based on the book by e.b. white directed by tom...
TRANSCRIPT
A Study Guide for
By Joseph Robinette Based on the book by E.B. White
Directed by Tom Ford
Produced by special arrangement with Dramatic Publishing, Woodstock, Illinois.
Presented by Idaho Theater for Youth, a program of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival
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Section four: APPENDIX
Meet the Cast………………………………….……....pg 6
Stuart Little Summary………………....……...…….pg 7
About the Author…….………...……………...……..pg 7
About the Playwright..………...……………...……..pg 7
Stuart’s World…………………………………...….…pg 8
Activity: Exploring New York further...………......pg 9
Vocabulary Words………….................................pg 9
Activity: Word Search………………………………...pg 10
Using this Study Guide…..………………………...…pg 4
Special Thanks………..……………………………..…pg 4
About the Idaho Shakespeare Festival…….….…..pg 5
A Note From the Director……….……………….......pg 5
“Terms A’hoy” - sailing vocabulary …………….....pg 11
Activity: “Characters’ Character”.………………….pg 12
Activity: Character Comparison…………………….pg 13
Activity: Create a character………………………….pg 14
Activity: Quote Identification………...…….....……pg 14
Activity: “Chairman of the World”…..………..……pg 15
Activity: “Knowing What’s Important”..……..……pg 16
Activity: Finish the Play.………………………..……pg 17
Discussion topics……………………………………...pg 17
Activity: Think Like a Critic…………………….......pg 18
Suggested reading………………..………….……….pg 19
Sources……………………………..………..……..….pg 19
End Quote……………………….……………………..pg 20
Section three: AFTER THE SHOW
Section two: BEFORE THE SHOW
Section one: WELCOME!
table of contents
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Dear Teachers,
Welcome to the Idaho Theater for Youth study guide for Stuart Little! These materials have been designed to expand your stu-
dents’ engagement with the performance with a range of information, discussion topics, and activities that can stand on their
own or serve as building blocks for a larger unit. The activities are designed to be mixed, matched, and modified to suit the
needs of your students.
Inside, you’ll find activities to share with your students both before the show and after the show, indicated by headings at the
top of the page. These are designed to help focus your students’ engagement with the performance by giving them specific
themes to watch out for, as well as to foster critical thinking and discussion following the performance. During post-show
talkbacks, our actors will pull from many of the themes included here to engage your students. Each activity is designed to
help meet Idaho Standards of Education to foster critical thinking and problem solving skills.
We encourage you and your students to share your thoughts with us! Any of the artwork or activities your students send will
be shared with the artists who created Stuart Little, and any feedback from you will not only help to improve our study guides
for future audiences, but will aide in the ongoing pursuit for grants that make these plays possible! Our mailing address is lo-
cated on page 18.
Thank you for helping to bring our theater and the Arts to your students!
Using This Guide... welcome!
A Very Special Thank You!
As a part of Idaho Shakespeare Festival’s educational programming, Idaho Theater for Youth (ITY) performances have enriched the lives of well over one million students and teachers since 1981 with productions that convey the unique
and impactful voice of theater arts. The magic of this art form is brought to schools across the State of Idaho each Winter/Spring semester with assistance from a generous group of underwriters:
Idaho Commission on the Arts US Bancorp Foundation Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation Idaho Power Foundation The Whittenberger Foundation
Idaho Community Foundation and the following Funds: -F.M., Anne G. & Beverly B. Bistline Foundation -James A. Pinney Memorial Fund -Perc H. Shelton & Gladys A. Pospisil Shelton Foundation -Gladys E. Langroise Advised Fund -John William Jackson Fund
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One spring E. B. White was traveling home from Virginia on a train and fell asleep. He dreamt of a mouse who was fully dressed in dapper cloth-ing with a hat and cane. E. B. White wrote it all down. Later, when one of his eighteen nieces and nephews wanted a story, E. B. White would read it aloud. He named the mouse Stuart…….
- Some Writer! The Story of E. B. White by Melissa Sweet “I feel that a writer has an obligation to transmit, as best he can, his love of life, his appreciation for the world.”
- E. B White “Oh, fish feathers! Size has nothing to do with it. It’s temperament and ability that count and knowing what’s important. How many of you know what’s important?”
- Stuart Little And what is important?
Stuart Little, the first of E. B. White’s three classic novels for chil-dren (the others being Charlotte’s Web and The Trumpet of the Swan) is a classic coming of age story about a young boy who looks like and is the size of… a mouse. The story asks us to follow along as Stuart begins his life and starts to determine for himself the things and people that will matter to him.
