Theatre Artists, Safe Routes To School Team Up To Present Fun and Smart Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety Play to Sonoma County Elementary School Students

Contacts:       Tina Panza, Sonoma County Safe Routes to School, tina@BikeSonoma.org,

707-799-3911

Brent Lindsay, The Imaginists Theatre Collective, brent@theimaginists.org

707-528-7554

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- Kapweeeeng!  Faster than a speeding tricycle.  Chuggachuggachugga!  More powerful than a windup bunny.  Boingggggg!  Able to leap cafeteria line cordons in a single bound.  It's a bird!  It's a plane!  No, It's Captain Bicycle Shorts!

The Imaginists Theatre Collective, as a part of a program conducted by Sonoma County Safe Routes to Schools, is touring local grade schools with a half-hour assembly performance on bicycle and pedestrian safety, titled, "The Passion of Captain Bicycle Shorts" or "How I Became a Bicycle Safety Superhero and Won the Girl of my Dreams."  In the show, we watch Bikey Shorts, a daring but benighted bumbler, as he learns the rules of bicycle safety, takes the superhero test, and, with the help of the Friendly Traffic Signs, finally earns his superhero insignia, winning the love of his Inamorata (Principals and teachers, beware: the beloved may be you!).

In this assembly, featuring songs and comic monkeyshines, the audience will learn the six rules of bicycle safety and the essentials of maintaining a safe bicycle to ride on.  In fact, at every turn of the all-important test, Captain Bicycle Shorts must rely on the audience's advice.  For example, at crossings, should he cover his eyes and keep pedaling or should he stop?  The audience will decide . . .

Music by Imaginists supporters and enthusiasts Ludwig von Beethoven and Richard Wagner.  Libretto inspired by Abbott and Costello.  Coming soon to a multi-purpose room or cafetorium near you!

According to Eliot Fintushel, a member of the Imaginists Theatre Collective and a longtime children's theatre performer, "'Captain Bicycle Shorts’ speaks to children in a language they understand--the language of laughter.  By coaxing them to help the captain get it right, it encourages children to take bicycle safety to heart and to encourage their friends to do the same."

“We were thrilled, says Tina Panza, Safe Routes to School program director at Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, “to have the opportunity to fund the development and initial run of performances at eight schools that are implementing comprehensive SRTS programs this year. The Imaginists manage to make bicycle and pedestrian safety absolutely hilarious and memorable at the same time, which will inspire students to get moving on their own human power.”

Performances are scheduled at schools in the Roseland, Bellevue, and Sebastopol Union School Districts in September and October. Reporters are encouraged to attend and can obtain a performance schedule by contacting Panza.  The Sonoma County Safe Routes to School program is currently seeking sponsorships to help fund performances at additional school sites.  If an organization is interested in sponsoring a performance, please contact Panza.

About Sonoma County Safe Routes to School:
The Sonoma County Safe Routes to School program, funded in part by the Measure M transportation tax, supports grass routes Safe Routes to School efforts by providing guidance and resources to interested schools, as funding permits. The goal of Safe Routes to School programs is to encourage walking and bicycling where it is safe, and to make changes where it is not safe.  SRTS programs do this through an integrated approach that includes five E's - encouragement, education, evaluation, engineering, and enforcement. However, a school can launch a SRTS program with just one component, and build from there. In doing so, SRTS programs address health and safety by reducing traffic congestion around schools, increasing physical activity, encouraging lifestyle changes for families, creating safer, calmer streets and neighborhoods, and improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition is the lead implementation agency for the county SRTS program. 

About The Imaginists Theatre Collective:
The Imaginists is a theatre of collaboration, experimentation, and exploration committed to making authentic, innovative theatre and expanding audiences by inviting diversity, mentoring emerging artists, encouraging new artistic voices and creating a vital forum for ideas and communication, honoring the importance of live performance. In addition to producing a full season of mainstage productions, many of which are bilingual, The Imaginists offer empowering, high-caliber theatre programs to youth ages 10 – 18 via the youth and teen ensembles.