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Frequently Asked Questions the DramaMommaSpeaks List

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Frequently Asked Questions the DramaMommaspeaks List

Recently, I had a wonderful opportunity to chat with a first year teacher as he planned the rest of his school year.  He began the year with the students all learning from home, then his school went to hybrid (which means half were at home and half were in the classroom) and soon he’d have them all in the classroom together.

His questions were standard ones I receive which made me think of some other questions which are frequently asked.  Here are some:

1. Do you always warm-up your students? Why?  

Warming-up your students will help in two ways–it gives the student a minute to shake off whatever occurred in the hallway or last class and also helps him to focus on your lesson to come.

2.  What is a good musical for high school students to perform?

The first thing I need to know is how your administration looks at the theater program?  If they are very supportive and want the best for their students (and they TRUST you), then you can take some chances with more adult musicals–with musicals such as West Side Story and Les Mis’ (know that there are very few roles for females in LM, however.)

By and large, I suggest the classics–The Sound of Music, Oklahoma!, Music Man and so forth.  Why?  They are guaranteed crowd pleasers and families will attend because they are familiar with them. Good for everyone’s ego and the box office sales.

3.  Can you recommend a good play for middle school students to perform? 

I like to produce adaptations of classic books such as Anne of Green Gables, Tom Sawyer, The Miracle Worker, Diary of Anne Frank, Bridge to Terabithia or Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream. Find out the reasons I suggest Anne of Green Gables here Ten Reasons Why Everyone Produces Anne of Green Gables

4.  What do you think of improvisation exercises?

I was trained as a professional actress and at that time we did not merely improv. for the sake for fun.  Improvisation was used to develop characters or create new art pieces.  I don’t dispense improvistion like candy.  I like it to mean something (a theme) or practice some particular skill like voice and articulation, for instance.

Frequently Asked Questions the DramaMommaspeaks List

5.  My students are learning from home. Can your lessons be used in distance learning?

Yes, many of my lessons can be used in distance learning.  We have this new cool program on Teacherspayteachers.com called Eastl and it will make any lesson into a digital format.

6.  If you could only teach one musical theater unit, which one would you choose?

For obvious reasons, I would teach Hamilton.  I mean, how can you go wrong with it?  My Hamilton musical lesson is fifty pages and includes everything a teacher might need:  procedure, history of the musical, list of song titles, biographies over creative staff, questions and teacher’s key, trivia and ends with enrichment activities which can be done individually or in groups.

7.  If you could only teach one radio theater unit, which one would you choose?

It depends upon my mood, but I’m pleased with how all of them came out.  The most difficult one is The Frozen Pirate which is best for high school students.  It it set in two different ships and has a narrator who is sometimes a character in the story and sometimes merely narrates.

Another one which I’m proud of is my own–Bow Wow Blues.  BWB is about a group of bumbling bank robbers in the 1930’s who are outsmarted by some quick witted detectives and a couple of dogs who help them.  The characters are broad and easy for middle school students to convey.

8.  Do you charge royalties for your scripts?

No, I don’t.  I only ask that the person producing the script send me a recording and/or photos of their production for my personal uses in marketing. Bookeeping who is producing which script would be a nightmare for me to track at this point in my business.

9.  Do you update your resources?

Yes, constantly!  For instance, let’s say it’s announced Lin Manuel Miranda will be performing in a new movie.  I go in to all the products where he is included and update the information to include a mentioned of the new movie.  Or, a link breaks or vanishes–I go in and find a new one.  Or I add a page to a resource which upon second thought makes the produce more useful to the teacher.

10.  On average, how many new lessons do you create a month?

I create about two new lessons a month and several new bundles.

Frequently Asked Questions the DramaMommaspeaks List

11.  I want to follow you. Do you have an email list I could join?

You bet!  I’m getting ready to glam up my newsletter in the near future and I think you’ll want to be a part of it.  You can join here on this page up above on the right.

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12.  Are you on Instagram?

Yes, I am very active on Instagram.  I speak about different topics there than on the blog.  You can find me at DramaMommaSpeaks on Instagram.

