activity guide - Arkansas Arts Center

AAC Children’s Theatre 2013-2014
ACTIVIT Y GUIDE
About this Guide
This ACTIVITY GUIDE includes exercises that align with the Arkansas Department of Education Curriculum
Frameworks and Common Core State Standards. The following icons provide an immediate recognition of the
curriculum connections.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
LIBRARY MEDIA
MATH
MUSIC
PHYSICAL EDUCATION & HEALTH
SCIENCE
SOCIAL STUDIES
THEATRE
VISUAL ARTS
Enjoy!
“Pink is something that’s just who you are.”
About the Play
Pinkalicious is a contrary girl who can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her
parents. Her indulgence lands her at the doctor’s office with pinkititis, an affliction that turns
her pink from head to toe! It sounds like a dream come true for this pink enthusiast, but she
soon realizes that she may have gone too far.
Pinkalicious, The Musical is written by Elizabeth and Victoria Kann and is based on their book
of the same title. Music and lyrics are by John Gregor. Pinkalicious, The Musical is presented
through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by
Theatrical Worldwide (TRW), 570 Seventh Avenue, Suite 2100, New York, NY 10018. (866)
378-9758 www.theatricalrights.com.
About the Authors
VICTORIA KANN is the award winning illustrator and author of the picture book series featuring the whimsical and
effervescent character, Pinkalicious. Victoria co-authored and illustrated the first two books, Pinkalicious and
Purplicious, as well as Pinkalicious, The Musical. She wrote and illustrated Goldilicious and is working on several more
books about the adventures and antics of this pink girl. The Pinkalicious character was inspired by Victoria's real life
daughters – two girls with vibrant imaginations who love cupcakes, dress up, playing princess, and all things pink.
ELIZABETH KANN co-authored the text of Pinkalicious; Pinkalicious, The Musical; and Purplicious with her sister,
Victoria Kann. Her writing has appeared in a variety of newspaper and print publications. She lives in Pennsylvania with
her husband and their three children.
Synopsis
After one too many pink cupcakes, Pinkalicious Pinkerton finds herself in quite a predicament. Her parents warn her
about the dangers of too much of a good thing, but she doesn’t listen. While everyone else is sleeping, Pinkalicious
sneaks into the kitchen to eat one more pink treat. Delicious dreams of pink cupcakes result in quite a surprise when
Pinkalicious wakes up to find that she has turned pink!
Mr. & Mrs. Pinkerton take their daughter to the doctor only to find out that she has a rare case of pinkititis – only the
second case that the doctor has ever seen. He prescribes a large dose of green foods to return Pinkalicious to her
original color. Rather than feasting on cabbage, grass juice, broccoli popsicles, and
french fried lima beans with the rest of the family, Pinkalicious can only think about how
wonderful it is to be pink and how not wonderful it is to eat all of that yucky green food.
When the family heads to bed, the hungry pink girl again heads to the kitchen for a pink
cupcake. After all, what harm can one more cupcake do when you’re already pink? She
finds the answer the next morning when she wakes up and discovers that she has
turned red! Fearing the worst she recruits her brother to help her eat as many green
foods as possible before their parents discover her secret. After a feast of extra mushy
green pickle relish, parsley sprigs, and brussels sprouts, Pinkalicious turns back into a
more natural shade. Pinkalicious learns that pink, like many things, should be enjoyed
in moderation. Though she still loves pink, she no longer wants to be pink!
Statement from the AAC Children’s Theatre
Miranda Young
Properties Master and Designer
As a designer, artist, and parent I was very excited to have the opportunity to do the scenic design for Pinkalicous. The
play is full of funny songs and touching scenes about a little girl who loves the color pink (maybe too much) and her
family. I think what drew me to this story as a designer was the illustrations in the book by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth
Kann. The pictures are full of layered patterns and imagery that come together to make beautiful collages. Taking off
with the idea of collages I was able to create a world full of layered materials, textures, and patterns. This visually
stimulating paper-doll world is sure to set the audience up for a glimpse into the lives of Pinkalicious Pinkerton and her
family.
This musical is full of fun and excitement but also offers the young viewer a few life lessons. We see “Pink” (as her family
calls her) learn that sometimes you can have too much of a good thing when her love of pink cupcakes turns into a case
of pinkititis. After a trip to the Doctor Wink’s office, a frightening encounter at the park, and one last pink cupcake, we see
Pinkalicious realize that maybe her love of pink cupcakes has gone too far!
BEFORE THE PLAY
Review Theatre Etiquette

Please turn off your cell phones so you can look at all the little things that make live theatre a great big
experience.

Save all food, gum, candy and drinks for after the performance. They are not allowed in the theater and can be
used as a reward for good behavior!

