When the Chicago Children’s Museum had a TV studio in its old location at North Pier, children were given cue cards to read on camera. Now a new, soundproofed, glassed-in production studio at the museum’s space on Navy Pier will give kids 7 and up a chance to exercise their right to freedom of speech.
In groups of six, they will spend 25 minutes preparing their own television shows. Three kids will participate in a panel discussion on a given subject, which might deal with whether or not students should be required to wear uniforms or how much athletes should be paid. Another youngster will prepare the weather report based on up-to-the-minute data and give recommendations about how to prepare for it. Yet another will give a personal opinion about one of the museum’s exhibits. The youngsters then will get a chance to watch the TV program they have produced, which will be called “Kids Speak.”
“The whole gallery is aimed at giving kids a voice, so we want to provide a way for them to speak out and say how they feel,” says Evan Finamore, the exhibit’s developer, “but we also want them to be able to test their talent in front of the camera and see how it feels to be a star.”
Plan to get an early start if you’re going to the museum because only a limited number of tickets will be sold each day throughout the summer on a first come, first serve basis.
TV Studio, Chicago Children’s Museum, Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Ave., $5; 312-527-1000.
When Joel Frankel was six years old he really wanted to learn how to play the guitar. His father wasn’t sure that his son was mature enough, so he gave him a challenge: If Joel could hold his sister’s violin and sit still for 30 minutes every day for a whole month, that would be enough prove he was serious about becoming a musician.
It’s a good thing that Joel was perseverant and patient because now that he’s grown up, lots of children get to listen to him sing and play.
It’s not surprising, however, that his latest album is called “I Can’t Sit Still.” In the title song Frankel sings, “I can’t sit still; I won’t sit still; I can’t sit still; I never will” with such conviction that it usually gives young listeners an urge to get up and move around to the beat of the song.
During his concerts, Frankel also might sing a song from his album for adults called “If Peter Pans Out” and a traditional folk tune or two with some new twists.
Joel Frankel will perform at 3:30 and 7 p.m. Thursday at the Palatine Public Library, 700 N. Court, Palatine, free; 847-358-5881. He also will perform at 4:30 p.m. Saturday as part of the Lincolnwood Fest ’96, which runs from 5-11 p.m. Thursday, 5-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday and noon-10 p.m. Sunday, Proesel Park, 6900 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincolnwood; free admission, $10 arm bands for unlimited carnival rides for children; 847-677-9740.
Bastille Day conjures images of political and social upheaval, but the French Revolution brought about other changes as well. “The Royal Academy of Dance was formed by King Louis XIV and it was guarded for the aristocracy,” explains Jonathon Levy, artistic director of the School for Performing Arts in Naperville, “but after the French Revolution it was opened up to everyone.”
As part of a number of activities for families scheduled for the Bastille Day celebration at the Hotel Sofitel, some of Levy’s ballet students will perform various historic combinations of steps. They were put together 128 years ago by the founder of the Royal Danish Ballet who trained at the Royal Academy of Dance in Paris,” explains Levy, “and they are believed to be a direct link to that original training school.”
Levy says it is important for ballet students to learn about the legacy of the steps they perform. “It gives them a sense of humility and it builds confidence and it also creates an atmosphere where the goal is not competition but learning.”
Bastille Day Celebration events for children, noon-4 p.m., Saturday, Hotel Sofitel, 5550 N. River Rd., Rosemont, free; 312-868-3010.
The subtitle for the Family Festival of Chinese Art in the Kraft Education Center at the Art Institute of Chicago should be “Dragons, dragons everywhere, but not a one to fear.” Children will hear poetry and songs about these fabulous monsters and go into the galleries to see them portrayed on the works in the exhibition “Splendors of Imperial China: Treasures from the National Palace Museum, Taipei.”
“The dragon is a very kind and wise symbol,” explains Sabrina Nelson, a teacher in the museum’s family programs. A family self-guide to the exhibit includes a a smaller version of a giant stone creature that stood guard outside the imperial tomb.
Family Festival of Chinese Art, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through August 4, Kraft Education Center, Art Institute, Michigan Ave. at Adams St., $7 adults, $3.50 children, free Tuesdays; 312-443-3600.
Friday
APPEARANCE BY SPIDER-MAN: In conjunction with “Spiders!” exhibit, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Field Museum, Roosevelt Rd. at Lake Shore Drive, $5 adults, $3 children; 312-922-9410.
GRAND OPENING OF “CHAGALL FOR CHILDREN” EXHIBITION: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Kohl Children’s Museum, 165 Green Bay Rd., Wilmette, $4; 847-256-6056.
Saturday
DANNON SPRINKL’INS CHICAGO KIDS TRIATHLON: 7 a.m., Foster Avenue Beach, $20 individuals, $45 for team of three; 312-404-2372.
JOANIE BARTELS: 11 a.m., Ravinia, Lake-Cook and Green Bay Roads, Highland Park, $5 pavilion, $3 lawn; 312-RAVINIA.
KIDSTORY: WRITE ALL ABOUT IT!: 1-3 p.m., Chicago Historical Society, Clark St. at North Ave., $3 adults, $1 children; 312-642-4600.
Sunday
CHILDREN’S ART FAIR: Featuring hands-on activities, performances and demonstrations, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Cuneo Museum and Gardens, 1350 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills, $4 adults, $2 children; 847-362-3042.
