co-commission er nt Ce y ed nn Ke re ie em pr rld wo A with the U.S. Botanic Garden
Tune In Watch and listen for these musical instruments played by the actors:
Words and music by Debra Buonaccorsi and Stephen McWilliams
Guitar, a wooden string instrument played by strumming or plucking the strings Ukulele (yoo-kuh-LEY-lee) a very small wooden string instrument that looks and is played like a baby guitar Melodica (muh-LOD-ik-ah) a small instrument played by blowing air into a mouthpiece and pressing the keys on the piano-like keyboard You might also see and hear some percussion instruments, like small drums or tambourines.
Think About Listen for when the performers sing, “Nature’s happening right outside my door.” Afterward, think about what nature is happening outside your door. Describe it (in a poem!) to friends and family.
Theater and Science? It’s Only Natural The worlds of botany (the science of plants) and theater might not seem to go together—but take a closer look. Science is full of great ideas for stories. And when you stroll through a garden, you enter a whole new world just like you do in a theater. For this play, the Kennedy Center and the U.S. Botanic Garden wanted to celebrate the connections between science and storytelling by using the magic of theater to show the importance of plants.
Melodica
America’s Garden The United States Botanic Garden is no ordinary garden. Imagined by President George Washington and created by Congress in 1820, it is America’s living museum of plants. And it belongs to all of us. It’s a place where you can see, and be inspired by, plants from all over the world. And who knows… you may be inspired to create your own play about the plants you see today.
© 2015 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
“Even the tiniest seeds can grow into a great forest.”