Story Wranglers
The Paramount Story Wranglers
Overview
Imagine the feeling of seeing the story YOU wrote performed on stage in front of your whole school, and the sheer excitement of hearing the audience cheering you on…
Story Wranglers is a seven-week in-school residency in which third graders learn the foundations of creative writing through arts-integrated lessons designed to motivate students and improve their writing skills, confidence, creativity, and storytelling.
During the residency, each classroom writes hundreds of stories as a class, in small groups, and in individual journals. At the end of the seven weeks, professional actors known as the Paramount Story Wranglers transform students’ original stories from page to stage in a live performance for the entire campus!
Impact of the Program
100% of teachers surveyed perceived that Story Wranglers had a significant positive impact on their students in regards to writing, social emotional learning, and the arts.
98% of students report they are proud of their writing.
89% of students exhibit improved knowledge of vocabulary and writing skills.
Story Wranglers students tested better than 59% of students who did not receive the curriculum in terms of creativity.
Title 1 Story Wranglers students closed the achievement gap on creativity and writing measures with respect to non-Title 1 students.
2019-2020 School Year By the Numbers
17 Schools
Served (20% of AISD Elementaries)
940 Students
Served
3,900+ Original Stories
Written
208 Stories
Performed (76 of which were digital)
7,000+ Attendees
Enjoyed Story Wranglers Live Shows
400 Hours
Rehearsal
50 Artists
(Actors and Teachers) Employed
100 Original Songs
Written
More Info
Interested in bringing the Story Wranglers program to your campus or becoming a Story Wrangler teaching artist? Contact Christine Gonzales-DeJohn at cgonzales-dejohn@austintheatre.org.
Interested in becoming a Story Wrangler performer? Contact Katie Moore at kmoore@austintheatre.org.
Support the Program
Bring Story Wranglers to more third grade classrooms in the Greater Austin Area! Contact Krystal Parsons, Director of Development, at kparsons@austintheatre.org or 512-692-0515.
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Testimonials
The reviews are in, and both teachers and students agree that Story Wranglers is a hit!
–Participating Teacher
“That was simply incredible! I don’t know how you pulled that off, but it was incredible. I kept scrolling through the faces, and the students were so excited as their stories came to life. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
–Participating Teacher
“I actually got to show the stories I made. It felt like a miracle.”
–Participating Student
“My favorite part was we said ‘and this is our story,’ because then people would see me. They were cheering me on, because that’s how you show respect.” –Participating Student
Stories
Digital Performances
Stuck in a Computer
by 3rd graders at Blanton Elementary
Once upon a time there lived a girl named Katherine Johnson (saved Apollo 13 and 11, made planes). She was stuck in a computer because she pressed random buttons while she was calculating algebra. The computer malfunctioned and sucked her up with its black hole setting. She wanted to learn more math, harder math. It was her favorite subject, and using difficult algebra would help her break out and be able to land planes. It was her job! But, she basically knew all the math already. She knew algebra, geometry, and what they learn in high school. Then she found a way out of the computer. She hired viruses that she found on Wikipedia to break it apart, so she could transport through the screen. And ever since that day she was free and the smartest person in the world. She knew everything in the world because that was a side effect from being in a computer. She helped NACA aka NASA land Apollo on the moon. She knew all the math, even the hardest equations. The End
Carmen the Cactus
by 3rd graders at Allison Elementary
Once upon a time Carmen the cactus lived in the jungle where she explored and studied animals. Carmen wanted to live in the desert instead because it was hard to breathe in the jungle. But as she was exploring in the jungle, she met Evil Patrick a flying tiger, and they became the best of friends. She didn’t know if she could leave him. Then she asked Evil Patrick to come with her to the desert, and he said “Yes!” because he would be lonely in the jungle without her. Carmen flew with Evil Patrick on his back all the way to their new home in the desert. And ever since that day after exploring the desert, they encountered golden llamas, a new breed, and became millionaires by sharing this new species with the world. Best friends are great! The End
Dr Bunny y los animales enfermos
by 3rd graders at Allison Elementary
Habia una vez un conejo en el Hospital de la Granja llamado “Animales Enfermos”. El queira ayudar a todos los animales de la granja como gurrion el caballo, Lupe la gallina y sofia la vaca porque tenion un tornillo en jus pies. Pero Dr. Bunny no tenia herramientas para quitar los tornillos de los pies de Gurrion, Lupe y Sofia. Entonces Gurrion se acordo que el tenia herramientas en su casa y se las regalo a Dr. Bunny. Y desde ese dia Dr. Bunny curo a todos los animales de la granja y se pusieron a bailar porque no les dolia los pies. El fin
The Floppy Cowboy
by 3rd graders at Joslin Elementary
Once upon a time, there was a guy named Mr. Potato Flop Fish who lived in Kermin the Frog Land with his mom and dad. He wanted to go out on land and be a cowboy. But he was a fish and was too short and tiny. Then he flopped out of the ocean and grew legs by pushing hard. Then he met a cowboy named Rob who gave him a suit and taught him to be a real cowboy. And ever since that day, he was known as the Floppy Cowboy. The End
Check out all virtual content we brought to students in the 2020-2021 school year.
