BOXTALES THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS THE ARTS IMPACT COLLABORATION PROGRAM TO 17 SCHOOLS IN 3 DISTRICTS

BOXTALES THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS THE ARTS IMPACT COLLABORATION PROGRAM TO 17 SCHOOLS IN 3 DISTRICTS

Boxtales Theatre Company in collaboration with the Lobero Theatre, AHA! and Children’s Creative Project is pleased to announce they will be engaging with thirteen elementary schools, and four middle schools through cost- free access to high-quality performances. These performances will be held at the historic Lobero Theatre in March 2024, with pre- and post-show assemblies in February and April of 2024 at each school site. 1,700 students in grades 4th to 8th from Goleta, Santa Barbara and Carpinteria School Districts will have an opportunity to participate in arts enrichment through theater, experience social emotional learning (SEL) and learn from local community partners this Spring.

In a milestone year celebrating their 30th anniversary, Boxtales Theatre Company has been busy touring the western United States with many of their original theater pieces inspired by world myths and folklore. To celebrate their Santa Barbara roots, they have continued their commitment to find ways to serve local students through performing arts exposure at historic Santa Barbara venues such as The Lobero Theatre, where five separate staged productions will take place to bring a unique and memorable experience to the Central Coast’s youth.

Students from Ellwood, El Camino, Isla Vista, La Patera, Santa Barbara Charter, Goleta Valley Junior High, Adams, Cleveland, McKinley, Monroe, Santa Barbara Community Academy, Waldorf School, La Cumbre Junior High, Santa Barbara Junior High, Aliso, Canalino & Carpinteria Family School, and Carpinteria Middle School will participate in a three-part journey. A pre-show school assembly will introduce them to the nature of mythology and folktales, while providing tools for interpreting meaning in stories and how to adapt lessons in life. Following that, the students will enjoy a field trip to the Lobero Theatre for a fully staged production of Stand Up Stories – Multicultural Tales to Live By followed by an audience-artist Q&A. Lastly, a follow up assembly will contextualize the social-emotional content of the show they experienced at the theater.

The Arts Impact Collaboration Program will also foster social and emotional skills that help children cope, process, and manage their emotions while supporting and enhancing core curriculum in the schools. Based on California Department of Education and VAPA standards, students will also acquire skills and knowledge of creativity, confidence, encourage tolerance, strengthen cultural pride, and engage them in the excitement and immediacy of live performances – important life skills that will stay with children throughout their lives.

About Boxtales Theatre Company: Boxtales Theatre Company is an award-winning touring company, based in Santa Barbara, CA. Since 1994, Boxtales has been entertaining and educating, creating many original works of theater pulled from world myths and folklore. Boxtales’ work is designed for multi-generational audiences and has been primarily booked with youth and family programming. They have toured much of the western states, and regularly perform in the greater Los Angeles area in venues such as the Getty Center, Getty Villa, Geffen Playhouse, Museum of Tolerance, The John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, La Mirada and the 24th Street Theatre. They also perform educational outreach shows in school assemblies.

Boxtales would like to thank the California Arts Council Arts Education Exposure Grant for their support.