Performing Playwrights
| THE PROGRAM: Performing
Playwrights is a child-centered project which
addresses major components of the language arts
curriculum by empowering students to write, perform, and
produce their own play. The children study the writing
process, elements of fiction, read plays throughout the
year, and attend performances with an awareness that they
will eventually write their own class play. The class gathers to discuss the structure necessary to write a play and to review the impor tant components of a fictitious play. The children brainstorm a list of possible problems, solutions, and characters around which the play can be written. They state their reasons for supporting one of the proposals or for combining several of them. The class votes on suggestions and creates a storyboard as a guide. The next step is to write the opening scene together as the teacher models the development of characters and plot and the collaborative play writing process. The students move into cooperative groups to write additional scenes which support the play's plot. They create their own characters and dialogue. Upon the completion of their rough drafts, groups then read their scripts aloud for class comments and the groups revise accord ingly. Next, the focus of the project switches to the performance aspect of the play. At this point, members of the community with knowledge in the performing arts visit and share their expertise with the children. Children engage in theater games (such as those found in Theater Games for Young Performers by Maria C. Novelly, Meriwether Publishing, 1985) and work within small groups to refine their character portrayals, stage directions, and stage voices. The students then participate in the writing of lyrics for songs, and the creation of scenery, costumes, programs, and posters advertising the event. The students rehearse on the stage, fine tune their creation with the help of a video camera, and present the performance to an audience of parents and students from other classes. The project culminates with a cast party, the sharing of emotions and reactions, and an inspirational talk by the teacher about overcoming performance fears and accomplishing goals. |
THE STUDENTS: Twenty-two second
grade students with mixed abilities. This project can be
adapted to all age groups and to larger or smaller
groups. THE STAFF: This program was developed by Anne O'Brien who was inspired by her work with the Lincoln Center Institute and Summerstage, a summer theater camp for youth in South Orangetown. MATERIALS: Plays written at the students' reading level, open space in the classroom, stage (optional), materials for costumes and scenery, theatrical arts guides for youth. OUTSIDE RESOURCES: A field trip to a profes sional play is inspirational and informative, but optional. OVERALL VALUE: This program brings language arts to life for the students by igniting them and empowering them to create their own masterpiece with a strong foundation in the principles of writing. Students become risk takers who willingly rise to the occasion to present their work to an audience. The children are given the opportunity to shine and share their many strengths through the program. RECOMMENDED FUNDING: $200.00 FOR MORE INFORMATION: DEVELOPER: Anne O'Brien SCHOOL:
PRINCIPAL: Marianne Tully DISTRICT: South Orangetown Central School District |