1,392 stories from Theatrefolk
Since 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…
Episode 156: Double Les Miz Double Valjean Host Lindsay Price and Theatrefolk co-owner Craig Mason had a unique theatrical experience. They saw Les Miserables twice in three days. The first …
In 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…
Have you heard of Tech Challenge (sometimes it's called Tech Olympics)? Teams compete in common tasks that every technician should know and/or participate in during the run of a show. Some e…
What 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…
Episode 155: Ensemble Is Core Teacher Carrie Reiberg has long known about the place that theatre can give a person. The theatre is a community. To that end, she also knows the importance and…
Kristi 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 bo…
Six Tips to Keep Your Students in Stitches Many modern teen plays can be easily costumed from the closets of the cast or (even more simply than that) jeans and show t-shirts. But if you're m…
When 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 hairst…
So 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"). This includes…
Episode 154: Come With Us To Kabuki If you're going to teach a Theatre History Unit, one of the areas you may include is Japanese Theatre: Kabuki, Noh or Bunraku. Theatrefolk co-owners Linds…
Teachers 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…
A 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…
Episode 153: Â Directing Mary Poppins Artistic Director of the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Todd Espeland directed the musical Mary Poppins last fall. Â How did put his own stamp on the music…
If you are working on a play or musical with a large ensemble, those actors can sometimes feel "less than" the named characters or the leads. I'm just in the ensemble. I don't matter. You wa…
Uta Hagen held a lot of influence in 20th century American Theatre. She made her Broadway debut in 1938 in Anton Chekov's The Seagull. She also acted against Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Nam…
One approach to character development is to identify the difference between what characters want and what they need. Sometimes students get the two mixed up. Which is more important? Do play…
Characters come to life in the small details, the little things like personal preference, food, or music choices. These two exercises can help student actors discover those details and reall…
Episode 152: Â Reflecting Forward On Theatre School Grae Greer is in the middle of her last semester of her theatre program at Marshall University. Why did she choose Marshall? Â What we…
Student 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…
Monologues. 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 shi…
What 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…
Figuring 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 boring …
Featuring you – the theatre educators that work so hard for your students. We’re proud to present the Drama Teacher Spotlight! Want to join? Just click here and tell us about you…
Episode 151: Â Reflecting Back on Theatre School Jesse Wilson was born in LA, started acting at an early age and was accepted into Juilliard. He was on track to becoming a traditional prof…
