when Doktor Kaboom tries a device that will use a flow of electric charge—called electric discharge—to make an arc (or current) of plasma in the air. As Doktor Kaboom says, what could possibly go wrong?

What is my name?

Car guy?