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"Listening to (Marquez) Palisades School students perform Water and Power gave me goose bumps."
Carol Jajo, Los Angeles Times
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| Because we value our children and because we value knowledge, we want to turn our children into active participants in the educational process. If we value democracy we need to take a more in-depth look at American history and the very real people who shaped its course. Nothing is more fascinating, more exciting, or more moving than the events that have forged our country. Now is the time, at the beginning of a new millennium, to look back on our past history, re-visit those landmark events, truly understand the people who played a role in them, and move forward with a clearer understanding of our roots. By helping children to understand the past we help them to build a better future."
Co-Producers Beverley Farzin-Nia and Annie DiGioia
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"This is a fantastic and highly entertaining way to teach history. The kids will never forget it, and neither will the audience."
Dr. James Stigler, Professor, UCLA,
Author of "The Learning Gap"
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"The parents were blown away. They couldn't believe how good this show was and how much they and the kids learned."
Lisa Gordon, Ross Elementary, Ross, CA
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"My students say this was the best learning experience they've ever had. They really got into the material."
Judy Utvitch, Open Magnet School, Los Angeles, CA.
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"Miracle in Philadelphia is well constructed, and the research you did to write it is impressive. It is a very entertaining way to impart lots of facts about the early history of our country. Kids acting in or seeing this musical would learn a lot. There is nice humor in the play, and some very nice lines throughout, for example "Father time is a cruel companion". The "Boxing" between Madison and Henry is a clever and entertaining way to sneak in some dry arguments. The songs have clever lyrics, are easy for kids to sing, and add a lot to the play. They have good variety, and display good rhythm and harmony. Katie as the narrator is a clever device, with spirit and spunk."
Betsy Phillips, Director, Jackie White Memorial National
Children's Play Writing Contest
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"Thanks for letting us present Miracle in Philadelphia. It is wonderful material; I find myself singing the songs around the house weeks after the show has closed. The audience had a great time and the theater is glad to have co-sponsored the project with your school."
Orson Bean, Pacific Resident Theater, Venice, California.
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"Performing historical stories allows children to have a total learning experience by embodying the characters of the story. They remember on a far deeper level than just a cognitive experience of being read to from a book. Their minds, emotions, and bodies are completely involved in the process and the sensorial activity keeps the learning process alive, personal, and meaningful."
Gaila Lebherz, Dance Therapist
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"Students who consistently act in plays and musicals, join Drama clubs or take acting lessons showed gains in reading proficiency, self-concept and motivation, the UCLA study found." (Imagination Project at UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, Managing Director Lynn Waldorf, part of a report compiling seven major studies on learning and the arts; "Champions of Change - the Impact of Arts on Learning" sponsored by the GE Fund and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.)
"What happens with the arts is that it increases children's motivation and gets them excited about the work. It strengthens creative and critical thinking skills." Lynn Waldo
"Artfully Improving Education" by Lynn O. Dell
Los Angeles Times, Sunday, October 8th.
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"What you have done at Marquez is a poster-perfect example of the power of the arts to enliven and deepen "academic" learning. I sat there and re-learned concepts I have learned and forgotten a dozen times in my life. I will never forget them again! I'll just start singing and they'll all come back to me!"
Robin Lithgow, Theatre Adviser,
Visual and Performing Arts Unit
Los Angeles Unified School District
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