by Gerard Hernandez,
Jenny Kokai, & Oliver Kokai-Means
September 2022-May 2023
Tenth Annual Free Elementary School Tour serving elementary schools statewide
Digital playbill at the Digital Playbills button below
Jacob loves ballet, turkey sandwiches, Pokedudes, and his orange blanket. He does not love living with Crohn's disease or nurses who can't get the IV in on the first try. On the day of his latest infusion, he meets Sophie, a nurse unlike any other (who might be an alien).
A play created specifically for grades 4-6 about being a child living with a chronic illness and how imagination can help get you through.
Based on the life and perspective of playwright Gerard Hernandez.
Playwright Jenny Kokai previously premiered "Janine" and "Mitch" as part of (in)divisible and SINGING TO THE BRINE SHRIMP with Plan-B; she and her son, playwright Oliver Kokai-Means, also premiered ZOMBIE THOUGHTS as Plan-B's Sixth Annual Free Eleementary School Tour. BALLET FOR ALIENS is playwright Gerard Hernandez's first play.
Featuring two casts: Danny Borba & Estephani Cerros and Tamari Dunbar & Amona Faatau. But sometimes Danny and Tamari will perform the show together and sometimes Estephanie and Amona will perform the show together.
Designed by Arika Shockmel. Tour managed by Kallie Filanda. Pre- and post-show by Sharah Meservy. Show art by Aaron Swenson. Directed by Jerry Rapier.
FREE, NON-TICKETED PUBLIC PERFORMANCES
Saturday, September 10, 2022, 1pm
Chapman Branch
Salt Lake City Public Library
577 S 900 W (basement), SLC
Performed by Tamari Dunbar & Amona Faatau
ASL-Interpreted
Well-fitting KN95 or N95 masks recommended (available at no cost the door)
Saturday, September 17, 2022, 3pm
Marmalade Branch
Salt Lake City Public Library
280 W 500 N (upstairs), SLC
Performed by Danny Borba & Estephani Cerros
ASL-Interpreted
Well-fitting KN95 or N95 masks recommended (available at no cost the door)
Tuesday, October 11, 2022, 10:30am
Pleasant Valley Branch
Weber County Library System
5568 Adams Avenue, Washington Terrace
Performed by Danny Borba & Estephani Cerros
Well-fitting KN95 or N95 masks recommended (available at no cost the door)
Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 4pm
Collide Arts Festival
Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts
2291 S 2000 E, SLC
Performed by Tamari Dunbar & Amona Faatau
Mask recommendation TBA
CORE STANDARDS
Fine Arts Core Standards are integrated into the script and the low-prep, pre-and-post-assembly classroom activities provided via the study guide (please click the link at the top). Students will meet Core Standards in Drama, Library Media, Health Education, Science & Engineering, and Language Arts.
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
After experiencing BALLET FOR ALIENS, students will:
1) develop understanding of chronic illnesses and the challenges they present.
2) define empathy and practice empathy with peers, including peers with chronic illnesses.
3) practice a variety of stress management techniques, including using imagination to navigate difficult situations.
BRING 'BALLET FOR ALIENS' TO YOUR SCHOOL
BALLET FOR ALIENS is available in person, as well as in video-on-demand and podcast formats, to every elementary school in Utah at no charge. Booking preference given to Title I schools. Bookings are closed as of April 21, 2023.
STUDY GUIDE
Please download the Study Guide.
QUESTIONS?
