California State University, Northridge Student Matinee Program Series
Imago
Theatre:
ZooZoo
Recommended for grades K-2
abouT:
Imago Theatre
has
been creating transformative
theater that crosses boundaries
traditionally associated with
language, age and the physical
realm since 1979. Based in
Portland, Oregon, the company
was founded by Carol Triffle and
Jerry Mouawad. The company’s
work is based on the teachings
of Jacques Lecoq, who influenced many artists worldwide by
examining and observing the world through movement. So
OBSERVATION and MIMCRY are the key components of all
Imago artists, including designers, writers, directors, and even
composers. They have populated the stage with characters
and beings such as comedic amphibians, acrobatic larvae,
circus boulders, and metamorphosing humans in works
which tantalize the senses, the intellect, and the passions. The
company has been honored for mask theatre pieces which
have appealed to a wide age range, and for innovative works
that push the boundaries of form, design and story.
Imago has toured globally for over three decades, with
numerous multi-national visits to Asia and Europe. Two of its
more famous productions include FROGZ and ZooZoo.
skeleton with a segmented spinal column and a large brain
enclosed in a skull or cranium.
These animals can be further classified into five
categories—reptiles, birds, mammals, fish, and amphibians.
Reptiles breathe air, have scales that cover their body, lay
eggs to give birth to their young, and are carnivores. Although
many live on land, they also live in water. Most reptiles live in the
desert (like snakes and lizards), while others live near oceans,
rivers and lakes (like some types of snakes and turtles). The
most common reptiles include alligators, crocodiles, lizards,
snakes, tortoises and turtles.
Working out of a large 18,000 square foot theatre
laboratory, Imago’s ensemble of actors, dancers, designers,
fabricators and musicians become alchemists seeking fresh
perspectives of performance.
ANIMALS can be classified into two major categoriesinvertebrates and vertebrates. Invertebrates lack an internal
skeleton but have hard external shells, as with snails, spiders,
ants, butterflies, crabs, squid and snails. Hence they are also
known as exoskeleton. Vertebrates, however, have a bony
Birds have wings, feathers, and a beak. Many birds are
omnivores, while some are carnivores. There are over 8,000
species of birds. Birds have adapted their vertebrate skeleton
Arts Education at Valley Performing Arts Center: http://www.valleyperformingartscenter.org/education/
California State University, Northridge Student Matinee Program Series
for flight. Their bones and skull are very thin, making their
bodies extremely light. Birds can live almost anywhere--near
the ocean (like seagulls), or in mountains and forests (like
eagles and owls).
Ideas on How to Connect the
Arts to Science:
Animal Observation Exercise:
• Directions: select an animal (can either be live or
on video), watch and study the animal carefully for 2
minutes, then identify all that you remember about
the animal, e.g., its color, shape, movements, and any
other special and unique characteristics observed.
• Create Masks: using white paper plates create a mask
reflective of the animal you’ve watched and studied
for two minutes (see mask making lesson plan below).
Mammals have warm blood, body fur or hair, and glands
that produce milk to feed their young and breathe air. Beyond
these few common traits, mammals are wildly diverse in shape,
size, habitat and behavior. Mammals live in many places—
some live in the ocean, while others live in the mountains, in
the forest, in the jungle, in grasslands, and even Arctic and
Anarctic regions. Some mammals are herbivores, while others
are carnivores.
• Perform: put on your mask, pretend you are the
animal you’ve been studying for two minutes, and
dramatize the animal (re-enact) for 30 seconds in
small groups of three or four.
• Critical Analyses: while one re-enacts the animal, the
other members of the small group identify what one
or two aspects of the re-enactment resemble the real
animal.
• Group Share: in the same small groups, tell each
other what aspects of the re-enactments were
believable.
Mask-making Lesson Plan: How to
make animal masks using paper
plates (1st graders)
Materials Needed: white paper plates,
crayons, hole puncher, scissors, yarn
Fish are cold-blooded, usually scaley, and breathe through
their gills. Fish live their entire lives underwater. Some fish,
like sharks, are carnivores and eat other fish. Other fish are
omnivores and eat insects and some plants.
Directions:
1. Cut a white paper plate in half. Have students hold a
half plate over his/her face, cut side down.
2. Make light pencil marks on the plate where it covers
his eyes. These marks will show you where to cut out
the mask’s eye holes.
3. Draw circles around the eyehole marks. Puncture the
plate through the center of each eye circle and insert
the scissors into the plate to cut.
4. Punch a hole on each side of the mask with the hole
punch. Cut two pieces of yarn. Tie one piece in each
hole to make a strap to hold the mask in place.
Amphibians are cold-blooded animals who live both on
land and in the water. Most amphibians live near lakes and
rivers. Many amphibians, like frogs, toads and salamanders,
are omnivores.
5. Draw and cut out two ears from a white piece of
construction paper. Glue the ears in place. Let dry.
6. Direct the student to color the mask with crayons to
make it look like her choice of animal.
To view some sample animal masks, GOTO: http://www.
thejunglestore.com/Gift-Catalog/Animal-masks-adultmasks-and-children-masks
Arts Education at Valley Performing Arts Center: http://www.valleyperformingartscenter.org/education/
California State University, Northridge Student Matinee Program Series
about Zoo Animals:
TEACHER RESOURCES:
Did you know...
•The pink color of flamingos comes from the
food they eat.
• Anteaters can eat up to 30,000 insects in one day.
•Chimpanzees are one of the few animals that use tools.
Chimps use sticks to draw termites out of termite
mounds.
•The giraffe has the same number of vertebrae in their
neck as a human-seven!
•Giraffe’s give birth standing up! That’s 6 feet that the
baby has to drop.
•No two zebras look alike. Each has a different stripe
pattern.
• The orangutan has the strength of eight men.
•Kangaroos are the best jumpers of all mammals and can
jump over 30 feet in one hop and 6 feet high, with a
speed up to 40 mph.
•Free printable animal masks: http://www.
thejunglestore.com/Gift-Catalog/Animal-masksadult-masks-and-children-masks
•About Wild Animals: http://animal.discovery.
com/animals/wild-animal-guides.html
• National Zoo website: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/
theater etiquette:
DO:
•Enter the theatre quietly and take your seat
immediately;
• Stay seated during the performance;
• Use the restroom before the performance;
• The anaconda is the largest snake in the world.
• Turn off your cell phone; and
• The ostrich can reach speeds up to 43 mph!
• Show appreciation for the performers by
applauding at appropriate times.
learn more:
• About Zoo Animals:
http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/
http://www.learningpage.com/free_pages/galleries/zoo.
html
http://www.saczoo.org/Page.aspx?pid=246
• Watch Zoo Animals on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_
query=watch+zoo+animals&aq=f
• Sample Lesson Plans:
For Preschoolers: http://www.perfectlypreschool.com/
Preschool-Lesson-Plans/Zoo-Animals/index.php
DON’T:
• (DON’T) Eat during the performance;
•(DON’T) Photograph or audiotape during the
performance;
• (DON’T) Wear strong perfume; and
• (DON’T) Talk during the performance.
remember:
A live performance is not like watching TV or a movie. The
actors on the stage are real people who can see and hear you.
Be respectful by being silent and attentive.
On Zoo Animal Habitats (PK-2): http://www.uen.org/
Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=1961
State Farm
Educational Arts Experience
The State Farm Educational Arts Experience is a pilot program generously sponsored
by State Farm to bring arts education to the region’s K-12 students through the Valley
Performing Arts Center.
Arts Education at Valley Performing Arts Center: http://www.valleyperformingartscenter.org/education/