HR1373 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1373 LRB095 21623 GRL 51715 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to honor the Child's Play Touring Theatre for their outstanding work with the children of the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, and throughout the nation; and

WHEREAS, Based in Chicago, the Child's Play Touring Theatre is the premiere theatre company in the United States dedicated exclusively to performing works written by children; Child's Play motivates elementary school students to read and write through developing and staging original plays based on children's poems, stories, and songs; and

WHEREAS, The goal of Child's Play is to help children understand the value and significance that writing and reading has on their lives; and

WHEREAS, Child's Play was founded by Victor and June Podagrosi in 1978 while Victor was teaching theatre at Parkland College in Champaign; when asked to stage a performance of children's writings for a Young Author's awards ceremony, Victor was delighted with the sophistication and storytelling abilities he discovered in children's writing; believing they had identified a unique form of educational theatre, the Podagrosis formed the Child's Play Touring Theatre and began traveling to rural schools in east central Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Child's Play Touring Theatre believes in the importance of contributing to the Chicago community; its principal outreach program, the Chicago Young Writers Project, aims to motivate Chicago public school students to write, as well as provide teachers with drama-based methods for writing instruction; and

WHEREAS, With the passing of Victor Podagrosi, his wife took over the direction of Child's Play and established the Victor Award to honor individuals and organizations who have demonstrated outstanding commitment, generosity, and/or service to Child's Play; and

WHEREAS, Child's Play was honored with an Emmy Award for its contribution to the production of two child-focused Public Service Announcements, "Educate Us" and "If I Were President"; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor the Child's Play Touring Theatre for its outstanding work, we thank the group for its dedication to the children of the State of Illinois and the nation, and we wish the group continued success in its future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy be presented to June Podagrosi as a symbol of our esteem and respect.