We are very fortunate to be able to work with the Natrona County School District as part of their Discover Program. This program is for the children learn while the teachers are attending in-service days. We have a variety of things that we do with the kids but each one teaches a lesson, whether it be history, manners, anti-bullying or stranger danger. Each of our presentations involves the children in some sort of activity as well.
Each year, we put together a children's play to present for an assembly for the schools. This year's play is called Wonderfarm.
Wonderfarm is the story of six misfit animals who all have anomalies. Cecilly the mouse has a lisp. Ducky has a limp and two different colored wings. Patty Pig is too skinny and has a piece of her ear missing. Scrungy, the cat, has lost her master and has been on her own for a while. She smells really bad. Slade, the black cat, is a bully and he makes fun of all the animals. As the story progresses, we find Slade's tail isn't so perfect and his bullying is defused. He becomes friends with the misfits and soon all of their teamwork pays off. The story focuses on bullying, teamwork and friendship.
In The Schools
Children's Play
Historic Characters
Painted Past has developed famous characters for parties, K-12 schools, science fairs, museums and anything containing historical people. We have an entire list of characters portrayed by actors in authentic costume from the Renaissance to the present. President's wives, wild men of the West, pioneering women, world leaders and U.S. historical leaders are among the portrayals.
Martha Washington, Florence Nightengale, the Toothfairy, Lillian Disney and Davey Crockett are just a few of the famous people in our repertoire. See a complete list of characters at the bottom of this page.
In addition to school characters, we do a learning play each year for the students and this year it centers on stranger danger. We do this as an assembly for grades K - 6.
We also take requests. If there is a specific historical figure you want portrayed we can compile it with enough notice. Any of our current characters would make an excellent addition to your event as well.
This isn't just for the Natrona County School District! We are willing and able to travel to other districts within a reasonable driving distance from Casper. Just give us a call and we can explain the pricing and mileage.
Davy Crockett
Alice Binney, wife of the creator of Crayola crayons,
shows the kids how to do a crayon rubbing.
Walt Disney's wife, Lillian
Non-Historic Characters
India Hayford shares her talent for
weaving.
Nicholas Skalicky teaches the kids about CERT
and emergency preparedness.
Children's author Gayle Irwin is part of the company. Her books, "Sage's Big Adventure" and "Sage Learns to Share", are the catalyst for her talks on writing, friendship, disability awareness, kindness, and pet care.
We also have several other local professionals who present on their area of expertise all the while incorportating a learning activity for the children. Nicholas Skalicky, a local EMT, presents as a member of the Community Emergency Response Team and teaches the children about disaster prepardedness. Joanne Price is a local yoga instructor brings her calming effects into the classroom. Dan Fisher, a local musician, teaches the children the history of guitar and lets them try out his instrument. India Hayford teaches the children the art of weaving and has a separate presentation on quilting. Lisa Skalicky presents on the history of 4-H and incorporates a sewing activity into the lesson.
Louisa Lithgow teaches the kids about life on the trail.
Trails Characters
We are also able to provde trails characters for The National Historic Trails Interpertive Center. Our actors provide some "life" to the museum for school groups coming for field trips. Each of our trails characters are taken directly from the emmigrant's diaries and are carefully researched for historical accuracy.
Available Characters
Historic Characters
(Usually appropriate for 2nd-6th grades)
*Rebecca Nurse: Salem Witch
*Emily Post: Ettiquete Expert
*Mary Lindley Murray: Reveloutionary
Spy
*Anna Jarvis: Founder of Mother's Day
*Charlotte Bartholdi: Mother of the
Sculptor of the Statue of Liberty
*Neal Forsling: Fonded Crimson Dawn
on Casper Mountain, Storyteller
*Margery Brew Paston: Made the first
valentine
*Ann Key: Mother of the author of
The Star Spangled Banner
*Florence Nightengale: Founder of
modern nursing
*Martha Washington: The First 1st Lady
*Guinevere: Queen of Camelot
*Davy Crockett: Frontiersman,
Congressman
*Caspar Collins: Soldgier for whom
Fort Caspar was named
*Lou Gehrig: Baseball player
*Mariska Karatz: Artist
*Suzanna Dickenson: witness of
The Alamo
*Napoleon: French Emperor
*Ben Franklin: inventor, politician
*Charles Lindburgh: Aviator
*Lillian Disney: Walt Disney's wife
(Usually appropriate for
K-2nd Grades)
Kindergarden Characters
*The Tooth Fairy: Teaches
dental hygene
*Nana Nutrient: Teaches eating healthy
*Gertrude McFuzz: Character from
one of Dr. Seuss' books. Teaches a
ccepting yourself.
*Little Red Riding Hood: Teaches about
stranger danger.
*Old MacDonald: Teaches about taking
care of pets.
*Jan Berenstain: Author of The
Berenstain Bear books. Has 5 different
lessona such as: judging other, taking
care of the environment, individuality,
family differences and thankfulnes.
*Alice Binney: Wife of the creator of
Crayola. Does an art activity with the
kids.
*Shamus O'Malley: Lepruchan
* Mother Goose
*Marjory Rey: Author of Curious
George series
*Southerland McCoy: Oregon Trail
*Fanny Kelly: Oregon Trail
*Catherine Segar: Oregon Trail
*Ellen: Oregon Trail
*Louisa Lithgow: California Trail
*Patty Bartlett Sessions: Mormon Trail
*Charlie Becker: Pony Express Trail
Trails Characters
(Usually appropriate for
3rd-6th grades)
These Characters Coming Soon!
Piccaso
Anne Frank
Knight of the Realm
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Union Solgier
Johnny Appleseed
William Henry Jackson
