Literacy + Ecology = FUN!: KVPAC’s Nasty Gnarlies

The following story was provided by the Katy Visual & Performing Arts Center (KVPAC) regarding the latest production in their Books Alive! Literacy Through the Arts program.  Neat stuff!  For more information about KVPAC, their community programs and how you can get involved, visit their website.
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KVPAC Nasty Gnarlies Cast

Katy Visual & Performing Arts Center’s (KVPAC) Books Alive! Literacy Through the Arts is an innovative program that uses the magic of live theatre to promote literacy in communities where literacy and art programs are not present.  Books Alive! tours to underprivileged neighborhoods, children’s hospitals, homeless shelters and special needs workshops free-of-charge.  Carol Herron, Arts In Medicine Coordinator at Texas Children’s Cancer Center, says, “Our cancer patients were delighted when KVPAC visited earlier this year as part of our Arts In Medicine program.  We look forward to return visits, and the opportunity to have KVPAC work with patients both in our out-patient clinic and in-patient units.”

For many children, it is their first time to experience the magic of live professional theatre and they respond enthusiastically.  “The lights, costumes and performers dazzled their eyes and brought out expressions on their faces that I will never forget,” glowed Elizabeth Mace, music specialist at Morton Ranch Elementary.  Inspiring children to open a book and bring the ‘book alive’ is the goal Books Alive! surpasses at all venues.

This year KVPAC used the wildly successful Books Alive! program to promote another worthy cause: going green.  Books Alive!’s production of The Three Nasty Gnarlies employs music and creative storytelling to teach kids about the perils of our environment in a lighthearted atmosphere.  The Gnarlies practice what they preach as all costumes are made from plastic bags that would otherwise sit in a landfill for 500 years.  The plastic bags are given new life in the show and the costume pieces can be reused in future productions.

Books Alive! believes it is not enough to simply inform children of a problem but to give them ways to be part of the solution.  Each audience member receives a copy of The Kid’s Guide to Saving the Planet.  Produced by KVPAC, this original guide takes the Gnarlies from the stage to the page as they lead children through puzzles and games that educate and give them practical tips on saving the planet.  The Guide includes a convenient insert children can hang in their home to remind the whole family that little things can make a big difference.

Environmental Resources Management  (ERM) funded the creation of the unique, recycled costumes, the show’s set and the printing of The Kid’s Guide to Save the Planet.  Additional funding from Republic Services, Absolutely! Katy Magazine, Mickie C and Company, US Storage and the Houston Arts Alliance enabled this touring production to be taken to an additional 15 schools where it was seen by more than 7,000 children.

Nasty Gnarlies on Stage

Understanding the future of our world is in the hands of its children is what makes Books Alive! a success in all that it promotes.  Books Alive! delivers the gift of literacy to children while empowering them to change the world around them.  Using the performing and visual arts, Books Alive! tackles global issues with children all while they have a smile on their face.

Books Alive! is funded by generous local businesses, charitable foundations and private individuals.  Sponsors are invited to attend the Sponsor Gala on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 10am at the KVPAC Studio.  Guests will enjoy The Three Nasty Gnarlies, a presentation by ERM with a reception to follow.

Katy Visual & Performing Arts Center (KVPAC) is located at 2501 S Mason Rd, #290, Katy, TX 77450 in the Great Southwest Equestrian Center Complex.

Building Traditions: Katy Area Fun with Purpose

Today is November 11…Veteran’s Day.  This time of year always brings to mind things that we are thankful for…our freedom, our family, our friends…  It’s a great time to share a little bit of yourself as well as build lasting family traditions.  Luckily, there are a lot of fun ways to do just that in our area.  Following are just a quick sample of the fun events that are coming up in the next few weeks that also benefit some great causes.  Which ones will you participate in?

Katy Visual & Performing Arts Center (KVPAC):  promotes the arts in Katy
Several great theater productions coming up including Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs (November 11-13), Honk! (November 19-20), and Mission: Improvible (family friendly comedy improv) every Friday night.  They also offer art & theater classes for all ages.

Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament: Cards For Clean Water hosted by Thrive Church
They say that more than 1.1 billion people around the world lack access to safe water.  On November 19th, Thrive Church is hosting a Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament to benefit Water Missions International, working to relieve the global water crisis.

Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP):  animal shelter
CAP will host their annual Celebrity Paws Gala on November 20.  They will also be hosting Photos with Santa at Petsmart on I-10 at Fry Rd on December 4, 5, 18 & 19.

The Katy Prairie Conservancy:  conservation education
KPC hosts Open Trails every Friday in November and will open their new Matt Cook Wildlife Viewing Platform on November 20.  Also on the 20th, enjoy Flat Out Fun Day on the Prairie.  And don’t forget about the Winter Raptors – Wild West Tour on December 11th.

