Nobody's Perfect

Overview

Learn more about this new Kennedy Center musical about a positively purple 10th birthday party and how two very different girls learn to understand each other.

Suggested Use

In this video-driven microsite, students will delve deep into the Kennedy Center's first bilingual musical in English and American Sign Language (ASL.) Based on the book by Marlee Matlin and Doug Cooney, the show centers on the relationship between Megan Merrill, a rambunctious fourth grader on the eve of her 10th birthday, and the seemingly perfect “new girl,” Alexis Powell.

Alexis seems perfect, but when Megan invites her to the party, she says no. Is Alexis shy or stuck up—or does she have an attitude because Megan is deaf? It's not until the two girls are assigned to work together that they learn the truth about each other—and about the importance of communication.

The site is divided into three parts: in the first, "From Page to Stage," visitors follow one important scene as it moves from words on a page to songs on a stage. Starting with readings by the book’s author and the playwright, students watch as a scene moves through rehearsals and finally appears on stage.

In the second section, "Practice Makes Perfect," we go behind the scenes to get a sense of three important parts of the artistic process: creating characters, communicating, and solving problems.

In the third section, "All About _________," the spotlight is on Megan, the main character of the story. We'll learn who Megan is from the people who know her best—the writers and actors who brought her to life.

Here are some questions to help kick-start discussion in the classroom:

• Making a musical requires a lot of collaboration. The whole team—the writer, director, actors, composer, set designer, and others—must work together. Can you explain the different ways people work together in the making of Nobody’s Perfect?
• In a musical, the songs help tell the story. The words, or lyrics, and the style of the music suggest what each song is about. Watch the clips about the scene with the song “Perfection.” What is the song about? Can you pick a word that describes one of your friends–or yourself—and write a song? (Be sure to use your adjective at least twice! It helps if you pick one that is easy to rhyme with another word.)
• How does a designer help the audience imagine the different places the musical takes place? Watch the clip “Setting the Stage.” In it, the scene designer talks about the challenges of creating a set that can be used for a lot of different scenes, including a hamster maze. What do you think about his solution? What solution might you have chosen? Make a drawing or model and present it to your “design team.”

Check back for additional activities—learning more about rehearsals and more about Megan—in the coming month.

Technical Requirements

The video in this site is fully accessible to Deaf and hearing audiences: it features options for spoken English, ASL insets and closed captioning. You will need a broadband Internet connection and the Flash 8 Player to acess the site.