Theatre artist & educator Kathie diStefano, leader of Rotterdam’s Avalanche Arts, designs and coordinates creative educational activities for kids in Baltimore & Rotterdam to make them aware of trash pollution and how they can help solve it. Kathie diStefano visits Baltimore every year to hold interactive workshops and performances for kids about trash, recycling, and environmental stewardship.
From late October to early November 2022, diStefano is visiting Baltimore from Rotterdam, and we invite schools, community centers, and other venues in Maryland to host a performance by her. Contact Kathie diStefano if you are interested in hosting a performance or meeting with her in fall 2022, or when she returns to Baltimore in spring 2023.
Offerings include:
Seagull Mamma — A Performance Piece about Trash and Recycling
Kathie diStefano is part of the artist roster at Arts for Learning, Maryland (formerly called Young Audiences). Schools can sign up on the Arts for Learning website to schedule the “Seagull Mamma” performance at their own school this year or in the future for kids in Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grade 1. Arts for Learning may be able to provide subsidies to public schools to significantly reduce the cost of the performance; schools can inquire with Arts for Learning for details.
About the Seagull Mamma performance: This interactive show takes young audience members on a journey through the eyes of a seagull mamma who mistakes trash for fish while hunting for food for her young. How do our waterways get so polluted with plastic trash? The term ‘plastic soup’ is introduced; lakes, rivers, and seas that have so much plastic trash that no fish can live there. This presentation also uses physical theatre techniques to provide comic relief. Learning through laughter is Ms. Kathie’s favorite way of introducing theatre to young audience members while sharing important social messages. In the show finale, Ms. Kathie teaches the audience a Dutch song from the country she immigrated to 35 years ago. The show is geared to young kids and their caregivers, but fun for the whole family!
More information
About Kathie diStefano and a video sample of her show
Seagull Mamma at Enoch Pratt Library’s Storytime
For young kids (ages 3-5) and their caretakers in the Edmondson Avenue and Brooklyn neighborhoods, there are performances of Seagull Mamma happening on November 3 at your local library branch:
Brooklyn library branch – Thursday November 3, 2022 at 10am
300 E. Patapsco Ave. Baltimore, MD 21225
More info on the library website
Edmondson Avenue library branch – Thursday November 3, 2022 at 3pm
4330 Edmondson Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21229
More info on the library website
Workshops about trash, recycling, and environmental stewardship for youth
diStefano conducts ‘Playing in a Cleaner Neighborhood’ (elementary school level) and ‘Operation Trash’ (middle and high school) workshops, combining creative arts projects with good trash behavior lessons and recycling strategies. She also organizes community cleanups. ‘Learning through laughter’ is a driving approach in her programs.
About diStefano’s programs for youth
Green-themed professional development workshops for teachers
diStefano’s professional development workshops inspire teachers to combine green themes with required curriculum studies. They give participants the opportunity to experience hands-on how fun interactive exercises can enhance group dynamics and energize students as well as help them focus.
Interested?
Contact Kathie diStefano if you are interested in hosting a workshop or if you would like more information. You can also contact Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee for information.