Bemis Company Announces 2018-19 Education Series

The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center announced the 2018-19 Bemis Company Education Series tonight to a group of educators at the annual Educator Appreciation Event. Educators were able to preview the 2018-19 education programs, schedule experiences and network with one another as they discussed how the arts integrate into their classroom.

"The arts provide a unique way to explore curriculum being taught in classrooms throughout Northeast Wisconsin and beyond. Students experience the themes and lessons in a new environment, watch as cultures are explored through music and movement and witness their lessons come to life on stage," said director of programming and community engagement Amy Gosz. "This year's season has been carefully selected to complement current curriculum and to help students explore the meaning of home. Whether that's by challenging their definition of what home means to them or exploring home as a feeling instead of a place, we're excited to provide educational and engaging moments for learning and growth through the arts."

The Bemis Company Education Series was created as a way to connect classroom lessons to live performing arts experiences. Through professional development for educators, the creation of resource guides and daytime education programming, the Center provides educational arts based learning opportunities for the next generation of community members and patrons.

The Bemis Company Education Series performances are a cornerstone of the Center's mission and are designed specifically to meet Wisconsin Academic Standards for students in grades PreK-12. Performances are selected based on their connection to classroom curriculum, relevancy to current classroom topics and ability to engage students through various art forms. The Center provides study guides and resource materials for all performances and coordinates classroom workshops whenever possible. Ticket prices are subsidized at $5-$7 through Annual Partner and grant support and scholarship tickets are available to students in need of financial assistance. The series annually draws an average of 23,000 students from throughout Northeast Wisconsin and beyond.

"The Bemis Company Education Series has served as a complementary tool in our efforts to reach and engage all students. Every student learns differently, so a live experience with music or dance or drama provides students another way to understand or retain important information while also having fun. The benefits for our students extend beyond the curriculum," said Jason Fridley, an educator with Neenah Joint School District. "The provided study and resource guides make it easy to connect the live performances with Wisconsin Academic Standards and help to guide discussions before and after the experience."

Reservations for the 2018-19 Bemis Company Education Series are available to public and private schools, state licensed family or group childcare centers and state-registered home schools. Reservations may be made by calling (920) 730-3726 or at foxcitiespac.com/education.

The 2018-19 Bemis Company Education Series features:

Griffin Theatre Company's
The Henry Ford's INNOVATION NATION LIVE!
Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Suggested for grades: 4-8
Seats: $5
Community Partners: Bergstrom Automotive and Faith Technologies

Virginia Rep On Tour's
The Frog Prince
Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Suggested for grades: K-4
Seats: $5
Community Partners: The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and Mary A. Strange

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia's
The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites
Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Suggested for grades: PreK-2
Seats: $5
Community Partners: Grant Thorton LLP and United Paper Corporation

Theatreworks USA's
Charlotte's Web
Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Suggested for grades: 1-5
Seats: $5
Community Partners: Robert & Patricia Endries Family Foundation, Ltd. and Menasha Corporation Foundation

Ragamala Dance Company
Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at 12:30 p.m.
Suggested for grades: 6-12
Seats: $5
Community Partner: O.C. and Pat Boldt
with Grant Support from The Marise Evadne Gustafson Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, Inc.

Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute
Link Up: The Orchestra Sings
with the Fox Valley Symphony Youth Orchestra
Thursday, March 7, 2019 at 12:30 p.m.
Suggested for grades: 3-5
Seats: $7
Community Partners: Great Northern Corporation and Schneider Foundation

Virginia Rep On Tour's
Patchwork - The Little House Quilts of Laura Ingalls Wilder
Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Suggested for grades: 2-6
Seats: $5
Community Partners: Associated Bank and Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP

ASERE!
A fiesta Cubana featuring musicians and dancers of The Havana Cuba All-Stars
Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at 12:30 p.m.
Suggested for grades: 6-12
Seats: $5
Community Partner: David, Kim and Max Ritzow

Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences on Tour's
Me...Jane: The Dreams and Adventures of Young Jane Goodall
Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Suggested for grades: 1-5
Seats: $5
Community Partners: O.C. and Pat Boldt and Menasha Corporation Foundation

Reduced Shakespeare Company's
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised]
Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.
Suggested for grades: 8-12
Seats: $7
Community Partners: Thomas and Linda Grow/JETA Corporation and Willis Towers Watson

Theatre Heroes'
Call of the Wild: Illustrated Edition
Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 12:30 p.m.
Suggested for grades: 5-9
Seats: $5
Community Partners: Hand to Shoulder Center of Wisconsin and Johnson Bank/Johnson Insurance

B- The Underwater Bubble Show
Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.
Suggested for grades: K-6
Seats: $5
Community Partner: Seifert Family

Griffin Theatre Company's
In To America
Thursday, April 25, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Suggested for grades: 5-12
Seats: $5
Community Partners: Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance and Schneider Foundation

The Center also introduced the four workshops that will be presented as part of the Classroom Connections Teacher Workshop program. These workshops are offered through the partnership of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center and Appleton Area School District as part of the Partners in Education program of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In addition, the Center announced the expansion of its Education Outlet events, where educators are invited to network at a preshow reception and enjoy a performance together as a group at a discounted rate.

In addition, the Center launched year three of the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Awards program.

Full details about all of these programs are available online at foxcitiespac.com/education.

Bemis Company, Inc., is proud to serve as the title sponsor of the Bemis Company Education Series. Additional community support for the series is provided by Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Miller Electric. The series is also supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Established in 1858, Bemis Company Inc. is a global supplier of flexible and rigid plastic packaging used by leading food, consumer products, healthcare, and other companies worldwide. Bemis designs, develops, and manufactures innovative, fit-for-purpose packaging solutions that protect, hold, and enhance its customers' products. Established in 1959, the Bemis Company Foundation serves as the principal instrument of philanthropy for the company. The Bemis Foundation distributes approximately $2.5 million per year to charitable organizations and programs in the United States. For more information on Bemis Company's charitable activities, please visit bemis.com.

The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and cultural education organization located in downtown Appleton, provides a premier venue for live performing arts. Since 2002, the Center has proudly served as a gathering place for the community to engage in educational opportunities while enhancing a greater understanding and appreciation of life through the live performing arts. The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center - Where the Arts Come Alive!