Stony Brook, NY - May 6, 2014, - Fourteen buses filled with 750 first and second graders from Brentwood School District’s Twin Pines and Laurel Park Elementary Schools arrived at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts on Monday morning, May 5, to see Jim Henson’s Sid the Science Kid Live. The transportation and performance was free for the Brentwood students as an initiative of Staller Center for the Arts’ Educational Outreach program.
Paul Newland, Outreach Director, arranged for the students to be greeted by “Wolfie,” the popular University mascot. “The kids were delighted to have Wolfie give a ‘high-five’ to them as they came off the buses. And they enjoyed the show, giving it their full attention.”
Sid the Science Kid featured full-size puppets on stage in a sketch-comedy format to promote science-readiness by encouraging kids' instinctive curiosity about the world around them.
The puppeteers and actors from Sid the Science Kid performed for the public on Sunday, May 4 at 4:00 pm and had a second show exclusively for the Brentwood students on Monday morning.
Educational Outreach
Introducing the arts to the next generation is a Staller Center priority with Staller Center’s Outreach programs opening up new experiences to students. Support provided by the Staller Educational Outreach Endowment, the Barbara N. Wien Endowment for Arts & Education, and a grant from JPMorgan Chase are making this possible. In addition, Staller Center’s Annual Gala, Friends of Staller Center, and corporate donations provide additional funds for outreach programs. On the Stony Brook University campus, the “First on Us” initiative provides free tickets to freshmen and transfer students when they come to their first show at Staller Center.
“The Orchestra to the Orchestra” program has been bringing high school orchestras to attend Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra evening performances, with pre-show talks given at the high school to enrich the experience. Staller Center is also able to arrange for school trips, bringing elementary students to mid-day performances at no cost to the school.
To find out more about Outreach activities, please call the Staller Center Outreach and Education office at (631) 632-7238.
About Staller Center for the Arts
Staller Center for the Arts, Stony Brook University’s cultural showplace, is located in the center of campus. Staller Center offers performances in dance, music, theatre, the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD, films from around the world and presents art exhibits in the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery. In 1988, the Staller family gave Stony Brook University a transformational gift to name its fine arts center Staller Center in honor of Max & Mary Staller. This leadership in private philanthropy has been vital to the success of the Staller Center, now in its 25th year. In addition, a variety of supporters have made it possible for Staller Center to produce an acclaimed independent film festival each summer. The 19th Annual Stony Brook Film Festival, showing outstanding new independent films, will be held from July 17 through July 26, 2014.
For information on all Staller Center performances, visit stallercenter.com.