Tara Ryan is a 20 year veteran of a unique form of educational practice — musical science theatre. As a graduate of theatre studies with a separate teaching degree, Tara found it challenging to balance her passion for nature with her need for job in the “real world” while utilizing her training. Enter parks interpretation. After a summer of playing singing squirrels, tap-dancing pine trees and writing soliloquies for intestinal parasites ... she was hooked. What better way to teach than through laughter and learning?
As co-founder of Evergreen Theatre, from 1991–2006, Tara has also had the pleasure of representing an award-winning, international touring environmental science touring theatre company as artistic director, performer, designer, and key creative writer.
Awards received:
• GLOBAL Woman of Vision Award, Tara Ryan, Artistic Director
• Recycling Council of Alberta’s 3 R’s of Excellence Award
• Alberta GEOEC Award of Outstanding Educational Merit
• NSERC Michael Smith Award for Science Promotion
• Calgary Mayor’s Environmental Excellence Award for education
• Interpretation Canada Gold Award
• Alberta Emerald Award for Communication, Media & the Arts
Partners/Sponsors Tara has developed programs for:
• The Smithsonian National Zoo
• The Calgary Science Centre
• The Calgary Zoological Society
• Nexen
• EPCOR
• Devon Energy
• ATCO
• GEOEC (Global & Environmental Outdoor Education Council – Alberta)
• Alberta Junior Forest Wardens
• Alberta Teachers Association
• Parks Canada ~ Banff, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan
• Vancouver Space Centre
• Calgary Mayors Environmental Expo
• Science Alberta
• Glenmore Christian Academy
• National Species at Risk Conference
• Sandy Cross Conservation Foundation
• NIA Conference
• Museum of Man & Nature
Here is what our clients are saying about Evergreen Theatre
Theatre provides another mode of learning. It brings concepts taught in the class to life. These are the activities kids remember most.
—Gr. 5 Teacher
Kids walk away with a message that is more likely to stick because they get involved in it and its entertaining for them.
—Gr. 5 Teacher
There are all kinds of different learners out there and this is a great way to teach kids because they are learning and they don't even know it.
—Gr. 5 Teacher —Springbank Elementary
It is a fun way to get the message across and it really sticks because they get a tune in their heads and are singing their lesson all day long.
—Gr. 2 Teacher
Thank you for coming to the Children’s Hospital and performing in front of all of us. I liked how you let me become a fish and let me do a cool dance. I hope you can come again and perform more.
— your fish, Braden, age 6
Fabulous resource. The entertaining format presented the information in an engaging manor. Please keep sponsoring this learning tool that enhances our classroom efforts.
—Gr. 5/6 Teacher
We really enjoyed seeing our peers take on the roles in the play, as the actors seamlessly wove them into the story line. From the set, to the script, to the eclectic musical score and costumes, the production was brilliant in its simplicity. Last, but not least, the message of the play rang true. Our school had very active environmental awareness programs, with re-using, recycling and composting. The use of facts within the script supported both our science curriculum and our school philosophy. We were extremely pleased with the presentation and would highly recommend it to other schools. We will be looking to see that Evergreen Theatre has to offer in the future.
—River Valley School, Sundre, AB
The theatre brought a different and very interesting point of view. As well as being entertaining, the concepts were repeated many times which help students in learning. This was one of the most beneficial programs I have ever seen.
– Gr. 5/6 Teacher
….The success of Evergreen Theatre in reaching thousands of youth in an effective and fun way provides great opportunities to explore science issues with children and their parents. We know that if we can engage these groups early in life, we have the best chance of improving the well-being of communities and our citizens.
—Calgary Health Region
Today we had the pleasure of having Evergreen Theatre visit our school once again. They entertained while educating and the visit was a huge success. The show nicely reinforced what we have already learned and gave us new ideas to think about. WOW — music, choreography and storyline were all well done.
—Kindergarten Teacher — W.H. Cushing Workplace School
Evergreen Theatre has a very successful program that reaches thousands of youth in a very effective and fun way. They provide a unique, professional, curriculum linked, and proven program. Evergreen is ideally positioned to help us disseminate water protection and conservation messages and materials to students and their families.
