When the Trees Sing

About The Show

Join Papa Tank for a performance of When The Trees Sing, an original play inspired by the work of Mattie Stepanek!

If you're not familiar with Mattie Stepanek's work, you're missing out.

Mattie J.T. Stepanek, a well-respected poet and award-winning peace ambassador, lived a life that was brief in length but powerfully blessed with depth. He is known as "a poet, a peacemaker, and a philosopher who played.” Born on July 17, 1990, Mattie began creating and sharing his poetry, penned Heartsongs, at the young age of 3. He explained that Heartsongs are “gifts that reflect each person’s unique reason for being.”

Mattie ultimately published six collections of Heartsongs poetry books, and one collection of Just Peace essays. All seven of Mattie’s books became New York Times Bestsellers and touched millions of lives around the world. His hero was former U.S.President Jimmy Carter, who described Stepanek as "the most extraordinary person whom I have ever known.” In 2011, Oprah Winfrey named Stepanek one of her all- time most memorable guests in the 25-year history of her show. Mattie died on June 22, 2004 due to complications of Dysautonomic Mitochondrial Myopathy. To find out more about Mattie’s extraordinary life and his influence, visit www.mattieonline.com.

Pieces Featured

The premiere will include the following of Mattie's poems. Each poem will be represented by music, movement, visual art, spoken word or a combination of these, created by Papa Tank teaching artists and the cast.

Morning Gifts---- a movement piece accompanied by a reading of the poem
Songs of The Wind--- a multi-discipline piece, part speaking, part singing including sound effects
When The Trees Sing---a song with movement
Leaf For A Day---a theatre/storytelling piece
Heartsong----a song
Climbing To Heaven--- a movement piece with instrumental musical background and a reading of the poem Beware The Everwolf---a theatre/storytelling piece
For Our World---a movement piece accompanied by a reading of the poem
On Being A Champion--- a song with movement

Note

An ASL interpreter will be at each performance along with other sensory equipment.

Host or Publisher Papa Tank Theatre For Inclusion