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Inspired by her love of theater, lifelong performer and playwright Diane Bilyeu presents a collection of original works aimed at getting students and young children alike involved in Reader’s Theater. Reader’s Theater are plays designed to be read aloud using minimal costumes and props in an effort to get the actors involved in the arts while improving oral communication skills, and building confidence. This collection of short plays is both entertaining and informative teaching practical life skills and moral lessons. Children's Reader's Theater USA features:

• Ready to go scripts With Easy to follow Direction
• Free DVD featuring three plays from the book
• Minimal use of costumes and props

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NEW BEGINNINGS
A play about two friends and how they keep their long distance friendship after one of them is forced to move. They learn tolerance and about another culture. It is both thought provoking and fun. After one of our performances for a 4th grade class, the students had a most enlightening discussion about diversity. They particularly loved the “knuckles” action in the play and, according to their teacher, were walking around for many days giving “knuckles” to each other.

FINDING CHRISTMAS
Six orphaned children are living alone in a warehouse in L.A. One of the six is in the hospital. The other five children decide to take Christmas presents to their friend. This play is both touching and entertaining. It may even bring a tear to your eye. My student actors at all grade levels ( 3rd thru 7th) loved the use of the flashlights. They also loved eating the pieces of bread. They asked if they could finish the bread after the performance. I guess kids are always hungry!!

A BIRTHDAY FOR PATRICK
This is the same play as FINDING CHRISTMAS except the orphaned children take “birthday” presents, not Christmas presents, to their hospitalized friend, Patrick. Again, the students loved the flashlights and the bread pieces. They also got a big kick out of “toasting” with tin cans. This play was voted by the students in one school as their “favorite short play.” The action and dialogue are very motivational.

INDEPENDENCE USA
Two classmates are discussing the Declaration of Independence and our Founding Fathers. In the second Act, they play the parts of Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. There are a lot of historical facts, fun and education in this play. This play is the favorite of two of my grandchildren. They especially loved acting in wigs. When performed in the classroom the audience got a big laugh when the actors turned around wearing wigs, especially when they saw one of their own as the bald Benjamin Franklin. Classroom discussion was excellent after this play. Many questions like “Did this really happen?” Did George Washington really have a slave that accompanied him on the battlefield? The discussion was invigorating.

A THANKSGIVING TO REMEMBER
Six young actors plus a narrator act out some possible Native American dialogue in Act I. In Act II the same actors become colonists that have arrived on the Mayflower. Act III brings the colonists and Native Americans together for a meaningful conclusion “THANKSGIVING.” This play, like “Independence U.S.A.” is full of factual information. It is an easy play to do in your living room before Thanksgiving dinner, or in the classroom. The actors love pounding on their drums and selecting head bands and feathers. I used Halloween witch hats with the points pushed inside the hats for some of the pilgrim’s hats. This is a seasonal play that is very meaningful, especially when the audience joins in the ending by participating in “The Lord’s Prayer” together with the actors.

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Diane Bilyeu has a degree in theater and public speaking from Idaho State University. As an accomplished actress and professional dancer, Diane played many leading roles including Nellie Forbush in “South Pacific”, Carrie Pipperidge in “Carousel”, and Abigail in “The Crucible”. She was also the leading lady in “Love Letters”, “Plaza Suite,” and “A Roomful of Roses” in summer stock in Sun Valley, Idaho. Her love for the theater and for children led the Bilyeus to buy a huge circus tent from “Omar the Tent Maker” in Los Angeles and produce summer theater in “Bilyeu’s Tent Theater”. All of their productions were musicals produced “in the round” and always included at least three young children as performers. They had full houses every night of the week except when they were “dark” on Sunday and Monday. Diane’s husband “Chick” was a professor of theater at Idaho State University. He is a graduate of the College of Theater at the world famous “Pasadena Playhouse” in Pasadena, California. Chick went on to act professionally in several series and movies. In 2005, the Bilyeu’s were honored for their work in education and theater by having the proscenium theater at Idaho State University named the “Diane and Chick Bilyeu Theater.” Chick and Diane still perform whenever possible.
Diane was also a professional dancer and traveled the entire United States for over a year. She returned home and taught dance to young children for many years.

Diane’s interest in children’s education led her to becoming politically active and subsequently elected as “State Senator.” She was an active member of the “Education Committee.” This led to her appointment to the “Idaho State Board of Education” where she served 10 years, several as president. Idaho State University, her alma mater, honored her with an honorary doctors degree for her dedication to education.

The love for, and strong belief in the importance of theater for children, has led Diane to create these plays for children. She believes self confidence, self-esteem, and reading fluency are natural outcomes when children perform in front of their families or peers. She has watched her own grandchildren develop as a direct result of performing in Reader’s Theater.

P.S. Diane is once more an Idaho State Senator

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