—The City of Calgary — Water Resources
Our students and staff would like to thank you for providing such an educational and highly entertaining play. It was truly a fabulous show. You always know how to entertain such a diverse group of students, such as ours, and hold their attention throughout. —Dr. Gordon Townsend School
As co-founder of Evergreen Theatre, from 1991–2006, Tara has also had the pleasure of representing an award-winning, international touring environmental science touring theatre company as artistic director, performer, designer, and key creative writer.
Awards received:
• GLOBAL Woman of Vision Award, Tara Ryan, Artistic Director
• Recycling Council of Alberta’s 3 R’s of Excellence Award
• Alberta GEOEC Award of Outstanding Educational Merit
• NSERC Michael Smith Award for Science Promotion
• Calgary Mayor’s Environmental Excellence Award for education
• Interpretation Canada Gold Award
• Alberta Emerald Award for Communication, Media & the Arts
Partners/Sponsors Tara has developed programs for:
• The Smithsonian National Zoo
• The Calgary Science Centre
• The Calgary Zoological Society
• Nexen
• EPCOR
• Devon Energy
• ATCO
• GEOEC (Global & Environmental Outdoor Education Council – Alberta)
• Alberta Junior Forest Wardens
• Alberta Teachers Association
• Parks Canada ~ Banff, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan
• Vancouver Space Centre
• Calgary Mayors Environmental Expo
• Science Alberta
• Glenmore Christian Academy
• National Species at Risk Conference
• Sandy Cross Conservation Foundation
• NIA Conference
• Museum of Man & Nature
Here is what our clients are saying about Evergreen Theatre
Theatre provides another mode of learning. It brings concepts taught in the class to life. These are the activities kids remember most.
—Gr. 5 Teacher
Kids walk away with a message that is more likely to stick because they get involved in it and its entertaining for them.
—Gr. 5 Teacher
There are all kinds of different learners out there and this is a great way to teach kids because they are learning and they don't even know it.
—Gr. 5 Teacher —Springbank Elementary
It is a fun way to get the message across and it really sticks because they get a tune in their heads and are singing their lesson all day long.
—Gr. 2 Teacher
Thank you for coming to the Children’s Hospital and performing in front of all of us. I liked how you let me become a fish and let me do a cool dance. I hope you can come again and perform more.
— your fish, Braden, age 6
Fabulous resource. The entertaining format presented the information in an engaging manor. Please keep sponsoring this learning tool that enhances our classroom efforts.
—Gr. 5/6 Teacher
We really enjoyed seeing our peers take on the roles in the play, as the actors seamlessly wove them into the story line. From the set, to the script, to the eclectic musical score and costumes, the production was brilliant in its simplicity. Last, but not least, the message of the play rang true. Our school had very active environmental awareness programs, with re-using, recycling and composting. The use of facts within the script supported both our science curriculum and our school philosophy. We were extremely pleased with the presentation and would highly recommend it to other schools. We will be looking to see that Evergreen Theatre has to offer in the future.
—River Valley School, Sundre, AB
The theatre brought a different and very interesting point of view. As well as being entertaining, the concepts were repeated many times which help students in learning. This was one of the most beneficial programs I have ever seen.
– Gr. 5/6 Teacher
….The success of Evergreen Theatre in reaching thousands of youth in an effective and fun way provides great opportunities to explore science issues with children and their parents. We know that if we can engage these groups early in life, we have the best chance of improving the well-being of communities and our citizens.
—Calgary Health Region
Today we had the pleasure of having Evergreen Theatre visit our school once again. They entertained while educating and the visit was a huge success. The show nicely reinforced what we have already learned and gave us new ideas to think about. WOW — music, choreography and storyline were all well done.
—Kindergarten Teacher — W.H. Cushing Workplace School
Evergreen Theatre has a very successful program that reaches thousands of youth in a very effective and fun way. They provide a unique, professional, curriculum linked, and proven program. Evergreen is ideally positioned to help us disseminate water protection and conservation messages and materials to students and their families.
—The City of Calgary — Water Resources
Our students and staff would like to thank you for providing such an educational and highly entertaining play. It was truly a fabulous show. You always know how to entertain such a diverse group of students, such as ours, and hold their attention throughout. —Dr. Gordon Townsend School