Sit like a grown up in your seat. That way you won’t miss a thing!

Great theatre audiences listen, laugh when something is funny, and clap at just the right time. They never talk out
loud during a performance.

Keep your cameras tucked away and turned off. Photography is not permitted. Camera flashes blind the
actors and can cause them to step off the stage.

When the play is over, enjoy talking with your friends and grownups about all the details. See who can
remember the most about the play. Start by sharing two things that an actor said that made you smile and two things
that you remember about the stage set. Parents: What a great time to have a conversation about the difference
between the theater, movies, and TV!
Read the Book
In order to prepare for the play, read the book Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth
Kann. Think about how the authors worked together to write the book and illustrate the
story.
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS:
Library Media—Connection: Read; English Language Arts—Reading, Literature: Key
Ideas and Details, Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
About Adaptations
The performance that you will see at the AAC Children’s Theatre is a variation of the original story, or an
ADAPTATION. An adaptation is a change made in something so that it can fit a new use. This performance of
Pinkalicious is an adaptation of the book (which is meant to be read) into a play (which is meant to be performed and
viewed). In this case, the authors of the book adapted the story so that it could be performed for an audience on stage.
John Gregor added the music and lyrics for the songs that help tell the story.
Consider these questions for discussion before you attend the play:
? What kinds of things did the authors have to consider in writing a script of the story?
? What might the characters look like? What differences can you expect from the illustrations?
? What are some objects (props) that they might use to help tell the story?
? Draw a picture of one of the scenes in the book and imagine how it might appear on the stage.
? If you were to write an adaptation of this story into a play, what choices would you make? How would you act
out the story?
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS:
Library Media—Connection: Associate; Theatre Creating, Evaluating, Reading
Learn the Vocabulary
Below is a list of words included in the play. Reviewing this list will help you gain new vocabulary and also help you
better understand the performance. Try saying these words out loud so that you will know them when you hear the
actors say them. Once you know how to say the words read the definition and try using them in a sentence.
Hue (hew) – variety of a color
Harmony (har-muh-nee) – combination of musical notes played together
Confide (kun-fide) – to have confidence or trust
Scrumptious (skrump-shush) – delightful, excellent, delicious
Sorbet (sor-bay) – a fruit-flavored ice served as dessert
Ointment (oynt-mint) – a medicine used on the skin
Fuchsia (few-shah) – a vivid reddish purple
Magenta (muh-jin-tuh) – a deep purplish red
Organic (or-gan-ik) – natural; foods produced without manmade substances
Peonies (pee-uh-neez) – flowers known for their large red, pink, or white flowers
Divine (duh-vine) – extremely good
Nectar (neck-tur) – a sweet liquid from plants and flowers used by bees to make honey
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS:
English Language Arts—Reading, Foundational Skills: Phonological Awareness, Phonics and Word Recognition; Language:
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
DURING THE PLAY
It wouldn’t be a play without you! Your part is to pretend that the play is
real. Part of this includes accepting certain things:
You have an
1. Actors tell the story with words (dialogue), actions (blocking), and
songs.
2. Actors may sing songs that tell about the story or their feelings.
3. Actors may speak to the audience.
4. An actor may play several characters by changing their voice,
costume, or posture.
5. Places are suggested by panels on the set and by props.
important role
to play!
Here’s how to play our part: A play is different than television or a movie. The actors are right in front of you and can
see your reactions, feel your attention, and hear your laughter and applause. Watch and listen carefully to understand
the story. The story is told by the actors and comes to life through your imagination!
Thank you for being a great part of our audience and enjoy the show!
AFTER THE PLAY
Review
Do you remember what you learned about adaptations? Now that you have seen the play, discuss these questions.
Share your answers with friends or family that also saw the play and compare your experiences.
? Were there any characters or events that were in the book but not in the play? Why do you think these
choices were made?
? Did the changes make the story stronger or did you miss the characters?
? What did the set look like? Did it match the picture that you drew before the play? What do you think the set
and costume designers need to consider when bringing the book to stage?
? What objects (props) helped tell the story on stage?
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS:
Library Media—Connection: Associate; Theatre—Creating, Evaluating, Reading
Critical Thinking Questions
Read the following questions and either write your answers or tell someone in complete sentences. Make sure to use
correct grammar and spelling.
? What are some of the negative things that happened to Pinkalicious in the play? How do you think some of
these could have been avoided?
? What did Dr. Wink tell Pinkalicious to do to get rid of the pinkititis?
