HOLDEN & ARTS ASSOCIATES
SHARING STORIES AND CREATING PARTNERSHIPS SINCE 1983
WIND IN THE WILLOWS
Based on the book by Kenneth Grahame
Produced by Theatre Heroes
From Austin, Texas
Resources
About the Company
Journey into the Wild Wood on this multi-media adventure based on Kenneth Grahame's beloved children's novel. Wind in the Willows mixes classic storytelling with projected illustrations to tell the trials of Mole and Rat on an all-night race against time as they venture through the hidden wonders of the forest to find the young Otter before it's too late.
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From the team who brought us Call of the Wild: Illustrated Edition, the production uses 180-degree projection that surrounds the performer and provides scenic elements throughout the show, while underscoring music and soundscapes set the mood. Experience the magic and mystery as award winning actor Noel Gaulin plays all the fabled characters in this new adaptation of this classic story.
The world premiere occurred in October 2024 in Austin, TX at the State Theatre and was performed in front of over 1,000 students. "From the beautifully rendered projections to the immersive sound design and energetic performance from Noel Gaulin, audiences will be captivated." - Brian C. Fahey, Senior Education Director, Paramount & State Theatres.
This company is on the Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster for 2024-2026– so funding is available for presenters in Mid America (AR, KS, MO, NE, OK) and Texas! Learn more about the Mid America Arts Alliance Regional Touring Program here and the TCA Touring Roster here.
Best for: Grades 3rd+
Audience Size: Small, Medium, & Large Venues
Hear from Theatre Heroes' Artistic Director and Performer Noel Gaulin in this promotional trailer.
WIND IN THE WILLOWS performance highlights trailer.
Curriculum Connections
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Fine Arts: Dramatic Performance, Performance & Technology
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Language Arts: Page to Stage – Adapting a Novel into a Play, Narrative, Reading, Comprehension, Writing, Vocabulary
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Science: Animals & the Environment,
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Emotional/Social Development: Adapting to new circumstances, Resilience, Endurance, Survival
Outreach and Workshops
In addition to the performance, there is a 10 minute performer-led talk-back (unless otherwise requested by the venue.)
Workshops
The company can offer post-performance student workshops that explore character, setting and literary analysis, creating scenes through storytelling, acting, movement, music and rhythm, and ensemble collaboration. Get students excited for the show or delve deeper post-performance. Learn from the performer how the show went from page to stage. Teacher workshops include using theatre and storytelling as tools to teach curriculum and invigorate learning through Readers Theatre activities as well as other theatre and movement exercises and simple visual art activities that align with curriculum standards in Language Arts, Science, Geography, and the Arts.
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Sensory Friendly Performances
This production is available as a sensory friendly performance if requested in advance and with specific direction as to what this means for your venue.
Minimum Technical Requirements
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Load In Time: 4 hours (with lights prehung). Company will need 1 & 1⁄2 hours for show call.
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Crew Needs: 2 stagehands during load in and load out (to help with set up and strike of set), 1 lighting technician, and 1 sound technician
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Min. Stage Size: 35ft wide x 20ft deep x 12 ft height (playing space can be adapted based on venue specs.)
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Sound/Video Needs: All sound will be operated via Q lab. Company will travel with three 9x12 dual projection screens and three short throw projectors for rear setup.
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Load Out Time: 1.5 hours
Artistic Team
Based the book by Kenneth Grahame
Adapted by Greg Romero
Performed by Noel Gaulin
Sound Design by K. Elliot Hayes
Illustrations by Annie Bradley McCall
Costumes by Kelli Bland
Media Design by Chris Owen
Lighting By Stephen Pruitt
Music by Mike Vernusky
Movement Consultation by Kelly Hasandras and Olivia O'Hare
Siku Pan Flute by Adrienne Inglis
Tongue Drum by Carolyn Trowbridge
Critical Acclaim
“Wind in the Willows is a complete sensory experience that all ages will enjoy. From the beautifully rendered projections to the immersive sound design and energetic performance from Noel Gaulin, audiences will be captivated. We were honored to present the world premiere at the State Theatre in Austin, TX.” - Brian C. Fahey; Senior Director of Education; Paramount & State Theatres
Teacher feedback:​
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“(Our students) loved his ability to be multiple characters as well as how he made so many different sounds with his voice and his expressions.”
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“(Our students) enjoyed the quality of the acting and the projections.”
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“(Our students enjoyed) how engaging Noel was in his performance. His noises. His facial expressions.”
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“(Our students enjoyed) Noel’s ability to create so many different characters, the script, sound effects and projections.”
Critical Acclaim for Theatre Heroes' past work Call of the Wild:
" Noel Gaulin is such a gifted storyteller; You simply cannot help but fall in love and experience a little heartbreak. The projections are truly stunning, adding to the company's concept... and the music captivated from the beginning. I believe this piece has the power to draw schools and public audiences in droves and will leave lasting impact" - Jenn Luck, Presenter at the Paramount, Austin, Texas (about Call of the Wild).
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"We got incredible feedback from students and teachers about Noel's performance, both from the student matinee and the evening family friendly performance, the workshop at the middle school was excellent and thought provoking. As always, we remain impressed by Theatre Heroes! - Katie Carrol, Presenter at Strings Music, Steamboat Springs, Colorado (about Call of the Wild).
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"I loved how language arts and history were integrated. The kids were blown away by how many different characters the actor played." - Teacher (about Call of the Wild).
Company Background
Past North American Tours include: Call of the Wild: Illustrated Edition (6 national tours from 2018-2024)
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Theatre Heroes is a theatre company based out of Austin, TX that creates high quality touring performances for young audiences and those young at heart.
We bring classic stories and adventures to life to promote creativity, inspire innovation and enliven multi-sensory learning experiences - empowering youth to be their own Hero. We also believe in inspiring the next generation of theatre makers through our workshops, talkbacks, and residencies.
Noel Gaulin is a four-time winner of Best Actor from the Austin Critics' Table and Austin Revolution Film Festival. He has toured over 250 plus performances across the country with Rude Mechs, Paper Chairs, Glass Half Full, and Creative Action; and he has performed Theatre Heroes' Call of the Wild to over 140 cities for 125,000+ young people across the country. He is also recognized as a revered arts educator for his commitment to excellence and kindness.
For more information, please visit the company’s website.
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About Greg Romero, Playwright
Greg Romero is originally from Louisiana, Cajun blood on both sides. His full-length plays include LARPing, The Most Beautiful Lullaby You’ve Ever Heard, The Milky Way Cabaret, Of Plastic Things and Butterfly Wings, and Delaware Mudtub and the Mighty Wampum, and have been presented in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, Austin, SanDiego, Washington DC, Louisville, Baltimore, New Orleans, Anchorage, Victoria (British Columbia), Kingston (Jamaica), and other awesome places.
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Romero enjoys an ongoing collaboration with electronic music composer Mike Vernusky on performance projects including Falling Down the Mountain of Great Storms, Big Iron Fires, TheBook of Remembrance and Forgetting, The Eulogy Project, Radio Ghosts, Dallas, Under My Coat is the Truth, and The Babel Project, which have been performed live in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Austin, Baltimore, Phoenix, and Anchorage, and received airplay in Toronto, Ontario as part of New Adventures In Sound Art’s Deep Wireless Festival and in Zürich, Switzerland as part of Digital Art Weeks, produced by Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich. Their collaboration has also been supported by an award from MetLife Creative Connections.
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Romero has twice been a finalist for the Heideman Award, a semi-finalist for the Princess Grace Award, nominated for the F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Theater Artist, and was selected as the first-ever Resident Writer of the ArtsEdge Residency, created by The Kelly Writers Houseand The University of Pennsylvania. He is one of three playwrights to inaugurate the Philadelphia Dramatists Center/Plays & Players Playwriting Residency and was a pilot member of Hyde Park Theatre’s Playwright’s Group. He is an alum of the WordBRIDGE Playwrights Laboratory, the Valdez/Last Frontier Theatre Conference, the William Inge Theater Festival, the Mid-America Theater Conference, and the Midwest Dramatists Conference. His works are published by Heinemann Press, YouthPLAYS, Next Stage Press, and Playscripts, Inc.
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He is currently a member of the Rec Room Arts Writer’s Group in Houston and Visiting Assistant Professor, Playwriting & Dramaturgy at the University of Houston.
Past Production
