Jim Hoare is the author of Your High School Improv Show Playbook and has added a Virtual Performance Pandendum (Pandemic Addendum) to the resource for adapting improv to a virtual environmen…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMAs drama educators, we have the opportunity to instill a love and appreciation of theatre for all students. Teen Plays for Inclusive Classrooms by Dara Murphy is a fantastic resource for cla…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 04:36PMNineteen million people tuned in to watch the 2018 Golden Globes. And I bet you a number of them were students (maybe some in your classroom), and many were drama educators. Listening to the…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMDo you include student directing in your program or are you thinking about introducing it this year? Tfolk playwright Clint Snyder reveals some tips for student directors. Directing can be …
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMThe following exercise has lots of variations and ways to adapt it for your classroom. No matter what variation you use, however, the ultimate goal (see what I did there?) of the exercise is…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMLarge drama classes can be lots of fun – they are often noisy, but full of energy and excitement, and the time absolutely flies by. But there are challenges too – with larger classes, it…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMThis improvisation game is great for students who are brand-new to improvisation. It focuses on students going with the flow and joining in the scene, rather than trying to one-up another an…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMThe “show circle” is one of my go-to theatre techniques, no matter whether I’m teaching a drama class or directing a production. Whenever it’s time for class or rehearsal to start, t…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMCreating rituals in the drama classroom is a great way to build community and a sense of teamwork – a feeling of “we’re all in this together.” The most easy, basic ritual is starting…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMDevising a brand-new piece of theatre from scratch can be exciting, overwhelming, or just plain scary for students. It can be challenging for students to narrow their focus when there are li…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMAre your students feeling stuck or frustrated with their playwriting assignments? This exercise will help get them unstuck by challenging them to explore alternative situations for their sce…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMSo, you’ve decided to do some playwriting with your students. Fantastic! But now comes the hard part – actually sitting down and writing. Whether in a notebook or on a computer screen, t…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMScenes from a Bag is one of my most favourite theatre games. It can easily become one of those “takes over the whole class period” games because it’s simple and fun for students. This …
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMWhen working with historical theatre pieces by playwrights like Shakespeare and Marlowe, a common complaint is that their diction is difficult for students to understand. One way to help stu…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMCommedia dell’arte is a style of theatre that was popular in Italy during the 1500’s. It was recognized for being comedic, improvised, and having clear elements: Stock characters inc…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMSince Shakespearean plays have been around for hundreds of years, we need to shake things up by trying new ideas in order to make these shows different and exciting. One of the most wonderfu…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMIn Ancient Greek Theatre, there is an interesting similarity among the plays written during that time: there is always a chorus included. Nowadays most people would associate a chorus with m…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMWhat is ambiance? Ambiance is the feel of your production, or the mood and tone of it. One way you can shape the mood of a show is with lighting and sound. They are your best tools to portra…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMKristi Ross-Clausen, Production Stage Manager at the University of Wisconsin – Madison is constantly thinking about theatre safety. She’s taught drama and been behind the scenes for …
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMWhen it comes time to perform and students have their amazing new costumes on, they will need some extra tools to finish their “look” – and that means hairstyles and makeup! The right …
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMSo much emphasis in theatre and drama classrooms is placed on acting, that we often forget the unsung heroes of the theatre – the crew (also known as the “techs” or “techies”). Thi…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMTeachers often have the task of producing a school show with grand ideas but with little to no budget. Before you start organizing a fundraiser, digging into your own pockets (because who wa…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMA vision board is a visual representative of the look of the show. Directors can use a vision board to illustrate their concept of the show to their design team. It can also be used to illus…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMStudent actors are frequently cast into a role that is totally outside their comfort zone. They might have to portray someone completely different than themselves, with radically different b…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMMonologues. The word can send shivers down the spine of the bravest actor! It’s just you up there on stage with all those words. When faced with a monologue, will you sink like a rock or s…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMWhat to Research For Your Character and Why As an actor, character research is part of your job. Doing research gives you the foundation and background to help make your character believable…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMFiguring out what your character wants will help you add depth and interest for your character, making them more realistic and believable. A character that doesn’t want anything is a borin…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMIf you want your students to physicalize their characters, get them thinking about status. What is status? Answer this question for yourself. Write down a couple of different answers yoursel…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMWhat is THE most important part of an actor’s job? To tell a story to an audience! No matter what, the audience needs to be able to experience what’s going on during the performance. Act…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMNo matter whether you are performing a mime piece, tableau, monologue, or scene, your physicality is part of your “actor’s toolkit.” Physicality, along with your voice and imagination,…
SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AMWarm-ups are a great way to get students’ bodies and minds ready for drama class, especially if they have been sitting in other classes all day. Warm-ups get students into the creative min…
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