Christine Johnson D'Amico '85 Sees Children's Play Debut

For great word play, children's drama, and fun, stop by the Minneapolis Fringe Festival on August 11th or 12th to enjoy the new play "A Tale of Higgley-Piggledy Mumbo Jumbo," based on the first two children's books by alum Christine Johnson D'Amico '86. You may find yourself surprised by all the words the main character, Mabel, knows from the Oxford English Dictionary that you've never heard of yourself! Bring a child or two along, for they'll delight in the verbal acrobatics and alliteration, as well as the mischief Mabel gets into as she tries to use these words and explore the "mumbo jumbo" in the library.

Alum Review of the Play "I'd bet a zillion dollars Christine Johnson D’Amico’s play, Higgledy-Piggledy, will troupe across eagerly anticipating academe unleashing little lexicologists! "The lead actress entertainingly enraptured everyone with spirited spunkiness. The other actors delightfully delivered dialect. The audience found them all auditorily awesome! "Post-performance, a gregarious girl sparking zealous zingers quipped, “I loved it! I loved it badly!” Her father squinched his face in befuddlement, yet this reviewer knew it was simply fanciful phraseology!" ~Julie Gondringer Devich, Mpls, ‘01

Though Johnson D'Amico majored in business administration, it's clear that her experiences in her CSC liberal arts degree and later in her master's program gave her the versatility to do anything -- even to break into the tough business of children's books! The first two books in her series "Mabel's World" -- Higgledy Piggledy and Mumbo Jumbo (to be released next year) -- center on learning adventures and exciting words. The works are illustrated by Darcy Bel-Myers and published by Attitude Press. Higgledy Piggledy was well reviewed by the Midwest Book Review:

"Higgledy-Piggledy is a charming picturebook about young first grader Mabel and a teacher who goes out of her way to teach her class the oddest and most tongue-tying words in the English language, such as 'shilly-shally', 'flapdoodle', 'tittle-tattle,' 'pecadillo', and 'higgledy-piggledy'. They may seem strange, but they are real words from the Oxford English Dictionary! Mabel can't wait to share the word 'higgledy-piggledy' with her family, but they don't believe it's A real word when she does. But spirited young Mabel won't back down, resulting in some truly higgledy-piggledy situations! The playful color artwork sets just the right tone for Higgledy-Piggledy, and the last two pages have fill-in-the-blank sentences for young people to try using the word for themselves, as well as a list of seven fun activities such as coloring the black-and-white pictures of Mabel in the front and back of the book, creating a higgledy-piggledy button, or learning about words from the dictionary."

Johnson D'Amico hired Matthew J. Hanson to turn this book and its sequel, Mumbo Jumbo,into a children's play with her input. Hanson has excelled as the playwright and director, and Johnson D'Amico is the producer. "I am managing all of the details, coordinating with the Fringe Festival, marketing and promoting the play, making sets and costumes using all of the sewing skills I learned while at St. Katies! I am also partnering with a director here in San Diego to bring the play into schools as assemblies here and possibly in MN as well. The San Diego director is Ashley McGuire."

Directed by Matthew J. Hansen, starring: Kendall Kent as Mabel Scott Bryant as dad, professor, the puppeteer for Porkchop the Cat Stephanie Barton as Maria, the mom and librarian Kaitlin Zeihr as Annabell, Mabel's sister, and Vanessa, her classmate Brandon Pearson as Max

SHOW TIMES Mabel's learning fun-to-say words from her vivacious teacher at school, but she has a higgledy-piggledy time convincing her family the words are real. Then Mabel and friend, Max, get lost in mumbo jumbo at the library. A Tale of Higgledy-Piggledy Mumbo Jumbo premiered at the 2007 Minnesota Fringe Festival. It was performed at the Theatre de la Jeune Lune (Map). And show times were as follows: Friday 8/3 at 7:00 PM Monday 8/6 at 5:30 PM Wednesday 8/8 at 8:30 PM Saturday 8/11 at 4:00 PM Sunday 8/12 at 5:30 PM

Though these are Johnson D'Amico's first children's works, they are not her first foray into authorhood. She has been writing all her life: "I wrote voraciously when I was in elementary and middle school. I wrote corporate training material as I began my career. I saw books in everything that I did. And then when I was pregnant and working as a personal and professional life coach, I saw how much personal change came with pregnancy and new parenthood." Johnson D'Amico has a master's degree in organizational change and adult education from the University of Minnesota, and she has long been interested in personal development. She coaches individuals through in transition, including pregnancy, career issues and retirement.

Johnson D'Amico wrote her first book with a certified midwife, Margaret A. Taylor, MS, CNM. The Pregnant Woman's Companion: Nine Strategies That Work to Keep Your Peace of Mind Through Pregnancy and Into Parenthood , has been out for five years and is holding its own in sales.

After she had children (she now has three -- ages 3, 7, and 9), she wanted to shift into children's books, so she took several classes at the the Loft Writing Center in Minneapolis, "Which were great," she said. "That is where I began writing Mabel's World stories. "The Mabel's World book and play explore the transitions made by children as they learn their first words and try to apply them."

Children permitting, Johnson D'Amico will be at all performances, answering questions, selling and signing books after the play in the lobby. "I would love it," she adds, "if alumnae would stop by to say hello!"