SEE ALL
In-School Performances
Chocolate Drinks Coffee
by 3rd graders at Galindo Elementary
Once upon a time, there was a Donut Man named Chocolate who worked at Coffee Donut Depot at the North Pole. He wanted to buy coffee because it was so cold there in the morning (-100 degrees), and he had never tried it before. But they were out of coffee because 15 people came in and drank all of it before he could. Then, on his break, he went to Coffee Cabana and bought $100 worth of coffee And ever since that day, he drank a gallon of coffee and melted because he was a donut and all that was left of him was a mushy brown puddle and birds ate him. The End
Jimmy and the Unknown
by 3rd graders at Pease Elementary
Once upon a time there was a sleep master named Unknown, who hid in Jimmy’s bedroom closet. Jimmy wanted to buy a new bedroom on eBay because his bedroom was haunted by the sleep master, Unknown. But Jimmy lost his money. The sleep master had stolen it off of the night stand because he was poor. Unknown spent all his money on PJ’s. Then, Jimmy realized that there was also baby Bob-Bob’s bedroom. Jimmy moved into Bob-Bob’s baby bedroom. And ever since that day, Unknown, the sleep master, hid in Bob-Bob’s bedroom in a stuffed animal-a giant unicorn. Unknown only came out at 9:00 pm, so Jimmy made sure he was asleep by then. The End
Annoyed Lady Liberty
by 3rd graders at Govalle Elementary
Once upon a time, Lady Liberty was standing up there all alone in New York. She wanted someone to live in her head. But it’s really hard to get up there and if it rained, you’d get wet. Then Theodore Roosevelt thought she was so beautiful. So he climbed up and fixed her head so he could live in three. He moved in and brought a bed, a pillow, a blanked, food, and the Mona Lisa for decoration. And ever since that day, she loved having a voice in her head until 8 years later when she got really annoyed with him and kicked him out. He was so loud and never stopped talking. It gave her a headache. The End
Mr. Drake’s Voyage for a Voice
by 3rd graders at Highland Park Elementary
Once upon a time there was an iguana named Mr. Drake that lived in a fluffy stinky sock house next to Alexander Hamilton’s mansion because he couldn’t sing and you need to sing well to buy a nice house. Singing is a form of currency. Mr. Drake wants to meet Alexander Hamilton AND Eliza Hamilton, because he wants to learn how to project his voice and move his vocal cords. He can only sing like, “EEhhhhhhhhhhaahaahahh.” But the door to Alexander Hamilton’s house is locked. Then he sprints into the woods and finds a raccoon who teaches him how to sing opera. He returns and sings in front of Alexander Hamilton’s front door and teaches Alexander and Eliza how to sing opera. And ever since that day he became the director of every play. Mr. Drake becomes famous for playing Shakespeare in the Hamilton musical. The End
Visit our YouTube channel to see all of our past performances!
WATCH VIDEOS