No arts in school? Teach them yourself
I had an eye-opening interview recently with a California mom and screenwriter who is coming to Tampa Bay for a theater camp. She has also written a field guide for parents on how to bring fine arts back into schools. Her solution: Think of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland and put on a show yourself.
Cindy Marcus was alarmed at the lack of fine arts in her son’s school, and when the now 10-year-old’s teacher asked her to speak to the class about her career as a Disney playwright (Lion King 2) and director, she did him one better. She offered to help the kids put on a show of their own.
She then set about getting other parents to volunteer their time and they helped a grateful teacher broaden his classroom curriculum. She chronicles her learning curve and the rookie parents, many of whom had never stepped foot on a stage, in Playdate: A Parent’s and Teacher’s Guide to Putting on a Play ($19.95, Meriwether Pub).
I was skeptical when I talked to her, I'll admit. You are an experienced hand at this, I told her. I couldn't carry a tune in a paper bag.
It doesn’t take a fine arts degree, she said. The play experience led the parents at her school to set up their own fine arts program. “Moms with no experience went to the library and got books on Van Gogh came in and said ‘We’re going to learn about this.’ And they would look at the pictures and the mom would share what she learned and then they’d have the kids draw a picture like Van Gogh.”
So much drama
Marcus is leading a three-week Teen Acting Camp at the Frances Wilson Playhouse in Clearwater that begins July 12 for ages 11 and up. It is on weekdays 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and there will be three performances July 31 and Aug. 1. Tuition is $400 for new students and $375 for returning students, and some scholarships are available Get the details online here or call (727) 446-1360
-- Sharon Kennedy Wynne
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Sharon Kennedy Wynne has sunscreen in her blood. She may have been born in Buffalo but she got here as fast as she could, in time for kindergarten. She grew up in St. Petersburg, graduated from the University of Florida journalism school, and even got married at Sunken Gardens. She's one of the few adults we know who actually loves taking her kids to the beach. She has two sons and with 10 years of parenting under her belt, she's starting to feel a little less out of her league. She comes from a large family and loves to debate, so brace yourself when the hot topics come up.
Amy Hollyfield is a workaholic mother of two young
daughters, blessed to have a work-at-home husband who makes their life possible. She was born in Detroit and moved around a lot as a kid (read: Air Force brat). She has lived in Florida since the month after she
graduated from Northwestern University. She lives for the yelps, hugs and kisses that greet her on nights that she makes it home before bedtime.
Sherry Robinson was born in the Sunshine State but she feels more comfortable inside a mall than outside at the beach -- thank goodness her husband is the outdoorsy type. He takes their two sons on night hikes, beach runs and bug hunts while Sherry does her best to take care of the homestead -- and find out what is new on the store shelves. A graduate of the University of South Florida in 19noneofyourbusiness, Sherry has been at the Times for nearly 20 years. And with nearly 10 years of parenting experience, Sherry is eager to offer up some great dish on raising kids and keeping your sanity.
Guest blogger Tracey Henry, a.k.a. Suburban Diva, is a frantic, slightly frazzled mother of four. She is a freelance humor writer and author which is the only thing that parenting four children ages 12-1 trains you for, except perhaps court jester and professional bull rider. She and her husband have lived all over the country, but settled in Florida eight years ago because the beachcombing is so much better here than on the banks of the Mississippi. Their family time includes a lot of sport -- both watching and playing -- and fun in the sun and surf. Catch her in Whoa, Momma! and on her site, 
Sherri Day and her husband welcomed their daughter into the world in early 2008. So far, she describes parenthood as exciting, exhausting and exhilarating. A self-described Southern belle with small-town values and big-city idealism, Sherri was born in rural Georgia. She received her bachelor's degree in journalism from Clark Atlanta University and her master's of journalism from the University of California at Berkeley. She is the Brandon bureau chief for the Times. Sherri moved to Tampa from Brooklyn four years ago.