“Paper Moon Drama has been a key reason my daughter has overcome social anxiety, reduced fear of imperfection and gained confidence to do whatever she puts her mind to. Rebecca's seemingly simple idea of after school theater for kids is really a community of loving support and a hub for life lessons these kids will always have with them. I never could have imagined how much joy and strength Paper Moon would provide for my daughter. We are so grateful to have this in our lives." T.B.
“Paper Moon drama is an amazing program that has taught our daughter so many necessary life skills. Aside from learning how to act on stage, she has built confidence in her ability to speak publicly and in front of an audience. She’s made some great friends, has learned how to face rejection and built up her own confidence and creativity through the program. It’s a great after school program, a true one-of-a-kind in Monona, where quality after school programs are very much needed and equally as hard to get into. We are grateful to have an opportunity to be a part of such a fun, lively, and growing program that has given our daughter an opportunity she would never have had otherwise.” Thanks! A.E.
“To Whom It May Concern: PaperMoon Drama is a fantastic after school program that is enjoyed by a variety of school age children. My daughter transferred from Madison to the Monona School District this year in 5th grade. This program helped her develop strong friendships that have extended beyond the classroom. She absolutely loves the program and Rebecca herself. PaperMoon has also given my husband and I opportunities to get to know other parents (which has been extremely helpful since we are new to the district). Rebecca is amazing with the kids. She is kind and encouraging. It would be great to see her build her opportunity to influence more people in the community.”Respectfully, N.W.
“Paper Moon has been a great program for both my kids. They have had a lot of fun being in plays and developing their confidence, creativity, teamwork, and performance skills. It is also a terrific, engaging option for families who need after school programming. I really hope Paper Moon can continue to thrive and serve more kids in Monona!” K.D.
“To Whom It May Concern, Paper Moon Drama has been a such a wonderful experience for our family! As I look back on the 9 or so productions my daughter has been a part of, I am so grateful that a program like this exists in Monona. It has helped our daughter develop friendships , improve her reading, and gain confidence in herself. It has helped us to reach out and foster friendships with other parents in Monona as we participate in set painting and other preparations for each play. I always am so grateful to allow my daughter time with Rebecca Derringer, who is such a spectacular role model for the kids not only as an actress, but as a human being. She is a gem in the community, a real shining light that draws the best out of the kids in her program. Her success heretofore is based on an inner love for acting and theater that flows out in her program and ignites the hearts and minds of its participants. We are truly blessed
to have her in Monona!” D.S.
“To Whom It May Concern: Our daughter, started with Paper Moon 6 years ago when it began. In the beginning, we thought it looked like a convenient and fun place for her to go right after school, but we learned quickly that it was more than that! Rebecca, the director, is amazing and taught my daughter so much, from perseverance, to speaking in front of a crowd, and all the while having fun! As my daughter got older, she learned to help the younger kids and to grow in her leadership skills. We love everything about Paper Moon and are not surprised it has grown into the program that it is today. Our hope is that it can continue to grow and expand so that more kids can have
the amazing experience that our daughter has.
Thank you for your consideration!” D.L. T.L.
“I was in second grade when Paper Moon Drama started. I saw the flyer and instantly begged my parents to let me join. As soon as we started, me and my friends were in awe of the director, Rebecca. She was amazing! After we did our first production, I knew I was in love with the program and that I would be joining the next ones! I have done about 30 plays since then and have enjoyed every one of them. I've learned many valuable lessons along with how to speak in front of a audience, act, and interact with new people. I am in Middle School now and would love to continue doing Paper Moon Drama! When Rebecca said there was a possibility of it growing and expanding, I was so excited!! When I think of Paper Moon Drama I think of a whole different world where I get to pretend to be a different person and entertain other people at the same time. Every time that I have done a play, multiple people would come up after and applaud the whole cast on being so good for just being in elementary and middle school! Paper Moon Drama truly is an amazing program and every kid should have the chance to be able to join, I would love to see them expand in Monona!!” Sincerely, E.L. 7th grade Years in Paper Moon Drama: 6 and hopefully more!
