"Tell Me the Story of Iowa" Debuts at State Historical Society

For Immediate Release February 4, 2004

DES MOINES, Iowa— The State Historical Building in Des Moines will present "Tell Me the Story of Iowa" and conduct museum tours for 3,000 Iowa school children Feb. 9-13 and Feb. 24-26. "Tell Me the Story of Iowa," a fast-paced, fact-filled play by Iowa playwright Cynthia Mercati, will be performed at 9:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. each day in the theater of the State Historical Building, 600 East Locust.

"Tell Me the Story of Iowa" portrays Buffy, an Iowa teenager, who visits an Iowa history museum in her last minute efforts to put together a history report about Iowa. At the museum, characters in the exhibits come to life and tell their stories, introducing Buffy to the colorful history of our great state.

Following the show student docents will guide the audience through a tour of the Museum. Several hands-on activities are planned for students, including the opportunity to have their picture taken as they pose against the backdrop of Grant Woods' famous painting American Gothic, climb through a hole in a wall like a Civil War soldier escaping from prison camp, learn the Charleston, and practice with hula hoops.

Craftspeople will have demonstration booths set up in the museum atrium. Woodcarvers, spinners, and weavers will display examples of their work and demonstrate first-hand how these crafts were done by the early settlers of Iowa. Teachers will receive a study guide describing ways to integrate "Tell Me the Story of Iowa" into classroom assignments.

Participating schools are:

Des Moines
Brody Middle School
Brubaker Elementary
Capitol View Elementary
Garton Elementary
Hanawalt Elementary
Hiatt Middle School
Holy Trinity
Hoyt Middle School
Longfellow Elementary
McKinley Elementary
Meredith Middle School
Mitchell Elementary
Monroe Elementary
River Woods Elementary
St. Theresa
Wallace Elementary
Weeks Middle School
Willard Elementary
Windsor Elementary

West Des Moines
Clive Elementary
Stilwell Jr. High
Western Hills Elementary

Johnston
Beaver Creek Elementary

SE Polk
Four Mile Elementary

Humeston
Mormon Trail

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EDITORS: These programs make for excellent photo opportunities. Please contact Maureen Korte at 515-281-4132 for more information.