Noted area actor transforms from series ˜thug' to real-life advocate for children

Local actor Michael Giovanni is turning heads these days as an advocate for children. In a brand new video for the educational children's program œThe Children's Music Circus, developed by NJ-based Terpsichore Quest, Giovanni is seen onscreen and serves as the project spokesperson and narrator.

The Children's Music Circus is an activities-based program that utilizes a child's imagination and creativity. During the ˜circus,' children are encouraged to use their motor skills while learning and demonstrating the difference between certain moves, such as hopping, leaping, and galloping. They learn balancing techniques while walking an imaginary tightrope, and demonstrate their spelling skills through a series of words that require action (such as œpop) and thinking ability (such as œbig and œsmall). The kindergarteners are taught in 45-minute increments for a series of four straight days. On the fifth and final day, they present their ˜act' to an audience made up primarily of parents and teachers.

The program is sponsored by the Harrisburg Education Foundation and York-based Shipley Energy. The curriculum was developed by renowned educator Michelle Audet, acclaimed ballet artist Talin Kenar, Academy award-winning composer Joe Renzetti, and children's television pioneer and legend Gene London.

Michael Giovanni began his acting career when he was featured in the hit HBO series The Wire. He played a specialty role in the blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises, and recently put Harrisburg on the map in August 2012 when the web series Hamilton Street launched on YouTube, becoming the first web series filmed in Harrisburg. To date, Hamilton Street has well over 50,000 hits on YouTube.