I was drawn to this piece for Idaho Theater for Youth because I think it is first and foremost a fun and funny tale of adventure. But underneath the simple story, we find, at its heart, that Stuart Little is about embracing whatever might be different about you and making that your strength.
Both the novel and the play we will present in your school ends on a question mark. What becomes of Stuart? Will he find his way in the world? Will he return home? Will he ever see Margalo again?
E. B. White leads you to a place in Stuart Little where you have to decide for yourself what to make of your unique place in this world.
Enjoy the show!
-Tom Ford, Director
The Idaho Shakespeare Festival has become an integral
part of arts education throughout Idaho. The Festival’s
annual Shakespearience tour brings live theater to more
than 21,000 high-school students in more than 70 Idaho
communities each year. Since it began touring in 1986,
Shakespearience has enriched the lives of nearly 500,000
students.
In 1999, the Festival assumed the operations of Idaho
Theater for Youth. This alliance has more than doubled
the Festival’s annual educational programming, resulting
in the Festival becoming the largest provider of profes-
sional, performing arts outreach in the state of Idaho. In
addition to the statewide Idaho Theater for Youth school
tour, which brings professional productions to nearly
30,000 students in grades K-6 across Idaho, the Festival
oversees year-round School of Theater programs. This se-
ries of classes in acting, playwriting and production, for
students of all ages, enrolls over 300 Treasure Valley
students each year, and includes our one-of-a-kind Ap-
prentice Company. Look for upcoming student produc-
tions throughout the summer, fall and spring.
For more information on any of the Festival’s educational
activities, please contact the Education Manager at the
Festival offices or by email at
A Note From the Director...
welcome!
About our education programs...
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meet the artists!
Stuart Little Cast
Amanda Baschnagel
as Margalo
Dakotah Brown
as Mr. Little, et al
Luke Massengill
as Snowbell
Davey Collins III
as Stuart Little
Caitlin Susen
as Mrs. Little, et al
Director: Tom Ford
Assistant Director: Jennifer Caster
Sound Design: Patrick Kiernan
Set Design: Will Ledbetter
Scenic Painter: Angi Grow
Costume Design: Darrin Pufall
Costume Build: Keri Fitch
Special thanks to: BSU Theater Department Costume Shop
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About the Author: E.B. White
Stuart Little, “the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick C. Little of New York City,” is a mouse. His family is full-sized
and human, but the differences between them don’t stop them from having a happy, and fairly normal, life. In fact,
many of Stuart’s “differences” turn out to be uniquely helpful to his family and friends. It’s his special capabilities as a
mouse that help him in his journey to save his best friend Margalo, a beautiful and wise bird. The adventure wouldn’t
be complete without challenges, all of which challenge Stuart and help him grow.
In this production, we don’t know what adventures yet lay ahead of him on his search for Margalo—it’s up to the
viewer to imagine the ending for themselves!
E.B. White (1899-1985) was a New York journalist, author, and poet. After many years working for The New Yorker publishing his own column and various other works, White published Stuart Little in 1945. “Many years ago,” E.B. White would say, “I went to bed one night in a railway sleeping car, and during the night I dreamed about a tiny boy who acted rather like a mouse. That's how the story of Stu-art Little got started.”
Best known for his children’s litera-ture, White also penned Charlotte’s Web and The Trumpet of the Swan. Mr. White has won countless awards,
including the 1971 National Medal for Literature and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, which commended him for making “a sub-stantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.”
Stuart Little Summary
About the Playwright: Joseph Robinette
Joseph Robinette is a Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award
nominee for the libretto of the acclaimed A Christmas Story, The Musi-
cal. He is the author or co-author of 55 published plays and musicals.
His works have been produced at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, The
Theater at Madison Square Garden and Lincoln Center for the Per-
forming Arts in New York City, the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, the
Goodman Theatre in Chicago, the BBC in Britain, in all 50 states and
in 21 foreign countries. Robinette collaborated with E.B. White on the
authorized stage version of Charlotte's Web, and he wrote the musical
version with Charles Strouse
(Annie and Bye, Bye, Birdie). Other
dramatizations include The Lion, the
Witch and the Wardrobe, Anne of Green
Gables and Debbie Macomber's A Gift to
Last and The Inn at Rose Harbor. He is
the recipient of the American Alliance
for Theatre and Education's Distin-
guished Play Award for Sarah, Plain
and Tall and the Children's Theatre
Foundation of America medallion for
his "body of dramatic works for family
audiences in the United States and be-
yond." Photo: Summerfield Studios.
“Real life is only one kind of life — there is also the life of the imagination.”
