“Mr. V.'s Day Off” – Columbus Day

About this event

“Mr. V.’s Day Off” – Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day Kids ages 4–11, join Mr. V for an unforgettable day of music, history, and adventure on the John and Nancy Hughes Theater stage at Gorton! First, celebrate great explorers and exciting ocean voyages. Then, dive into the rich heritage of Native America through Mr. V’s original songs and captivating stories. Along the way, kids will sing, move, create, and share as they discover history through music. Next, they’ll enjoy hands-on activities that spark curiosity and imagination. Meanwhile, Mr. V brings every lesson to life with live piano music and engaging multimedia presentations. As a result, every activity is fun, interactive, and memorable. Best of all, kids will build new skills while having an amazing time from beginning to end. Choose the full-day camp (9 a.m.–3 p.m., $120) or the half-day camp (9 a.m.–12 p.m., $60). Ages: 4-11 Monday, October 12 Full Day ($120) or Half Day ($60) Meet the Gorton Drama Studio Team Bill Vaananen is an award-winning music educator and composer who has taught and directed elementary-aged students for over 45 years. Originally from Oklahoma, “Mr. V.” was general music teacher at Wescott School in Northbrook for 37 years. He has written hundreds of songs and dozens of original theater works that have been performed across Chicago’s northern suburbs. Recipient of the Golden Apple Award, IEA Human Rights Award, National-Louis Distinguished Alumni Award for Social Justice, and Star of Teaching Award for the State of Illinois, Vaananen continues to perform classes and presentations for children, weaving his original music into inspiring lessons on Nature, history, culture, and adventure. About Our Artistic Director: Jeremy Kruse, Artistic Director of Gorton Drama Studio is the author of “The Young Actor’s Handbook” (Applause Acting Series, 2017).The book was published in Korean and Chinese in 2022. Jeremy is a professional actor, published playwright, award-winning…

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