Something extraordinary of its kind! Creativity, expression, writing, and collaboration.
Whoopensocker Education is a residency that uses theater as a tool to teach creative writing and social-emotional skills. Our ensemble of teaching artists brings a toolbox of new ideas to the classroom to create a dynamic community-building experience for the whole class.
For six weeks, Whoopensocker’s teaching artists encourage students to share their great ideas through writing and performance. Whoopensocker’s six-week residency is ideal for elementary schools.
Dr. Erica Rosenfeld Halverson, the Mayor, and co-founder of Whoopensocker is a faculty member in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at UW–Madison School of Education. Meet the rest of the Whoopensocker Team.
*Whoopensocker is hosted by the UW-Madison School of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the office of Professional Learning and Community Education (PLACE). This partnership was made possible by the generosity of the School of Education Dean’s Office.
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The Whoopensocker team of teaching artists come into the classroom!
Our team of teaching artists come into your classrooms for a six-week session meeting once a week for 90 minutes. A team of senior teaching artists and apprentices spend the session with the students, exploring different aspects of dramatic structure and creative writing. The children are introduced to improvisation games and given the chance to act out the group stories with guidance from the teaching artists. Then they are given notebook journals and instructions before breaking into small groups to begin creating more stories together with the Whoopensocker team. Each week, every student will have helped to build at least one original story that they perform for the rest of the class.
The students’ creative writing becomes a show for the community!
The Whoopensocker Performing Ensemble’s professional cast adapts selected stories written by students who participated in Whoopensocker Education residencies. Students are applauded for their work as the actors take the stage and perform a 60-minute vaudeville-style sketch comedy show. Students’ voices are recognized, and their creativity is validated when professional actors perform the student-written show. It is a fantastic culmination of their creativity celebrated with students, staff, and the greater community.
Public Shows: Reserve Tickets here (for school shows: please RSVP to slrichards@wisc.edu)
- 2/20/26 | 6:30 pm | Badger Ridge Middle School PAC
- 3/13/26 | 6:30 pm | MYArts
- 3/14/26 | 6:30 pm | MYArts
- 5/1/26 | 6:30 pm | MYArts
- 5/2/26 | 6:30 pm | MYArts
Learn more about the Whoopensocker Performing Ensemble here!
Whoopensocker Team
Erica Halverson
Position title: Professor of Curriculum and Instruction, Mayor of Whoopensocker
Email:
erica.halverson
Stephanie Richards
Credentials: MPH
Position title: Outreach Program Manager
Email:
slrichards