By Karen Wolitzer
"I'm going to be doing the Louie thing," says Mr. Dis-n-Dat with a laugh. "It's an interactive show, which starts off with a 'hello song.' I say 'hola' and everyone just responds 'hola.' The energy starts building from the second I get on stage."I do the Itsy Bitsy Spider...my version of it...I stop short and make the song more exciting by calling some kids on stage to make a band with me. I give them instruments and they get so excited...and everyone wants to be part of the show," he says enthusiastically."Then during the course of the show I'll tell them that there's a surprise guest that will be out soon and it might be a baby polar bear. Of course it's not real, but by the time that polar bear comes on stage everyone's so excited."Another thing that gets the kids going is Louie's story about big mouse and little mouse. He tells them that one day, while playing his guitar, big mouse came along and told Louie that he wanted to learn to play the guitar, too. He raises the excitement level by telling the kids about the special little guitar he had made for big mouse. Of course, the children can't wait to see it. They're thrilled by the four inch guitar case and guitar. But that's not all. Then he tells them that little mouse wanted to play guitar, too. And naturally they want to see the even littler mouse-size guitar and case. "My ABC rap is very popular, too. I throw on a hip-hop beat and the kids get so into it. I bring a couple of kids on stage." By then the whole audience is rocking. "If I see older kids in the audience, I bring them up on stage and teach them how to play an instrument. I even bring parents on stage...so it's a real family show." Your kids (grandkids) will adore it.On Sunday, join Connie Cocciolone and Alice Weiser of "Constant Wonder" as they treat you to original songs and theater games created especially for LICM."Our show corresponds with the
It's Alive exhibit at the museum," explains Alice. "Connie has written a number of original songs about being alive and growing. A couple of them are about children changing and growing...learning to walk and losing their teeth...and the others are about how animals grow," she adds. "The whole show is very interactive. Throughout, we're asking the audience questions. We invite them to come up on the stage. We act out life cycles of various animals like a frog, butterfly or chicken and the audience has to guess which animal it is that we're acting out. The children even get to pretend to be their favorite animal."Alice knows what kids like. Her background is in musical theater, dance and acting. For years she did theater workshops with children. "We played theater games, acted out stories and played let's imagine games." Connie taught in the Farmingdale school district. "Ever since I started teaching, I'd write songs to go along with my lessons. I'd put an original song on the board in big print and the kids would learn the song and learn to read at the same time." When Alice and Connie met, it was a union formed in heaven. "We met at a women's spirituality retreat," says Connie. "I play the piano...Alice sings...we hit it off immediately and knew that we should work together." The last time they played at LICM they were a huge hit. These are two shows that you don't want to miss. How often do you get the chance to take your kids to a show that will have them bouncing in their seats and will teach them a lesson or two?
Long Island Children's Museum
Louie Dis-n-Dat, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Constant Wonder, Oct. 20 at noon and 2 p.m.
Admission to museum: $8 for adults and children over 1 year old; $7 seniors. 11 Davis Ave., off Chas. Lindbergh Blvd., Garden City. For more info call 224-5800.
