School Shows

A printable copy of our 12-page School Notes is chock-full of ideas and details.

Field Trips to “Paris”

There's nothing more stimulating than a day trip to “Paris”. Depending on your local resources, the trip can include visits to a French establishment or museum, followed by Claudia’s show at a French restaurant. In the Chicago area, we have the support of restaurants like Chez Moi and theatre venues like Stage 773.

Bringing Paris to your school

If you prefer an in-school experience, why not transform your school into “Paris!” Performances in school allow for a greater number of students to participate and provide more time to engage in workshops and master classes.

For junior high school and above

SOUVENIRS OF PARIS, 1950
The most widely performed of Claudia’s cabaret theatre programs introduces Marcelle, a Parisian cabaret owner who recounts through song and spoken word the events of her life in France before and after World War II. The musical revue features songs made famous by Edith Piaf, Juliette Gréco and Yves Montand and songs celebrating the Paree of American composers Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, and Vernon Duke. Here’s a sample playlist. Our Study Guide is a great tool to prepare before the show and reflect after the show. The Table of Contents is here.

PARIS IN THE JAZZ AGE, 1910-1940
With Bob Moreen at the piano and Claudia Hommel sometimes on top of it, they portray the “crazy years” of France between World Wars. The program pays homage to the arts of cakewalk, ragtime, the Charleston, and artists Josephine Baker, Ada “Bricktop” Smith, Mistinguett, Maurice Chevalier, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, and Darius Milhaud.

Kindergarten to 8th grade

THAT'S WHAT MAKES PARIS, PAREE
Whether for a K-8 school assembly or for specific grades of youngsters, Claudia shares songs and stories she learned as a child in Paris and songs that take us around the French-speaking world. We can travel from slave ship to shepherd's field, from Frère Jacques' monastery to a French-Canadian garden of love. We get to dance and make music together. An a cappella version is performed in a circle of up to 30 children. Here’s a sample playlist.

School-sponsored Community Performances

An evening performance offers the opportunity for your school to share with the community of parents, staff, friends, and general public a taste of what is going on during the school day. The community performance can also serve as a fund-raiser for the daytime school programs by the price of admission and local business sponsorships. In addition, many local and state arts councils provide fee support to schools when hosting programs open to the general public. Click here for a full listing of Claudia's concerts.
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