-E.B. White
before the show
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before the show
In Stuart Little, our main character, Stuart, embarks on an adventure to save his best friend, Margalo. Stuart lives in New York City and gets to explore many aspects
of the fascinating city. Read on for more information on the city he lives in.
Stuart Little and his family reside in New York City! It’s a busy and bustling place with the largest population of any city in the United States. With over 8.5 million inhabitants living in a just over 305 square miles, it’s also the most densely populated major city. New York City is a hub for commerce, finance, media, art, entertainment, fashion, and education as it’s home to the things like New York Stock Exchange, Broadway Theater District, New York Fashion Week, several outstanding schools, and the headquarters of the United Nations.
Founded by Dutch colonists in 1624, New York City has remained a historically significant place in America and around the world. From 1785-1790 (just after the end of the American Revolution)
New York City served as the capital of the United States. The city is also famously known for it’s cultural diversity, with the Statue of Liberty serving as a symbol of social-inclusion and democracy.
Of course, Stuart’s adventures aren’t limited to the city limits of New York City. As many birds do during the year, Margalo flies north and Stuart follows her. The play doesn’t say exactly where in northern New York they’re heading, but Stewart is willing to go all the way to Timbuktu—or even Connecticut! - to find her.
Our production’s setting features
clothing and music from the
1940’s and ‘50’s—after the show,
imagine what the play would look
like in a different setting. What
kind of places would Stuart visit if
he lived in your world? What kind
of music might play? Might some
of the vocabulary and phrases of
the characters change?
Stuart’s World
explore further
Look up some of New York City’s most popular attractions! Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, the
Brooklyn Bridge, Madison Square Garden… the options are endless! You can focus on one place, or
multiple—be sure to share what you learned with classmates. For each place or site you research,
think about what Stuart might have done there and how it could have added to his adventure!
Bonus lesson: Collaborate! Compile the information collected on each famous attraction, along with
pictures, to create a tour guide as a class!
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vocabulary
mourning: noun — the outward symbols of sorrow and grief, such as black garments
gait: noun — a manner of walking, stepping, or
running
saunter: verb — to walk with a leisurely gait or stroll
louse: noun — plural of lice, a small wingless insect,
parasitic on humans
detestable: adjective — deserving to be disliked
intensely; abominable; hateful
exquisite: adjective — of special beauty or charm,
rare and appealing excellence
protectorate: noun — the office or position of a
protector, usually in relation of a strong state
toward a weaker territory
resemblance: noun — a degree of likeness, visual similarity to something else
temperament: noun — the combination of mental,
physical, and emotional traits of a person; natural
predisposition
clamor: noun, verb — a loud uproar or noise; to cry
out loudly and make a lot of noise
indulgence: noun — a catering to someone’s mood
to make them happy
disreputable: adjective — having a bad reputation or being dishonorable
Create five sentences that use a
vocabulary word to help illustrate
its meaning.
1.____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
2.____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
3.____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
4.____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
5.____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
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word search
Find the list of characters and vocabulary words in the word search!
e o l u e s n s g c q o f r d w m g f f b c m l w l c p l b l w o e i r r a o p f d n l e h t a q a f w r t s m x i i e f w i a o b m t g g b t e n r e a t z c c i j o l o w r i u z p s u e s h s b n f g n w r b a o h l r v a a p q t t t e w e t g p m m q n o b e i s u u y v s g r t r a u t s e t s l y l c t a c u w l r m o u s e o e s b g w h o a l o w l u l e p m o i c m a e i z s w b l w l h d d j p x x t k t t t r t x k l q p b h n m e b a o z s r t n e m a r e p m e t i t z n r i e x q u i s i t e i o t t t w t b a t t r a t c e o v d n i o d n r a t t u e i u m o z x f b n p p l x d h z e i d m y s i a s d n e w a e s o w w n h o b b k h t w n z v q n h g p b v o a w b b i b q g e n n w t t f z e m h l c g n i n r u o m v b s o r v r g f w x s r e c d p a v t e a c h e r f z g j g z
activity
copy this page! clamor
dentist detestable
disreputable exquisite
foresail gait
indulgence little
louse Margalo
mast mourning
mouse protectorate
repairman resemblance
saunter schooner
sloop Snowbell
squall Stuart
teacher temperament
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Stuart visits Central Park where he gets to race Dr. Carey’s boat against the Lillian B. Womrath—and he
wins! One of the reason’s Dr. Carey claims to not like the captain of the Womrath, Leroy, because he is
lazy and doesn’t understand sailing (especially the special terms used for sailing).
Do you know a squall from squib or a jib from a jibe?
