A million years ago, back in the early Pleistocene era, when your humble writer first began working with this august, old lion of a company, Mobile Ed had only just begun venturing beyond school assemblies focused on science, and had entered the world of social studies. The first addition was a remarkable program on Huck Finn performed by a good friend of mine by the name of Wayne David Parker, but known to his friends simply as “Daba”. The second addition to this new field came in the form of a program about our illustrious sixteenth president performed by a tall, skinny (at least, he was back then) actor who, for reasons of modesty, shall remain nameless (yeah, it was me).

Soon we began offering other topics, and after awhile, Daba retired (you can only play a boy for so long, after all). rather than continue to constantly seek replacements for aging boy actors, the Huck Finn program, sadly, went away, and was replaced by an equally great school assembly program on Mark Twain. This school assembly - Mark Twain:My Stories, Myself -  played very well for a number of years, and was very well liked. It met a need to introduce students to great writers, but by putting a human face on them. And Mark Twain’s stories have always been well loved by kids of all ages.

But as years passed and as a number of fine actors cycled through this program, we eventually found ourselves without a suitable performer, and it became necessary to withdraw the program from our roster. Sadly, for a number of years now we have been without this great show.

Well, we have great news! This year Mobile Ed Productions has enlisted the services of not one but two different (both staggeringly wonderful!) actors each of whom will be available to once again bring Mark twain to life in school assemblies across large parts of our country. Jeff Hoge adds Mark Twain to his growing roster of programs (The Living Lincoln, Crime Scene Science, Our Changing Climate, Young Authors Day), while long time Mobile Ed performer Tom Swenson (The Living Lincoln, Thomas Edison) is now available as well with Mr. Twain.

Though not yet touring again in the western states, our two stalwart presenters are available from Nebraska to the East Coast. Since one of these fine fellows is resident in the Windy City, dates for Illinois schools and in particular, dates for Chicago area schools are very readily available. The Cubs and the White Sox may be done for the season, but rejoice, as Mark Twain is once more available to bring his great stories and wry observations to Illinois schools all year!

Tour dates are also available on the East Coast and across large parts of Iowa, Nebraska, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota.

With a heavy emphasis on reading now prevalent in standardized testing nationwide, teaching kids to find the joy in the written word is more important than ever. A visit from what may be America’s greatest author is the perfect way to engage kids and introduce them to the magic in books. If you are seeking a school assembly to promote reading, here is your answer! And in these days of shrinking budgets and of schools seeking ways to stretch their dollars, you will find that a visit from a “dead” author is a whole lot more affordable than the rates usually charged for school visits by living authors of children's literature. Call today to see if Mark Twain will be visiting your neck of the woods. He might just have a couple of frogs with him!

Geoff Beauchamp is the Regional Manager of Mobile Ed Productions where "Education Through Entertainment" has been the guiding principal since 1979. Mobile Ed Productions produces and markets quality educational school assembly programs in the fields of science, history, writing, astronomy, natural science, mathematics, character issues and a variety of other curriculum based areas. In addition, Mr. Beauchamp is a professional actor with 30 years of experience in film, television and on stage. He created and still performs occasionally in Mobile Ed's THE LIVING LINCOLN.