? Why did Mr. Pinkerton not let Peter play with the pink ball at the playground?
? Why did the bees think Pinkalicious was a flower?
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS:
English Language Arts—Writing: Text Type and Purposes; Speaking & Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration; Language:
Conventions of Standard English
Writing Exercise
Write a brief answer to the following question. Make sure to write in complete sentences and use
correct grammar, spelling, and organization.
Before Pinkalicious turned red from eating too many pink cupcakes, she never thought
there would be a consequence for getting too much of a good thing. Think about a time
when you went beyond the limits or rules. What did you do? What consequences did you
face? What did you learn from your experience?
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS:
English Language Arts—Writing: Text Types and Purposes; Language: Conventions of Standard English
Who Learned What?
There are many MORALS (lessons) in Pinkalicious, The Musical. In fact, almost every character in the play learns
something valuable. Can you match the name of the character with the most important lesson that they learned? Draw a
line from the character’s name to the lesson that they learned.
Pinkalicious
learns to be less close-minded and strict
Peter
learns to express himself creatively
Alison
learns self-control
Mrs. Pinkerton
learns not to be jealous of her friend
Mr. Pinkerton
learns to be less busy and to enjoy life
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS:
Library Media—Communicate
Pinkalicious Pink Lemonade
Have an adult help you make this PINKERIFIC drink!
1 ½ cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 10 lemons)
1 cup sugar
2 cups water
¼ cup cranberry juice
Strain lemon juice into a pitcher and mix with sugar; stir until sugar dissolves.
Add water and stir again until well combined. Stir in the cranberry juice.
On a really hot day, try these Pink Lemonade Pops!
Pour the prepared lemonade into 3 ounce cups (about 1/4 cup for
each) and then wait until the chilly drink gets a layer of ice on top.
Then you plunge Popsicle sticks into each one. Let them freeze completely and then you
have a delicious pop ready to be plucked from the cup and enjoyed!
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS:
Math—Measurement and Data
Learning About Color
Picture all of the colors in a rainbow. The COLOR WHEEL shows relationships between all of these colors. The three
PRIMARY colors are red, yellow, and blue. These are the only colors that cannot be made by mixing other colors.
SECONDARY colors are made by mixing two primary colors. Orange, green, and violet are all secondary colors.
ACTIVITY
Make your own color wheel!
Use a ruler to divide a paper plate into 6 equal pieces (like the example
on the left). Use paints to fill in each of the segments according the
example. (You may also use colored pencils, markers, or even glued
pieces of colored tissue paper. Using paint, however, will allow for more
creativity in mixing secondary colors.)
COMPLEMENTARY colors lay exactly opposite (across from) each other on the color wheel. Use your own color wheel
as a guide and fill in the blanks.
? The complementary color of RED is ____________________________________.
? The complementary color of BLUE is ___________________________________.
? The complementary color of YELLOW is ________________________________.
VALUE refers to how light or dark a color appears. To make a color lighter in value, white is added. A light color is
called a TINT of an original hue. To make a color darker, black is added. A dark color is called a SHADE of the original
hue.
The image below shows different values for the color pink.
ACTIVITY
Use paints to practice making
colors darker and lighter.
ACTIVITY
Collect a variety of things that are pink and put them in order of light value to dark value. If participating
as a class, each student might bring in one thing that is pink. Take turns placing your items in a straight
line from lightest to darkest.
Now think about these questions based on what you have learned about the color wheel and value.
? When Pinkalicious turns pink, Dr. Wink tells her to eat foods that are green. What is the complementary
color of green?
? Which 2 colors do you mix together to get pink?
? Pink is a tint of which color?
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS:
Fine Arts, Visual Arts—Foundations: Elements of Art, Principles of Design; Creative Processes
Pinkalicious Pollinators
In the park, the bees mistake Pinkalicious for a pretty pink flower. Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and
ants. Did you know that there are nearly 20,000 known species of bees? They are found on every continent
except Antarctic and in every habitat on the planet that contains insect-pollinated flowering plants.
Bees play an important role in POLLINATION (pawl-uh-nay-shun), or the creation of new seeds made
possible by carrying pollen from one plant to another. While gathering nectar from flowers and plants,
pollen sticks to the bees and they then carry it off to the next flower.
ACTIVITY
Take turns playing the role of pollinator, by playing a quick tag-based game. This activity will provide a
representation of how insect pollination works. Connect this with Pinkalicious’ experiences with bees
during the play, in order to promote understanding of the important roles that bees and other
pollinators play in our environment.
5 BITS ABOUT BEES
1. The smallest bee is about 5/64” long. The largest bees can grow up to 1 1/2” long.
2. Some humans have beekeeping farms where they raise bees for honey, just like farmers raise chickens for eggs
and cows for milk. Honey collection is an ancient activity. Humans began collecting honey at least 8,000 years
