 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Family | Friends | Music | Poetry | Riddles | Links | News | Concerts | Home |
|
Mary Lafleur performed her original music and poetry in such diverse places as the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, the Children's Museum of Manhattan, the Zoofari Festival in Tulsa, and The Caves in St. Paul, as well as schools, libraries, bookstores, coffee houses, and community centers in twenty states.
Mary's unique blend of improvisational musical theatre and performance poetry was one of a kind. By putting the children at the center of each performance, Mary tooks audience participation to a new level. No two shows were ever alike! Whether it was Mama Bear shouting "I know who ate the porridge!" or The Little Red Hen asking, "Who will help me mail the wheat?" each audience creates its own fun.
The stage was set: a story-teller/poet, a guitar, and a menagerie of props. Add a few willing participants, and she created pure magic.
Volunteers helped act out new stories about pirates and train rides, and re-examine classic tales such as "The Little Red Hen," "Goldilocks," and "Little Red Riding Hood." Songs were interspersed by a variety of riddles and poetry. By varying the songs, riddles and poetry, concerts she geared her performances for ages 3-10.
Where She's Been
What They Said About
"Pink Elephants Live"
Dear Mary,
I can't begin to tell you how excited we were to have you come to Monroe School! We sang your songs several times a day for weeks on end. Your stories, songs and poems brought out smiles and imaginations alike. Thanks so much for the wonderful concert. The children LOVED being involved as they performed with you on stage. If that wasn't enough, your presence in our classroom helping with journals and letting us sing for you had the kids talking for weeks after you left! I would and do recommend your show to ALL! Hope to see you again next year! Have a GREAT summer!
|
Dear Mary,
Thank you for coming to Tazewell-Woodford Head Start and entertaining us. I
hope that we will be able to work something out for you to come back sometime.
The staff, children and families all had an awesome time. We really enjoy the
way that you get everyone involved in your songs, especially the childdren. What
a delightfully fun time we had. We hope to see you again.
Dear Mary,
Each year our library plans special entertainment programs during Childern's Summer Reading. Your musical tunes and animated songs were enjoyed by all who attended the programs. You couldn't help but start your toes tapping, hands clapping and sing along with simple, yet thoughtful, songs about animals, friendships, and love. Thank you, Mary, for the delightful experience.
Nancy Olinger, Project Director, Cedar
Rapids Public Library, Cedar Rapids, IA, 2006
Dear Mary, Thank-you so much for the wonderfully
entertaining program you presented to my Kindergarten and First Graders. Your
voice is so pure and clear and the children just loved all your puppets and
props. Your songs are "group-friendly" and my students loved singing with you and
your just-challenging-enough riddles! It was great fun for them to see their
classroom teachers dressed up in wigs and blowing train whistles. Thank-you for a
wonderful time! Considering the large number of
children Mary had with the 3-4 year old group, it was quite impressive how
engaged they all were. One of the 3rd-graders
described her as 'wicked awesome.' Dear Mary, Thanks so much for singing for us. You had great rapport with the children.
They said it was the best assembly they'd been to. Your voice is strong,
clear and melodic, and your fun sense of humor is evident in your songs and
poems. You touch the essence of children, which is a love of fun, suspense, and
learning in your poems, riddles and songs. May the Lord bless you and yours from
His abundance. In Him, The clever riddles and inviting tunes keep the entire audience on the edge of
their seats during this exciting musical adventure. Mary's
energy is contagious! Mary's involvement of children in the songs and the use of
simple props helped capture the children's attention. It also gave some of them
the opportunity to be 'on-stage' in a non-threatening situation. I would
recommend her performance to any other daycare or school. Dear Ms. Lafleur: My two sons and I thoroughly enjoyed your Pink
Elephant Concert on April 11 at the Corporate Parkway Branch Library. Perhaps you may remember my sons. One was the dog in your version of "The
Little Red Hen." My youngest son made himself very comfortable on your guitar
case! At the end of the program, Miss M. C. mentioned that you had tapes
for sale. Do you still have these available? I don't remember why I didn't
purchase them at the time. Please let me know if they are still available.
Thanks so much. Sincerely,
Dear Mary, Thank you for entertaining us with your poetry and music.
The children had a wonderful time -- almost as good as the teachers! I love the
fact that you incorporate poetry and riddles with the music. Sometimes it's hard
to turn kids on to poetry -- I have been trying to excite the kids during summer
school. You sure gave me a helping hand! My own children love your
tape. Thanks again -- Dear Ms. Lafleur, That was a graet show last Friday. I reale liked it. Thank you. The puppets
were funny! Dear Mrs. Lafleur, I loved your show and I like when we play
Gooldylocks and the three bears and little red hen and little red riding
hood. Dear Mrs. Lafleur, Thake you for the program But it was verey funey. Dear Ms. Lafleur, I've been composing this letter to you since I was on
my way home from the children's program meeting in Cedar Rapids (3/19). I'm willing to bet that I've listened to your tapes more than I've listened to
any of our other kids' tapes in our quite abundant collection. Maybe I've been
in my car too much lately... Hm-m. Anyway, my 7-year-old daughter insists
on hearing "The Little Red Hen" every time she hears your voice. My son, age 9,
even sings along with the contagious lyrics! They are WONDERFUL!! "Yo
Ho..." I can't choose just one. I love the tender messages (Little
Red Hen) and the tunes that keep running through one's head -- long after the
music has stopped. I plan to use the songs for children's story hour. The
kids will manipulate puppets while you sing the stories! Thanks! Please
continue to make music -- it's charming! Sincerely, I liked the way
Mary focused all her attention on the children she was performing for.
