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.”
A Young Girl’s Imagination Goes
Plants and Poetry Meet Acacia, (pronounced Uh-KAY-shuh). She’s frustrated with her middle school homework assignment—to write a poem about nature. As far as she’s concerned, who cares about nature? The first thing she does is type #flowersstink on her cellphone. But before she can add #ihatenature, none other than nature itself bursts into her life in a magical, whacky way. Acacia comes face to face with two fantastical plant beings! Come along as they help Acacia discover the power of imagination and beauty of nature.
Setting the Stage Outdoors
Words That Bloom
Did you know flowers and trees can sing, dance, and even play the guitar? Well, they do in this musical—a story told on stage with three actors, musical instruments, songs, dances, costumes, and, of course, a whole lot of fun. And where better to tell a story about nature than an outdoor stage called an amphitheater (AM-fuh-thee-uh-ter) at the U.S. Botanic Garden? You’ll be surrounded by the beauty and wonder of the world of plants. Just remember that by being outside, you might also hear some sounds of the city, too—everything from birds to buses.
Acacia thinks she has the worst homework assignment ever. She has to write a poem—a piece of writing that often rhymes, where words are chosen for their sound, beauty, and meaning— about nature. But her new friends help her see that nature might be the very best subject for poems. That’s because poetry is what happens when words come together in beautiful and interesting ways, kind of like when a plant grows flowers. And inspiration (sudden, exciting ideas) is everywhere, even in the postcards Acacia’s grandparents have sent her.
Amazon Rainforest You want nature? Well, in the rainforest nature really goes crazy. With an incredible variety of plants and animals in one place, the Amazon rainforest covers 40 percent of South America!
Can you travel the world without leaving your house? You bet! Acacia and friends use their imaginations to visit amazing places, including these:
Mojave Desert
, Acacia r a e D d in arrive y l l a n i We f esert. D e v a oj the M y in beaut e e s We n. irectio d y r e ev Love, ma Grand randpa and G
Postcard stamp photos (from left to right): Cholla cactus by Brad Sutton, Ohia Lehua by David Eickhoff, Bromeliad by Martin Heigan.
How would you like to live on the side of a volcano? Some pretty fascinating and hardy plants do a very good job of it, thank you very much, in this group of islands in the Pacific Ocean.
A Journey Around the World of Nature
Grab your sunscreen—it’s hot and hardly ever rains in this big area of the Southwest U.S. It’s not a very kind place for plants to grow, but they find a way.
Say What? Oh, Those Tricky Names The names of places and plants can be tricky to pronounce. Acacia has trouble with names like Mojave (moh-HAV-ee) and cholla cactus (CHOY-ah KAK-tuhs). But don’t worry, fantastical plant beings will tell everyone the right way to say these words.
Hawaii
Aloha B inky, Wish y ou wer e here in Haw aii with us. Just m agical. Kisses Grandmand Hugs, and Gr a andpa
Hi Acacia, you from Writing to t. n Rainfores the Amazo mazing The most a place ever. With love, Grandma pa and Grand
e, rformanc e p e h t r Afte ll sorts of a r e v o c is d nts from la p g in z a am these by e k li s e c pla oms that visiting ro eserts d span from ts at the es to rainfor Garden nic U.S. Bota y. tor Conserva
A Young Girl’s Imagination Goes
Plants and Poetry Meet Acacia, (pronounced Uh-KAY-shuh). She’s frustrated with her middle school homework assignment—to write a poem about nature. As far as she’s concerned, who cares about nature? The first thing she does is type #flowersstink on her cellphone. But before she can add #ihatenature, none other than nature itself bursts into her life in a magical, whacky way. Acacia comes face to face with two fantastical plant beings! Come along as they help Acacia discover the power of imagination and beauty of nature.
Setting the Stage Outdoors
Words That Bloom
Did you know flowers and trees can sing, dance, and even play the guitar? Well, they do in this musical—a story told on stage with three actors, musical instruments, songs, dances, costumes, and, of course, a whole lot of fun. And where better to tell a story about nature than an outdoor stage called an amphitheater (AM-fuh-thee-uh-ter) at the U.S. Botanic Garden? You’ll be surrounded by the beauty and wonder of the world of plants. Just remember that by being outside, you might also hear some sounds of the city, too—everything from birds to buses.
Acacia thinks she has the worst homework assignment ever. She has to write a poem—a piece of writing that often rhymes, where words are chosen for their sound, beauty, and meaning— about nature. But her new friends help her see that nature might be the very best subject for poems. That’s because poetry is what happens when words come together in beautiful and interesting ways, kind of like when a plant grows flowers. And inspiration (sudden, exciting ideas) is everywhere, even in the postcards Acacia’s grandparents have sent her.
Amazon Rainforest You want nature? Well, in the rainforest nature really goes crazy. With an incredible variety of plants and animals in one place, the Amazon rainforest covers 40 percent of South America!
Can you travel the world without leaving your house? You bet! Acacia and friends use their imaginations to visit amazing places, including these:
Mojave Desert
, Acacia r a e D d in arrive y l l a n i We f esert. D e v a oj the M y in beaut e e s We n. irectio d y r e ev Love, ma Grand randpa and G
Postcard stamp photos (from left to right): Cholla cactus by Brad Sutton, Ohia Lehua by David Eickhoff, Bromeliad by Martin Heigan.
How would you like to live on the side of a volcano? Some pretty fascinating and hardy plants do a very good job of it, thank you very much, in this group of islands in the Pacific Ocean.
A Journey Around the World of Nature
Grab your sunscreen—it’s hot and hardly ever rains in this big area of the Southwest U.S. It’s not a very kind place for plants to grow, but they find a way.
Say What? Oh, Those Tricky Names The names of places and plants can be tricky to pronounce. Acacia has trouble with names like Mojave (moh-HAV-ee) and cholla cactus (CHOY-ah KAK-tuhs). But don’t worry, fantastical plant beings will tell everyone the right way to say these words.
Hawaii
Aloha B inky, Wish y ou wer e here in Haw aii with us. Just m agical. Kisses Grandmand Hugs, and Gr a andpa
Hi Acacia, you from Writing to t. n Rainfores the Amazo mazing The most a place ever. With love, Grandma pa and Grand
e, rformanc e p e h t r Afte ll sorts of a r e v o c is d nts from la p g in z a am these by e k li s e c pla oms that visiting ro eserts d span from ts at the es to rainfor Garden nic U.S. Bota y. tor Conserva
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.”