BRING LAURA AND ROBERT TO YOU!

Laura and Robert Sams are dynamic performers, who have performed live for over 150,000 children and families. They are educators and entertainers, who truly know how to adapt their performances for different audiences. They do programs based on storytelling, filmmaking, the creative process and about nature/wildlife. They perform at:

• Museums, Aquariums and Other Fun Places -- They have performed for visitors at The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, The Monterey Bay Aquarium, The Seattle Aquarium, The Chicago Field Museum and more.

• Schools, Libraries, Young Author Events -- They have performed in hundreds of schools and libraries from the United States to Dubai, from huge audiences to small ones, from big auditoriums to small libraries.

• Film Festivals, Theaters -- They have performed for family audiences at lots of festivals, from the International Wildlife Festival to the Wild and Scenic Film Festival to the BLUE on Tour program.

• Workshops -- They have done small, focused workshops with students and adults, about writing, photography, filmmaking and more.

learn about their programs below. 

The Shark Riddle is the winner of Best Children's Program at all three major wildlife film festivals in the U.S. (BLUE Ocean, International Wildlife Film and Jackson Hole Wildlife).

what is the program about?

Based around the award-winning wildlife film, The Shark Riddle, this performance is a shark-filled, fun-filled look at big sharks, small sharks and the behind-the-scenes process of making a film! 

From Story to Screen

• Shark Research: What inspired Laura and Robert to make a movie about sharks, and how did they learn about sharks? How big is a shark? Play our game 'Big or Small' to find out! Do you know what makes a shark a shark? Play our game 'Are You A Shark' and find out!

• Writing/Editing: Laura and Robert wrote a screenplay for the movie, but what did that look like, and how did the story change between their beginning ideas to the final draft?

• Visual Storyboards: Movies often start out as storyboards, which look like a comic book. Compare the storyboards with the final movie to see what changed!

The Great White Shark Song

Join Robert and Laura to sing their incredibly catchy Great White Shark Song from the movie The Shark Riddle! Also hear Robert tell behind the scenes stories about how he filmed the sea lions and seals in the song.

A GIANT, LIFE-SIZED INFLATABLE BASKING SHARK

That's right folks, a giant shark could swim right into your school, library or special event! Sisbro has a one-of-a-kind inflatable basking shark that is 23 feet long. Basking sharks are the second biggest shark in the ocean, and they are peaceful creatures that eat tiny plankton. You could feel what it is like to stand next to a true giant of the sea!

The book and movie are winners of 21 international awards, including Midwest Picture Book of the Year, Best Children's Program at the BLUE Ocean Film Festival, and a National Parenting Publications GOLD Award.

what is this program about?

Click on the arrows for more fun photos

What ages do you perform for?

In schools, we usually visit elementary aged children (K-6th grade), but we can adapt for middle and high school. At other venues, we perform for general family audiences.

How long are your performances?

At schools, our assemblies are about 50 minutes in length. At other venues, we can adapt from 15 minutes up to an hour.

Do you have a limit on group size?

At schools, we try to see around 125 students per assembly, so that we can adapt material with age-appropriate activities, and because we like to be interactive! At other venues, we work with what is possible!

What does this cost?

Please contact us for pricing as prices vary depending on the location and venue.

Can people buy autographed products?

Yes. We can bring some with us, or we can give people a coupon to use on our web store.