Cuesheet Educational Materials

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts sponsors a nationally acclaimed family theatre program that brings dance, music, puppetry, opera, musical theatre, and drama to children in the Washington, D.C., area, along with their families and teachers. The family theatre program is sponsored by ArtsEdge, the Kennedy Center arts and education division.

For many of the children who attend family theatre performances, their trip to the theatre is their first experience with live performance. To help them get the most value out of the experience, and to help guide their parents and educators in extending their learning, the Kennedy Center produces educational pamphlets called Cuesheets to accompany each production. The Cuesheets include explanations of the performance genre, things to look for during the performance, and learning activities to do before and after the performance.

In 2005, we wrote the Cuesheet to accompany the world premiere of the play Citizen 13559: The Diary of Ben Uchida, a drama about a Japanese American family sent to an internment camp during World War II. The Cuesheet includes historical background and photos, writing and art exercises, and a group debate exercise based on the principles of restorative justice. Click to read the Diary of Ben Uchida Cuesheet (PDF).

In 2006, we wrote the Cuesheet for Katie Couric's The Brand New Kid (PDF), a musical about diversity and tolerance that opened at the Kennedy Center and toured nationwide.

Relevant Links

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Kennedy Center ArtsEdge