Introducing A School Play, written by Brave Little Company founder Troy Scheid, illustrated by Cornelia Li.
A School Play is a picture book that's also a ready-to-act script about how to tell your own stories on stage!
This book:
models collaborative theatre-making for youth and other theatre newcomers -
affirms the power of kids' creativity and the stories they love -
inspires grown-ups to remove barriers to participation.
It's available in 9 languages - English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Urdu, Pashto, Dari, and Swahili (...so far) and it includes a dual-language theatre terminology poster!
Follow A School Play - The Book on Facebook and Instagram for updates!
See more of Cornelia’s work at www.corneliali.com.
The Translators
There's no Google Translate here! Each of our 8 translations will be created by a human Houstonian who is a native, fluent speaker of the translated language. Many of the translators are experienced theatre professionals, hold degrees in theatre, and/or have taken part in creating performances through THE BIG “US” PROJECT. The translators’ goal is to ensure that kids in a multilingual classroom can experience the book in as similar a way as possible, and that they develop a common language around theatre vocabulary. The translators include: Loyce Gayo (Swahili); Dayana Halawo (Arabic); Lily He (Mandarin); Mohammad Tawfiq Layeq (Pashto); Kristy Lozano (Spanish); Rita Nazami (Dari); Sethe Nguyen (Vietnamese); and Tazeen Zahida (Urdu).
Public Presentations
Mark your calendar for the following events in partnership with Harris County Public Library (HCPL) and others!
In these participatory reading performances, kids warm up their voice, body, and imagination - and then jump straight in to performing the play! Finally, the 5 Props Theatre Game is a way for them to use found objects to create their own plays - no experience necessary. Ideal for kids aged 7-10 and their families. Families will be entered into a drawing for a physical copy of the first edition (in English), and PDF copies in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, Urdu, Pashto, Dari, and Swahili are available for download!
All events are free and open to the public! Registration is required for virtual events.
West University Branch Library (HCPL)
6108 Auden St, Houston, TX 77005
Saturday, March 8, 2025
10:30 a.m.
High Meadows Branch Library (HCPL)
4500 Aldine Mail Rte Rd, Houston, TX 77039
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
3 p.m.
Parker Williams Branch Library (HCPL)
10851 Scarsdale Boulevard, Houston, TX 77089
Wednesday, March 12
4:30 p.m.
Katherine Tyra Branch Library @ Bear Creek (HCPL)
16719 Clay Road, Houston, TX 77084
Thursday, March 13, 2025
3 p.m.
North Channel Branch Library (HCPL)
15741 Wallisville Road, Houston, TX 77049
Monday, March 17, 2025
3 p.m.
Spring Branch Memorial Branch Library (HCPL)
930 Corbindale, Houston, TX 77024
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
4 p.m.
Sunday, March 30, 2025
11 a.m. U.S. Central Time
A School Play and its public presentations are supported in part by a grant from the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.