Learn about key sailing terms below, then draw your own sailboat on the right, labeling all the essential
parts of your boat. Don’t forget to give your sailboat a name!
terms a’hoy! activity
“Bon Voyage!” — a French phrase wishing someone a safe and pleasant trip bow — forward-most part of the ship deck — the surface covering the hull (body) of the boat dock — to tie the ship up at a dock, especially in order to un-load passengers or cargo foresail — the principal sail on a foremast, the large pole closest to the bow hull — the underbody of a boat jib — a foresail that fits inside the foretriangle and does not extend beyond the mast jibe — to turn the stern (backend) of a boat through the eye of the wind leech — the back edge of a sail; as in: If the leech is flopping tighten the leech line just until it stops luff — the forward edge of sail mast — large pole extending up from the dock, to which the sails are fastened mainsail — the main sail of a boat, often the largest sail and raised on the mainmast schooner — a sailing ship with two or more masts, typically with the foremast smaller than the mainmast sloop — a sailboat with only one mast squall — a sudden, violent gust of wind or a localized storm squib — a small racing boat with a strict design, having a length of 5.79m and a weight of 680 kg vessel — a ship or large boat yaw — twisting of a moving ship around a vertical axis
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To better understand the characters in a play, book, or movie, it’s helpful to examine their key
character traits—what qualities make these characters the way they are? Match the characters
from the play with character traits that best describe them and support their actions. A selection
of qualities are provided below and you can always add your own!
Students can analyze one character or all of them, and should support their ideas with evidence from the play
or observations they made about the character.
copy this page!
Characters:
Stuart Little Margalo
Snowbell Mr. Little
Mrs. Little George Little
Angi the Angora
Traits:
thoughtful loyal
sneaky determined
cunning creative
generous adventurous
caring brave
thoughtful selfish
confident dishonest
wise _______________
_______________ _______________
Character:
Traits:
Example:
Character:
Traits:
Example:
after the show activity
character’s character
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activity
character comparison Pick two characters from the play (they can be your favorite players or total opposites) and
use the venn-diagram below to describe their different traits, morals, and actions to show
how they are different, as well as how they are similar.
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This play introduced you to a variety of different
characters of different shapes and sizes (and
species!). Create a character for yourself to play
in Stuart Little.
What kind of character would you be? An animal
or a human? Where might you run into Stuart?
Would you be one of Snowbell’s friends?
Draw your character or defining attributes—
make it as unique as possible!
Once everyone has created a character,
introduce yourselves as those personas!
character-y
activity after the show Answers: 1. Leroy; 2. Mr. Little; 3. Snowbell; 4. Dr. Carey, the Dentist; 5. Stuart;
6. Stuart; 7. Angie the Angora Cat; 8. Margalo
Identify which characters from the play
said the lines below!
1. “I lost the race. Rats! I mean—mice!”
2. “Just because you can’t travel comfortably in a mouse
hole doesn’t mean that it isn’t a perfectly suitable
place for Stuart.”
3. “I like the nighttime more than the daytime . Maybe it’s
because my eyes like the dark. Or maybe it’s
because so many worthwhile things are always going
on in New York at night.”
4. “Oftentimes people with decayed teeth have sound
ideas...”
5. “Fear not, fair friend. I am thy guardian and thy protectorate.”
6. “The way may be long, but even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
7. “I admit a cat has a duty toward his own people.”
8. “Paperclips. What an imaginative family. I do like it here.”
copy this page!
Though Stuart’s size might have made some human-sized tasks more difficult, with
his friends’ and families’ help he was able to participate in plenty of regular activities.
Like the ice skates made from paperclips, think of something you would create for
Stuart so he might participate in an activity you like! Draw it below!
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chairman of the world Have you ever thought about what the world would look like if you were in charge?
Well now is your chance!
What rules or laws would be in place if you were Chairman of the World?
Would that even be your title?
Create at least 5 laws to abide by for when you are Chairman of the World and then divide into
groups. Look at your laws compared with the laws of classmates. Do these laws go well together or
do some need to be altered? Are there any punishments for breaking the law? Think about why your
laws are important and how they help to create a better world.
_______________________________________________________________
(your title)
activity after the show
copy this page!
discuss: What makes a good law? Are there any bad laws? Think about the what makes a law “good” or “bad,” and how they do or don’t help society.
What different laws can you think of in your own life? Why are these important laws?
expanding the activity:
As a class, create a set of laws for the classroom. Collaborate with each other to create fair laws that help everyone in the classroom.
Remember, breaking the law usually has consequences. What consequences will there be for breaking a classroom law?
1._______________________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________________
3._______________________________________________________________________________
4._______________________________________________________________________________
5._______________________________________________________________________________
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knowing what matters
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
activity
copy this page!
after the show
Just as Stuart asked his students, “How many of you know what’s important?”
