Stages of Wonder was established by Company of Fools in 1998 to engage children in individual and collective creativity through the medium of the theatre. This innovative in-school program seeks to address the absence of an ongoing theatre experience in the elementary schools and aims to introduce theatre to children and teachers as an essential component in the development of the whole child. To date, this program has served more than 130,000 students.
The program encourages elementary school-age children (grades one through five) to explore creativity expressed through the theatrical arts. For many students, Stages of Wonder is their first and only contact with the dramatic arts. Facilitated by specially-trained Company of Fools artists, Stages of Wonder brings together storytelling, role-playing, theatre games and exercises designed specifically for each grade level. These activities are both structured and improvisational, allowing children the opportunity to create in their own personal way without the worry of getting it “right” or “wrong.”
Stages of Wonder also creates an equal playing field for all children, regardless of their personality or background. Any barriers observed by facilitators—such as language, self-judgment, shyness or lack of self-esteem—are addressed and dismantled. The environment of physical and emotional safety provided by Stages of Wonder allows students to experience and celebrate the success of their own, unique creativity.
Stages of Wonder currently operates in four public elementary schools across the Blaine County school district. Over the past several years, Company of Fools has also brought the program to child-focused non-profit organizations including Sun Valley Adaptive Sports, Y-On-Wheels, YAK!, the Magic Valley Boys and Girls Club and Camp Rainbow Gold. These special partnerships have enabled Company of Fools to impact groups of children with different and specific needs.
Perhaps the best indicator of Stages of Wonder’s effectiveness is the feedback we receive from teachers:
As a first grade teacher, I witnessed an amazing transformation in a few of my more reserved students and watched them blossom as they took risks in expressing themselves through drama. – Char Roth, Hemingway Elementary School
I am a teacher at Woodside Elementary and I love Stages of Wonder. I have experienced this program for the past thirteen years and each year my students have enjoyed it immensely. My students, who are in a dual-immersion program, find Stages of Wonder fun and magical – even my shy ones! The program builds self-esteem, creative exploration with sound and movement, working as one and all in a non-threatening way enabling everyone to feel safe to participate.
One of joys I have also discovered is that when I take my students to the Liberty Theatre to see a Company of Fools student matinee they remember Stages of Wonder. Over the years I have watched them grow into very respectful theatre goers. I believe that one of the direct benefits of Stages of Wonder and the student matinees is the cultivation of future arts lovers.
- Kathy Oliver, Woodside Elementary
We are exceedingly grateful to our donors, who make it possible for Company of Fools to offer Stages of Wonder year after year. If you would like to provide support for this very special program, please contact Denise Simone at 208-788-2512 or stagesofwonder@companyoffools.org.
