349 stories by "Kerry Hishon"
Stage combat is always one of the most eagerly anticipated lessons in drama class. Stage combat is fun to do and it's a great workout. And when it's done well it looks spectacular onstage. I…
Fitness? Hey, this is supposed to be drama class, not gym class! I'm not a jock! I'm terrible at sports! Are you telling me I need to lose weight? Fitness is so important for drama students.…
A common question that is asked of student actors when they're analyzing their character is: "What was your character doing before this scene?" Or "What is your character going to do after t…
What is a signature gesture? It's a nonverbal, repeated movement your character is known for, that you perform in a particular way that is unique and identifiable. Common, well-known gesture…
There are so many approaches to developing a character and making them fascinating and engaging. Some methods are more analytical, some are emotional, and some are physical. In this case, th…
What do the musicals The Little Mermaid, Honk!, and Cats all have in common? They're all shows that feature actors playing animals. It's a lot of fun to play non-human characters, but the va…
After a production closes, reflecting on your process and thinking about the future are the natural next steps. They're definitely an important part of the process, for you as a teacher and …
After a show closes, there is often a ton of stuff left over " set pieces and flats, furniture, costume items, props, makeup and hair products… the list goes on and on! Ideally, your schoo…
Once a show has finished, the "post-show blues" often hit students. This can have a number of symptoms, including obsessively quoting lines and song lyrics from the show, starting every stor…
Once the final performance of a show is completed, what comes next? It's time to tear down the set, clean the theatre from top to bottom, and return the space back to its regular, unadorned,…
I'm a stickler for theatre etiquette, and that includes being great audience members. No matter what performance you are watching, whether it be a classroom presentation, a school show, or a…
In my nearly ten years as a youth theatre director, I have experienced what seems like every emergency situation under the sun. From misplaced costume items and broken props, to skipping CDs…
Performing onstage with friends, family, peers, and even strangers watching can be extremely nerve-wracking. Putting yourself out there, being vulnerable, and taking risks onstage takes a lo…
Creating pre-show rituals and routines is so helpful for students. It clears their minds and gets them into their "theatre brains" " the mindset needed to leave their personal issues at the …
When creating a theatrical piece, it's important to engage as many of the five senses as possible, including sound. It's easy when you're working on a musical; the sounds of the show are wri…
An organized backstage is a calm backstage, and a running list can help keep things running smoothly during a production. What is a running list? It's a scene-by-scene breakdown of scene cha…
Tech week…the phrase alone can send shivers down the spine of the most calm and unflappable theatre professionals. Tech week has the reputation of being long and taxing. But it doesn't hav…
Cleaning up anybody else's mess is no fun. Cleaning up a messy backstage after a show is especially disheartening " it takes away any good feelings that were cultivated during a good perform…
Sometimes we get caught up in all the bells and whistles of a theatrical production. Sumptuous sets, elaborate costumes, piles of props, mountains of furniture " they're all wonderful, but s…
Costumes are such a fabulous part of theatre " they help tell the story, they help actors get into character, and they immediately tell the audience something about what's going on. For many…
Props can add so much to a production, but they can also be challenging to work with. Here are five common props challenges, rapid-fire style, with suggestions about how to deal with them! 1…
Creating a theatrical piece is a bit like baking a cake " choose your recipe (the show), add ingredients (cast and crew), stir together and bake (practice and rehearse). At the end, you've g…
A colleague of mine once told me that he always waits until the technical or dress rehearsal to choreograph the curtain call. His reasoning was that the curtain call should be the absolute l…
In theatre, a transition refers to the process of moving from one scene or set to the next. It seems simple enough"grab "all the stuff" at the end of one scene and take it offstage, while th…
It takes a community to create a great production, and theatrical performances would not exist without the time, skills, and talents of dedicated crew members. From costumes and props to sou…