13.  How about Facebook?

Yes, I am.  I share various arts subjects there.  Check me out https://www.facebook.com/Dramamommaspeaks

14.  Are you ever interviewed on podcasts?

You can learn about them here The Top Reasons to Listen to Podcasts

15. I know Clubhouse is a big thing now.  Would I find you there?

Yup!  Just search Deb Baldwin.

16. Where could I see some reviews of your products?

You can find review of my products here Dramamommaspeaks

Frequently Asked Questions the DramaMommaspeaks List

17.  On average, how pages are your lessons?

Most lessons are around 15 pages in length.

18.  On average, how days’ long are your units?

Some units are three days in length and several are three weeks long.

19.  Do you have drama lessons for elementary students?

Yes, although not as many as I’d like.  I create lessons where the interest is–meaning if a lot of products which are purchased for the month seem to be for middle school, I will make another middle school lesson that month.

20.  Do you have drama integration units?

Yes, I have readers theater and play scripts which are perfect for drama integration. Here’s a blog post about drama integration, too.  How Do I Use Arts Integration in the Classroom?

21.  Who writes the music for your short plays?

My husband of thirty-eight years composes the music.  He is an award-winning instrumental music teacher, taught for forty years and composes as well.

22.  What is the price range of your materials?

Some products are $3.50.  The most expensive product I have are bundles which lasts a semester or even a year.  They are around $100.00

23.  Do accept suggestions?

For things to add to a product or if something needs more clarification?  Yes, but I’d rather the person emailed me than put it in a review.  It confuses the next buyer.

24.  If a teacher wants a particular lesson which you have not created, will you develop it for them?

Yes, I create lessons for teachers on occasion.  The lesson becomes my sole property, but I give the person acknowledgement in the lesson for their idea.

25.  How long does it take to create a radio theater script?

It takes about sixty-five hours to write a script. There is no playwriting template for a radio theater script, so I must set up every page by hand.

26.  Do you have any lessons about people of color?

My Famous Theater Artist Biographies and One Pager Assignment include many people of color–Denzel Washington, Audra McDonald, August Wilson, Camille A. Brown, etc. Here is a blog post concerning my thoughts

27.  Do you have lessons about technical theater?

Of course!  Everything from costume to set design. Here is one: Set Design Fairy Tales

28.  What’s next for you?

Oh…..I can’t tell you yet!  Just make sure you join my email list, look for my free products coming out soon and some other great plans.

I hope these answers help you.  Please feel free to contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or my website at DeborahBaldwin.net

Deborah Baldwin of DramaMommaSpeaks

 

 

Drama Games for the Introvertive Student

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Drama Games for the Introvertive Student

Drama Games for the Introvertive Student

Is that possible?  Drama students can be shy? I know it’s tough to believe, because we are a noisy bunch. So let’s talk about drama games for the introvertive student.

For various reasons, the answer is a resounding “yes!”

Recently, I read a post from a teacher lamenting about this on a Drama Teachers Group Facebook.  Her shy students wouldn’t budge from their seats no matter what she tried–and these were fifth and sixth graders.

Why Drama Games Help Students Feel Safe Enough to Participate

After teaching for thirty-eight some years, as you might imagine, I taught all types of students from the most enthusiastic class to the smallest and most shy. Honestly, I can figure out a class dynamic fairly fast, because of my experiences.

Do you need help?

Like adults, students are primarily afraid of the unknown.  Aren’t we all?  Additionally, I’ve had adults who desperately want to participate in a play but scare themselves off before they even sign up for an audition.  Students might have older siblings telling them embarrassing stories about their experiences in a drama class.

Drama Games for the Introvertive Student

Everyone Makes Mistakes

Or they’ve seen bloopers on Youtube.com and put themselves in place of the performers and suddenly “everyone” sees the mistakes.  Little do they know the performers actually shared their bloopers for the express purpose of getting likes. You never know what your students think a drama class looks like.

My advice is to dispel any myths about drama class which they might have accepted as truth. Myths of drama class are:  we always act, lines must always be memorized, classmates will laugh and ridicule our performance, we will be asked to do something embarrassing, etc.  Generally, students worry about their image at all times whether they are in a drama class or in the hallway.  The last thing the teacher wants to do is feed that anxiety.

