Staged literary classic reinforces character development and language skills

Actor dressed up as Velveteen rabbit walks across stage set“When a child loves you for a long, long time […] then you become Real.” If you remember little else from the age-old tale of The Velveteen Rabbit, these few, evocative words might still resonate.

They are sure to endure for Otisville students in grades K-2 who heard them students sit on the floor of cafeteria watching a stage productionstraight from the Skin Horse’s mouth, as spoken to the Velveteen Rabbit, on the school’s stage earlier this week.

Sponsored by Otisville’s PTO, The Velveteen Rabbit production by Bright Star Touring Theatre promotes character development with a strong anti-bullying message, while supporting foundational language skills in reading, speaking and listening.

Two actors on stage act out a scene of the Velveteen rabbit. Students sit on the floor watching.Based on Margery William’s nineteenth-century literary classic about growing up, Bright Stars’ performances reinforced the values of respect, responsibility and learning readiness emphasized by Otisville’s 2018-19 theme, “Students are Superheros.”

These and other-related themes are being integrated into everyday social-emotional learning through the evidence-based Second Step Program. They include empathy, emotions management, and problem-solving.

A national professional touring theatre company, Bright Star Touring students sit on the floor of cafeteria watching a stage production, They are laughing out loud.Theatre is based in Asheville, NC, and serves nearly 1,000 audiences in schools, theaters, libraries, museums and more. They offer a wide variety of curriculum-based programs and the company has gained international support and recognition.