Everyone has different ideas of what is the most important based on their individual wants and needs.
For some, the most important things may be music; for others, ice cream with chocolate sauce.
Think about what makes something “important” - does it help someone live? Or just make them really happy?
What is important to you?
In the space below, describe some of the things that are most important to you and why they are important.
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Stuart Little is an adventure filled with themes of inclusion, courage, and acceptance which provide great
methods of talking to students about larger concepts. Theater and the arts strives to generate critical thinking and discussion—we’ve included some jumping off points below that you can adapt to your class.
discussion activities
theme to follow
Friendship is a very important theme in Stuart Little. Discuss
the various examples of friendship we see in the play and how it
affects each the characters differently.
Stuart seems to easily make friends wherever he goes (with
the exception of most cats). Why do you think Stuart can
make friends so easy?
What clear friendships do we see throughout the play? How
do you think these friendships developed? What do these
characters have in common that helps their relationship?
Stuart’s best friend is Margalo and he’s also friends with
different humans. Why do you think it doesn’t matter that
they’re different types of animals?
Think about your friendships—Have you always been friends
with these people? Have you had to overcome differences to
be or stay friends?
Near the end of the play, Stuart asks the repairman to take
Snowbell back home to the Little Family. What do you think
Stuart and Snowbell’s relationship is like? Would you
consider them friends?
What does it mean to be a true friend?
discuss prejudice: In the play, Stuart meets Dr. Paul Carey, a dentist and boat-building
enthusiast. Dr. Carey doesn’t like Leroy, the boy who captains a rival boat, the Lillian
B. Womwrath. In a show of friendship with Dr. Carey, Stuart readily declares he hates
the Lillian B. Womrath as well.
Have you ever disliked something just because somebody else didn’t like it?
Should people dislike someone or something just because their friend does?
What examples do you see of characters disliking or distrusting each other in the
play? What are their reasons for not liking each other? Are these valid reasons?
peer pressure: Do you think Snowbell would have given up on eating
Stuart and Margalo if Angie didn’t pressure him into it? Or would he
have gone after them anyway?
Have you ever been pressured into doing something your heart
wasn’t into? How did this make you feel?
“...this is where the story ends, but it’s
also where our imaginations begin.”
Encourage students to fill in the next chapter of Stuart Little’s adventure! In a collaborative
effort or individual assignments, have your students supply the ending to Stuart’s
adventure—or even just the next step in his journey!
theme to follow
Though different from his family and friends, Stuart’s individuality is one of his greatest
strengths. Because of his unique size, he’s able to do a lot of things his full-sized family
can’t, and as a mouse he grows much faster than normal.
What are some things that make you different?
Is there anything you can do that your friends and family can’t?
Think about the ways your individuality and unique talents are your strengths.
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Think like a critic!
This is your students’ opportunity to express their thoughts and opinions about the
performance of Stuart Little that they just saw! Invite them to think about their experience and answer the following questions:
1. What is the name of your school?
2. Have you ever seen a play before?
3. Would you recommend this play to your friends?
4. Do you think it is important for people to see plays? Why or why not?
5. Was the story of Stuart Little clear to you?
6. Did you learn something from this play that you did not expect to learn?
7. What was your favorite part of the performance? What did you like about it?
8. Did you have a least favorite part of the performance? Why?
9. Were there any additional aspects of the show that stood out to you (i.e. music, costumes,
jokes, etc.)? What did you like most about those aspects of the show?
10.Would you like for ITY to perform at your school again next year?
Idaho Shakespeare Festival Attn: Education Department P.O. Box 9365 Boise, ID 83707
Mail your reviews to the Education Department at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival!
expanding the activity
Have your students pretend that
they are reviewers for a major
newspaper. They can name the
newspaper, format their article, add
headlines and “photographs,” and
display their publications around
the classroom!
after the show copy this page!
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Suggested reading for students who enjoyed Stuart Little
additional materials
Adventure and Friendship
By E.B. White
About the Author: http://www.biography.com/people/eb-white-9529308#synopsis;
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/authors/e--b--white/ About the Playwright: http://www.dramaticpublishing.com/AuthorBio.php?titlelink=9793;
http://www.schoolofsailing.net/terminology.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/code/BuildWordSearch.asp www.dictionary.reference.com
https://www.tastekid.com/like/book:Stuart-Little
sources
after the show
(from left to right) Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes; Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren; James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl;
The Borrowers by Mary Norton; The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
Fitting In, Being Different
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the end
“Size has nothing to do with it.
It’s temperament and ability that count.”