“My fifth grader, has been performing with Paper Moon Drama since the beginning of third grade. She has gained so many positive things since joining the group. She has made many good friends in several different grades. It’s been nice to see her become of sort a “big sister” to various younger students during the course of several plays. She has also gained a lot of self confidence by getting up in front of audiences and performing. She’s gained an impressive ability to memorize some really long and complex parts. She has also been able to hone her sense of humor and ability to laugh at herself. She’s really enjoyed being part of Paper Moon Drama through her elementary school years and is excited by the idea that she can also continue to take part in the program as she heads into middle school next year. It’s been a great program!” K.P.
“We are so happy we were able to have our sons involved with Paper Moon Drama. Both our kids learned so much and really came out of their shells. It was amazing to see my shy boys blossom into different characters on stage and to see that confidence transfer into their daily lives as well." -P.S., Monona Resident
“PaperMoon has meant a great deal to our son and our family as a whole. It has given our son a fantastic outlet for his creative energy, and allowed him to find a passion for theatric and musical arts. On top of that, PaperMoon has helped him build friendships, social skills, and teamwork abilities that will help him in in many avenues of life. Our family has really enjoyed watching
our son grow and expand his abilities
through this program.” Z.G.
“Our son and daughter have been involved with Paper Moon Drama for the last 3 years, and it has been a fantastic experience. They have learned so much during that time, and have grown both socially and in their acting ability during that time. Perhaps most importantly, they have had fun! It is such a great way to spend time with friends, learn about theatre, and learn how to be part of a production, during the after school hours! We strongly support Paper Moon Drama and its continued development for the youth of the community!” Sincerely, P.O.
“I am so grateful for Paper Moon Drama, and have seen my daughter come alive through this program. She has learned acting and performance skills she can use for the rest of her life, but more importantly, she has gained self- confidence, acceptance of others, and a sense of community.” J.L.
“I am writing in support of Rebecca Derringer-Gugel’s application to your committees to obtain permits for Paper Moon Drama. This is a business that would make an invaluable contribution to the children and families in our community, enriching their lives, teaching critical life skills, and leaving an indelible mark on all fortunate enough to join the Paper Moon family. I am a parent of a daughter who was bitten by the Paper Moon Drama bug in 2nd grade. She joined nearly every production thereafter for the next four years. When she aged out of the program, she continued volunteering her time to help with rehearsals to hold onto her place in a creative world she still dearly loves. I am certain that when our daughter reflects upon her childhood in Monona, her memories of Paper Moon Drama will forever be some of the sweetest and most vivid. Paper Moon Drama played a significant role in our daughter’s development. We strongly believe that, as a result of her experience as a regular cast member for four years, she developed important life skills that have helped her academically and socially. Confidence, public speaking, problem solving, collaborative teamwork, time management skills — the list of benefits to our daughter go far beyond the culture and creativity that enhanced her life and drew her to Paper Moon Drama in the first place. While she was immersed in the joy and whimsy of theatre and storytelling, she was also learning fundamental lifelong skills. My support is not only from the perspective of a parent, but as someone who also has a degree in theatre arts and worked professionally with and for children for 15 years. I was a producer for two nationally syndicated children’s programs on PBS, and I was an author and editor for American Girl for 5 years. I am deeply committed to that which improves the lives of children, empowers them in a disempowering world, gives them the resources to realize their potential, and illuminates the creative well and light within. Paper Moon Drama achieves these goals. Her work will immeasurably enrich the lives of children of Monona, as well as draw other families to our community, as the circle of Paper Moon Drama’s inspiration widens. It is with a grateful heart that I express this support and a well of hope that Rebecca Derringer-Gugel’s work can reach more children and share with them the gifts she gave our daughter. Thank you for your
time and consideration.”
Sincerely, E.W.