Literacy Council of Fort Bend County: working to improve adult literacy skills
Hop on your bike and Bike the Bend for Literacy on November 21st!  The ride departs from Foster High School, just a couple of miles south of the Westpark Tollway.  Register by November 18th.

Katy Family YMCA:  provides community support and wellness education
Start your Turkey Day off right by participating in the annual Katy Family YMCA Turkey Dash hosted by the YMCA and The Fellowship at Cinco Ranch.  This is a fun event for the whole family featuring a timed 5K, a 1 Mile Kids Race and a 1 Mile Family Walk/Run.  It all happens Thanksgiving morning, November 25th.  Sign up by November 24th.

Katy Christian Ministries (KCM) :  provides support to the community
Sign up by November 26 to adopt a family or families for the holidays through KCM’s Santa’s Sleigh program.  Donate non-perishable food and toiletries to their food pantry, volunteer your time, or donate to their Christmas Toy Drive December 3-4th.

Christmas Light Show & Food Drive hosted by Cottage Charm
It has become a holiday tradition for many Katy area families…each year the McKenzie family converts the special events venue at 5806 4th Street in Old Town Katy into a fantastic Christmas Light Show set to music.  Shows start the weekend after Thanksgiving and run to New Years.  Shows are FREE!  Please bring non-perishable food items to be donated to Katy Christian Ministries Food Pantry.

I know this is not a complete list of all of the great charitable events happening in our area!  Please leave a comment to let us know about others.  And Thank You to everyone who served to protect us and keep us free!  Happy Veteran’s Day!

Forbidden Gardens Named A Top Roadside Attraction by TIME!

Another great media mention for our area went online yesterday (July 28)…TIME Magazine named Katy’s own Forbidden Gardens to their list of Top 50 American Roadside Attractions!  Congratulations to them!  The tag line that the folks at TIME associate with the attraction is “Things You Don’t See Every Day”, and boy, it THAT the truth! 

If you’ve never visited Forbidden Gardens you might be amazed to find a 1:20 scale of China’s Forbidden City complete with an army of 6,000 terra-cotta soldiers on Franz Road!  Exhibits include a 1/3 scale of the Tomb of the First Emperor,  Qin Shi Huang-di, as well as replicas of ancient Chinese architecture and weapons.  A walk through Forbidden Gardens is like walking into imperial China 2,000 years ago.  Talk about history!

Forbidden Gardens is open Friday, Saturday & Sunday.  As I write this their hours are 10am-3pm, but can vary by season.  Check their website for current hours and admission prices.  Please note that this an outdoor museum which may close for inclement weather.

You can read TIME’s story and see the other 49 attractions (including Houston’s Beer-Can House) here.  You can also follow Forbidden Gardens on Facebook or Twitter.

Forbidden Gardens is located at 23500 Franz Rd, Katy, Texas 77493…just West of the Grand Pkwy (99).  Their phone number is 281.347.8000.  Go out and support this local treasure!

UPDATE JANUARY 14, 2011:  To make way for the expansion of the Grand Parkway, Forbidden Gardens will be closing their doors on January 30, 2011.  If you’ve never visited, here’s your last chance!  So sorry to see them go.

Katy Area Events: FREE SAT/ACT Practice Exams

OK folks, so my plan is really NOT to post a new blog every other day.  But this morning as I was tweeting and facebooking about weekend events around Katy, it occurred to me that one of tomorrow’s events is extra important.  Tomorrow (July 17) the Katy Library is hosting a FREE SAT/ACT practice test!

Prior to earning my MBA and before Tom and I started our marketing business, Right On The Money, I was an Admissions & Marketing Officer for the graduate business school at Rice University.  So after years of reviewing grad school applications, I feel pretty qualified to say that college (and grad school) entrance exams are a BIG DEAL!!  Regardless of anyone’s personal like or dislike for them, standardized test scores really can make the difference in whether or not a student is accepted to the school of their choice.  And, further, they are often used (at least in part) in determining scholarship money.

So if you or your teen are looking at starting college in the next couple of years, now is a good time to start preparing for the entrance exams.  Talk to the admissions folks at the schools you are interested in to find out which exam they prefer and the best times to submit official scores to them.  And then spend serious time preparing for the exam.  These entrance exams are as much about HOW to take them as they are about the questions actually on them.  Having a sense of the types of questions and how to efficiently approach those questions will go a long way in raising scores.

There are several ways you can prepare:  you can borrow test prep books from the library, you can buy a copy, you can hire a tutor or participate in a full-blown course.  Select the option that’s right for you (and your wallet), and take it seriously.  An easy first step is to take the FREE Practice Test tomorrow at the Katy Library.  That’s right…it’s FREEEEEE!!! 

The Katy Library is located at 5414 Franz Rd, Katy TX 77493.  Their number is 281.391.3509.  The Library opens at 10am tomorrow and the practice exams begin at 10:15.  Good Luck!!!

You can find web links to all of the Katy Area libraries on the Education page of GetToKnowKaty.com.