“The entire show was fun to watch. Oskar kept our class watching closely because of his creative antics. The end was most engaging. When students were asked questions about the production, they really wanted to participate.” – Teacher at Condit ES, Houston ISD
History & Impact
The series of Oskar plays produced by Alley Theatre between 2010 and 2024 was a key part of our school offerings, teaching students across Houston and beyond about the importance of standing up to bullies, embracing those who are different, and coping with stress and trauma. Over 10 years, Oskar reached over 390,000 students through 833 performances at 737 schools!
Now, in its new iteration under Alley Transported, The Brainstormers continues this mission—blending 21st century skills with STEM concepts and TEKS to educate the whole child while bringing theatre directly into the community.
Previous Elementary Tour Shows
By Prince Gomolvilas & Matt Ackels
For Grades K-5
ABOUT THE SHOW!
Ten-year-old Oskar loves his new shoes! They belong in a museum of GRRRReatness! Or at least they did until Frank stepped on them. If apologies had happened then and there, this playground mishap would not have escalated into a wild adventure illustrating the roles of victim, bully, bystander, and upstander.
This comic assembly was developed by award-winning theatre artists to help students understand the multiple perspectives involved in an escalating incident of bullying. Oskar and the Big Bully Battle! received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback from Houston schools during previous tours.
By Prince Gomolvilas & Matt Ackels
For Grades K-5
ABOUT THE SHOW!
When a very thorny incident shocks the schoolyard, everyone is stumped and confused. But never fear, Oskar to the rescue! He quickly dons his detective hat. In this wacky adventure about the bullying cycle, Oskar learns that everyday comments can start a dangerous chain reaction that stops the whole school in its tracks.
Whether on its own or a follow-up to last year’s Oskar and the Big Bully Battle:PART 2! encourages students to stand up for victims, while also teaching them how to express empathy for bullies—helping everybody on the playground to happily move forward together.
By Prince Gomolvilas & Matt Ackels
For Grades K-5
ABOUT THE SHOW!
Ten-year-old Oskar loves his orange hat! He’s had it all his life, and all his friends have one too. But when Billy moves to town, Oskar is shocked and confused. Billy wears a blue hat. This is not the way things are supposed to be in Orange Hat, Texas. Oskar will stop at nothing to bring order to his perfectly orange and unassorted hometown.
This comic assembly was developed by award-winning theatre artists to help students understand and embrace diversity in every sense of the word. OSKAR has received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback from Houston schools. One teacher and school parent commented:
“I went up to my son’s class while they were waiting in line to leave and said, ‘So what did you guys think?’. They responded, ‘That was so cool!’ Then my son says, ‘Mom, you got that part of what they’re talking about is racism right?’. Before I can respond a cute little girl says, ‘It is about racism . . . partly . . . and they do it in a really neat way . . . in a nice way.’”
By Prince Gomolvilas & Matt Ackels
For Grades K-5
ABOUT THE SHOW!
Too much homework. Too many extracurricular activities, and social events. What’s a kid to do? As his backpack gets fuller and voices from the outside world get louder, Oskar can’t help but feel like he can’t handle it—any of it! He just doesn’t know how to deal with stress, to take back control, to be…resilient?
In this play, Oskar learns that he can bounce back, that he’s awesome…awesomely resilient! Through his journey, students come to understand that they too are good enough, and that they have the ability within themselves to bounce back.
By Prince Gomolvilas & Matt Ackels
For Grades K-5
ABOUT THE SHOW!
An urgent and delightful new play from the creators of the acclaimed Oskar series! After ten-year-old Oskar successfully faces and defeats a real-lifeThingamabob, he continues to be troubled by bad dreams—about the same real-life Thingamabob he thought was long gone. How will Oskar find peace in his sleep? How will he deal with the fear, anger, and sadness that have become a part of his waking hours? How will he tap into his innate superpowers of resilience and grit? Oskar Versus Thingamabob uses high energy, laughter, and joy to teach audiences how to bounce back after a crisis and to move forward to a brighter future.
By Prince Gomolvilas & Matt Ackels
For Grades K-5
ABOUT THE SHOW!
When an unforeseen global event forces Oskar to stay home and attend school online, he is not sure how to adjust. He has spent six months preparing a very special show and tell experience. It’s magical. It’s the best of the best, but it won’t work on the internet… at all! Soon, he stops feeling like himself and starts spiraling into a pit of worrisome ill-fitting coping strategies and troubling emotions. But with the help of his family, his peers, and his community, he learns to adapt and get back to doing the thing he’s best at: being Oskar!
In this new groundbreaking three-episode series, Oskar will be compelled to figure out how to adapt and transform, even in isolation. He will learn to strike a balance between the virtual and the real. And his friends—all the students watching him online—will walk away from the screen having learned valuable lessons about coping when life just isn’t going your way, being mindful when the world is out of control, and the value of staying connected amidst the noise. All the wonder, humor, and heart that are the signature of the Oskar stage shows have now been brilliantly adapted for the Zoom age!
QUESTIONS?
ELENA VALLADOLID-RIVERA
Manager of Emerging Audiences
713-315-5424
ElenaVR@alleytheatre.org
