{"product_id":"zombie-thoughts-and-ballet-for-aliens-two-plays-for-young-audiences-paperback","title":"Zombie Thoughts and Ballet for Aliens: Two Plays for Young Audiences - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eJennifer A. Kokai\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eOliver Kokai-Means\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eGerard Hernandez\u003c\/b\u003e (Contribution by)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eZombie Thoughts\u003c\/i\u003e addresses the topic of Generalized Anxiety Disorder set in a video game world. Co-written with a then nine-year-old Oliver Kokai-Means, the play was first commissioned and developed by small professional company Plan-B Theatre in Salt Lake City and toured to 10,232 elementary students at Title I institutions (high economic need) with the support of a grant from the NEA in 2018. The audience is introduced to the formal diagnosis and symptoms of anxiety disorders (which in kids looks like combativeness and is often misinterpreted by educators as willful disobedience), and therapeutic coping mechanisms. The play was vetted by a licensed therapist. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eBallet for Aliens\u003c\/i\u003e was co-written with both Oliver Kokai-Means and new playwright, then twelve-year-old Gerard Hernandez, about Gerard's experience as a youth with Crohn's Disease. Gerard was a ballet dancer through his childhood, though his health often made this difficult, and the piece required formal ballet movement, so the production was co-created with highly regarded dance company Ballet West's Peter Christie, their education director. A portion of this play was presented to the Utah Legislature in 2022 to argue for the importance of funding the arts in elementary schools. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eZombie Thoughts\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eBallet for Aliens\u003c\/i\u003e have gone on to be produced across the United States and internationally by school groups, universities, and professional tours of varying theatre sizes. This volume offers both plays and an introduction by Kokai and the youth playwrights, which contextualizes efforts for theatrical interventions in youth mental health.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJennifer A. Kokai\u003c\/b\u003e is the director of the School of Theatre and Dance at University of South Florida. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eOliver Kokai-Means\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eGerard Hernandez\u003c\/b\u003e are young writers who found expression in playwriting and advocacy. They have presented on their co-created youth productions at various professional workshops and conferences nationally.\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 188\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e September 15, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47220118946041,"sku":"9780826508188","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0789\/2782\/3097\/files\/TcS9Pp76W_9780826508188.webp?v=1768174082","url":"https:\/\/bookscloud.io\/products\/zombie-thoughts-and-ballet-for-aliens-two-plays-for-young-audiences-paperback","provider":"BooksCloud Book Dropshipping","version":"1.0","type":"link"}