ago!
3. It is estimated that 1/3 of the human food supply depends on insect pollination, most of which is achieved by
bees. That means that about every third bite of food you eat is made possible by bees!
4. A honey bee queen may lay up to 2,000 eggs per day during the spring, but she may also lay
up to 1,500 eggs per day during the fall.
5. Flavors of honey depend on the source of the nectar.
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS:
Science—Life Science, Living Systems: Characteristics, Structure, and Function
Eat Your Greens!
When Pinkalicious visits the doctor, he tells her that the only cure for her pinkititis is a feast
of green foods. What do you know about eating healthy and what kinds of things are good to
eat? What do you know about different fruits and vegetables? Is it best to eat only things of
one color or to eat a rainbow of foods?
In the story, Dr. Wink tells Pinkalicious she needs to get her ANTIOXIDANTS (anti-ox-uhdents) by eating green foods. Antioxidants are found in
healthy foods, particularly brightly colored vegetables and
fruits. Antioxidants help protect your body from things that
may contribute to serious health problems like cancer and
heart disease.
ACTIVITY
To tie in the lesson of health and nutrition to the properties of color,
create a COLOR WHEEL with different colors of fruits and vegetables.
Using your handmade color wheel as a guide, place the foods around the
edge of a large platter. You can then enjoy your food color wheel by
eating it!
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS:
Physical Education and Health—Health and Wellness: Human Growth and Development; Nutrition
A Prescription for Pinkalicious
When Pinkalicious is diagnosed with pinkititis, Dr. Wink orders her to eat as many green foods as possible. If you were a
doctor, what kinds of foods would you prescribe for Pinkalicious?
ACTIVITY
Write a prescription for a fruit or vegetable of your choice after a class discussion about the kinds of
things you need to eat in order to stay healthy. Draw a picture of the food in the large white area. Under
“special instructions,” think about how the fruit or vegetable is eaten. Can it be eaten raw, cooked, or
either? Does it need to be peeled, cut, or chopped? Can you eat it by itself or is it better in a dish with
other foods?
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS:
Fine Arts—Creative Processes; Physical Education and Health—Health and Wellness: Nutrition
Further Reading
Green Eggs & Ham by Dr. Seuss (Ages 3-7)
This timeless tale by Dr. Seuss tells the story of a very persistent Sam who refuses to eat the green
eggs and ham.
Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor (Ages 4-8)
Nancy is a glamour queen dropped into a boring world. Nobody in her family is fancy at all! Find out
what happens when Nancy attempts to rescue her boring family by giving them lessons and
accessorizing their boring wardrobes.
A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon (Ages 4-8)
Camilla Cream loves lima beans, but she never eats them because all of the other school kids don’t
like them. Camilla is so very, very worried about what the other people think of her that she’s about to
break out in stripes!
Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmel Smith (Ages 7+)
Henry Green is a boy who loves chocolate. He probably loves chocolate more than any boy in
the history of the world. One day, Henry finds that strange things are happening to him. First, he
makes history with the only ever case of Chocolate Fever. He then finds himself caught up in a wild
and hilarious chase.
Pink Princess Rules the School by Alyssa Crowne (Ages 7+)
Juliet Henry is turning seven. For her birthday, she’s planning a pink princess party – for girls only!
They’ll all wear pink clothes, make pink crowns, and eat pink food. But what about the boys? They
love parties, but hate being left out. If this royal princess isn’t careful, her loyal subjects could ruin her
birthday bash!
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS:
Library Media—Connection: Read
Visit your local library for more suggestions!
What Was Your Favorite Part of the Play?
Did you know that the play you saw was the result of many people working together? There are many roles in the
theatre department and each of the people in charge of these tasks must do their very best as a team in order to
produce a great performance. Below is a list of some of these roles:
The DIRECTOR is the person responsible for the overall
artistic vision of a production.
The STAGE MANAGER is the person responsible for
overseeing all the backstage elements of a production
(scheduling, rehearsals, etc.)
The SET DESIGNER is the person responsible for
designing and overseeing the construction of the stage
setting.
The ACTOR is the one who performs a role or represents
a character in a play.
The COSTUME DESIGNER is the person in charge of the
clothing worn by the actors in a performance.
The CHOREOGRAPHER is the person who designs the
dance steps to be used in a play.
The TECHNICAL DIRECTOR is the person in charge of
the technical requirements of a production as well as the
equipment.
The MUSIC DIRECTOR is the person responsible for the
musical content of a production.
Which of these roles most closely matches your favorite part of the play?
WANT MORE INFORMATION?
If you would like more information about the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre, visit our website at:
WWW.ARKANSASARTSCENTER.ORG
or call
501-372-4000
We would love to hear from you! Write to us at::
ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER
CHILDREN’S THEATRE
P.O. BOX 2137
LITTLE ROCK, AR 72203
Sponsored by: