Dianne Moran-Historic Voices

Miss Mollie From the Ozark Hills

Performance

Have a visit with Mollie, an Ozark Hill woman dressed as women of those parts did 100 years ago, with a long skirt and a shawl about her shoulders.  You can have a little chat with her, though the way she thinks and talks won’t be anything like the way folks do today.  You’ll have fun as she shares an Ozark tale or two with you and she might even show what’s inside her mysterious suitcase.  “I jest cain’t tell y’all what’s inside, just be satisfied to know everything is old, kinda musty smellin’ and from long ago.”  Mollie will bring her old mountain dulcimer and play a few songs for you; maybe you’ll sing-a-long with her.  You can pass around her old picture album; you’ll see what folks really looked like over a hundred years ago.  Why, she has a whole display from the old days and maybe one of her critters will make the visit with her.  PreK-Adult/Curriculum Connections: Character Education, History/Social Studies, Missouri/St. Louis History, Music, Storytelling, Theater, Customized to Curriculum.

Workshop

Miss Mollie will be "in character" as she spins Ozark pioneer stories of harsh survival and the simple joys of life in the wilds.  She'll invite a boy and a girl to dress in the same period, each with a bag of objects from the late 1800's inside.  The class will be invited to pass around the strange everyday items from long ago.  A few songs on the MT. Dulcimer will be played and a final story told.  Then, one of Mollie's favorite Ozark creatures, a nice big live snake for touching, will conclude the program.  1st-5th/Curriculum Connections: Character Education, History/Social Studies, MO/St. Louis History, Music, Storytelling, Customized to Curriculum

Residency

"Ozark Mollie" is a 3-day residency which highlights the enduring spirit of all pioneers and shows how we may be able to learn from their legacy of survival.  A first person portrayal of an Ozark Woman and Mt. Dulcimer music will set the atmosphere for the residency on the first day.  Students will analyze the information they hear during the residency, keep a journal and compare similarities and differences between themselves and the pioneers on the last day. The objective on the second day is to personalize the people of long ago.  Students will work in cooperative learning groups to interview those who have volunteered to dress in the period.  They will share various objects with group members who will examine, identify and determine their use in daily life.  (Printed guides will be supplied to aid the students in their interviews.)  One group member will present their findings to the class.  Dianne, in character, will begin the final day with an entry from an 1800's person's diary.  Students will reflect on their journal entries and share their thoughts on similarities and differences of the people then and now.  The residency will end with a demonstration of primitive fire making followed by a live Ozark snake for touching.  1st-5th/Curriculum Connections: Character Education, Communication Arts/Literature, Critical Thinking/Problem Solving, Missouri/St. Louis History, Music, Theater, Customized to Curriculum 

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