Conferences & Events: Pippi Longstocking Week, February 2005

Our Pippi Longstocking Week was a huge success, standing room only crowds and loads of media interest--the happiest participants were the children who enjoyed our series of theatrical events; and Pippi even made an appearance, posing here with members and friends of the English Department:

 

Pippi Longstocking Week at San Diego State University, Feb. 2-6, 2005

Press Release:

Click here to view the schedule of events

Pippi Longstocking is arguably the best known children's book character in the world. Certainly every time I've told someone about Pippi Longstocking Week, the immediate reaction has been a smile.

Lindgren created many treasured characters in addition to Pippi, such as Ronia, the Brothers Lionheart, Emil, and the children of Noisy Village. She wrote delightful picture books, too. Her name is synonymous with the best of children's literature.

Our new SDSU Center for the Study of Children's Literature is therefore honored that The Swedish Institute selected us to host their new International Traveling Astrid Lindgren Exhibit. The only other two sites in the USA are the Washington D.C. Main Library and the New Orleans Children's Museum. The Swedish Ambassador, Jan Eliasson, has sent us his best wishes for the success of exhibit. San Diego's Swedish Consul Ulf Brynjestad will formally open the exhibit February 2^nd.

The innovative display of Lindgren's life and works will be located on Library and Information Access' Main Floor, Room 108, February 2-6. Please note Room 108 is also where the February 2^nd activities take place at 3:30. The afternoon is free and includes a talk by author and critic Michael Cart, book sales, Pippi films, and Swedish cookies. Swedish Consul Ulf Brynjestad and SDSU Provost Nancy Marlin are guests, as are members of the Swedish Women's Educational Association. We expect over 80 students and hope to see Pippi Longstockings everywhere for the Pippi Longstocking Look-Alike Contest.

We're pleased too that the exhibit's time on campus overlaps The School of Theatre, Television, and Film's annual Theatre of the World Festival, serendipitously this year featuring the Swedish troupe TITTUT. This festival's annual two days on campus are some of the liveliest of the year and not to be missed-Feb. 4 and 5.

In fact, Pippi Longstocking Week is a remarkable collaboration; Library and Information Access and Aztec Shops have been generous in their support, as has our Dean of the College of Arts and Letters. Students, colleagues, and off-campus organizations have helped-the student-run Instructionally-Related Activities, the Viejas Band of the Kumeyaay Indians, Ikea, the Swedish Women's Educational Association, Digital Vikings, The Swedish Chamber of Commerce San Diego/Tijuana-and all, we hope, in the spirit of Astrid Lindgren.

(The Center for the Study of Children's Literature, by the way, is honored as well to be one of a handful of American nominating bodies for Sweden's prestigious, new Astrid Lindgren Award, to an author and/or illustrator of children's literature or an organization promoting it. The center hopes to house a Scandinavian children's literature and film collection; contact Jerry Griswold, Director, for more information on this and other center-building projects: jgriswol@mail.sdsu.edu.

Please join us on campus for Pippi Longstocking Week, a celebration of Astrid Lindgren, Swedish children's literature, and children's theater!

Schedule
JOIN US AT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY FOR PIPPI LONGSTOCKING WEEK
FEB. 2-6, 2005

Wed. Feb. 2: Celebrate the opening of The International Astrid
Lindgren Exhibit in Library 108, Main Floor 3:30-5:30

• Ribbon-cutting by Dr. Ulf Brynjestad, San Diego's Swedish Consul,
• Keynote talk by Michael Cart, author and critic, on "What Makes Pippi So Universally Funny?"
• Pippi Longstocking Look-Alike Contest-you could win a set of Swedish children's books!*
• Performance of a scene from the play Pippi Longstocking and songs by Astrid Lindgren by students from the Swedish School of San Diego 
• New 25 min. Swedish Institute DVD: "Astrid Lindgren and Children's Rights." Excerpts from and discussion of Pippi Longstocking movie
• Swedish children's books and other titles available for purchase
• Free Puppetry Workshop at Scripps Cottage, 6-9 p.m.

Thurs. Feb. 3: Attend a Free Puppetry Workshop

• Sweden's master puppeteer Christer Dahl, Scripps Cottage 4-5:30 p.m
• Local puppeteers, Scripps Cottage, 6-9 p.m. 

Fri. Feb. 4: Celebrate the opening of the Theatre of the World Festival for Young Audiences, short plays for you and your family, 7-9 p.m.

• Astrid Lindgren Exhibit on Room 108, Main Floor, Library
• Invitation-only pre-opening reception in Scripps Cottage, 5-6:30
• Performances in the Theatre Building, 7-9 p.m.

• Sweden's TITTUT: Little Tiger, Little Bear
• A Midsummer's Night's Dream (adapted)
• Alexander and the Horrible, No Good Day

• Post-performance reception in the Don Powell Theatre open to all

 

Sat. Feb. 5: Enjoy more Theatre of the World Festival, 9.30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Dramatic Arts Building and Patio

• Opening ceremony; 10 different offerings of plays and musicals; Fringe Festival: face-painting, music, Native American and African drummers, jugglers, food 
• Swedish children's book sales
• Astrid Lindgren Exhibit on Room 108, Main Floor

Sun. Feb. 6: Speak Swedish?

• Performances in Swedish by TITTUT of Little Tiger, Little Bear, 11a.m.
• Lindgren Exhibit closes 8 p.m. Room 108, Main Floor, Library

For information about tickets, puppetry workshops, and schedules go to theatre.sdsu.edu/theatre.htm