The best way to de-mystify their worries is by starting very slowly.  Use drama games and exercises in which everyone can have success. Or if that seems too much for them, start with technical theater lessons first.

Drama Games for the Introvertive Student

Drama Games for Shy Students

Here are a few of my go-to drama games for the introvertive or reluctant student:

  1.  “Alliteration Name” Game--A lot of teachers use this game, however in drama class, we are a bit more expressive.  I expect students to come up with word which describes you realistically or unrealistically.  They must add a gesture of some kind and they can choose the rate of delivery for the line (fast or slow), add an accent and certainly choose some emotion to convey through the line.  I demonstrate first that gives the students an example of what their interpretation should look like.  If a student is stumped when their turn comes up, I direct them and even demonstrate an idea.  Usually, that’s all the reluctant needs.  Once they have a little success with the exercise, they see where they can fit into the class.
  2.  “Copy Me”–I like this game because it’s a simple premise: the student copies the tone, inflection and body position of the person before them.  Then they do their own version of the same line.  Suddenly, the worry about performing is minimized.  How hard is it to imitate someone?  We do it all the time whether we realize it or not.  We pick up vocal inflections, a person’s delivery and even their gestures.  Think you don’t?  Have you ever mocked someone or demonstrated to someone how something was said to you?  Yup.

Drama Games for the Introvertive Student

More Games and Exercises for Shy Students

  1.   “This is not a hanger”-–This exercise relies on a person’s imagination, however the challenge is very focused.  We just come up with something which is the same shape as a hanger.  It could be large (pyramid) or small (earring), used (an iron) or enjoyed (a martini.) You do need a hanger for the students to see.  Go around the class and when they are ready to participate, instruct them to say, “This is not a hanger, it’s a _____________.” There is only one rule– once that thing is suggested, no one can suggest it a second time.

2. “Lean and Leave”—This exercise strengthens the imagination and uses the body for demonstration.  Person A pretends to lean on something such as a wall and must be able to hold the position indefinitely. Person B goes to Person A and leans against Person A in some particular way. (For instance,  if Person A is pretending to lean on a wall with one hand, Person B might rest their elbow on the back of Person A.  Person A asks Person B, “Are you ready?” because Person B must be able to lean indefinitely without Person A there.  Person A steps away.  Person C goes to Person B and leans against them in another unusual way (for instance, they lean with their back against Person B).  Person B asks the same question of Person C and so forth.

 Everyone can participate in this exercise. It’s very engaging and different. I always challenge students to lean on different planes—high, medium or low, or putting their feet up on the other person and so on. I’m known to instruct the new leaning person to turn his head or bend an arm to show the difference in the look—just like those sculpture people.

Using Drama Games to Break Through Student Hesitation

3.”Tableau”—Though not a drama game per se, any student can have success with tableau.  Furthermore, it takes very little investment on the part of the student.  Students work in a group (that’s a real plus), they choose a story to demonstrate (for instance they show the beginning of the story, its middle and end) and there are no spoken lines. Ultimately, they merely freeze in place as part of the tableau. If the students are feeling comfortable, take this exercises a little farther by tapping each student and allowing them to say something as the character.  Again, keep it nice and friendly.

Drama Games for the Introvertive Student

Building Connections Through Play: Mind Meld & Drama Circles

  1. “Mind Meld”—The goal is for two people to say things together until they reach the same word. It begins by one person saying “one,” the second person saying “two,” and then both people counting to three together. They then say anything at all – a person, place, idea, concept, phrase: anything.

Then we think what the common thing between those two things or associated with those two things would be. We repeat the one, two, three and try to use the two previously stated things to arrive at a third, common one. We keep trying each time until we say the same word. When we finally arrive at the same word we sing and dance to “It was a mind meld, it was a mind meld, it happens all the time, it was a mind meld. ” Sometimes it is played with the same pair of people all the way through until they connect on a word. Sometimes the group can opt in and out and it is played between the team.

Warm-Up Games for Quick Engagement

2. Drama Circles—Drama circles are a wonderful way to involve your more shy or reluctant students.     Please your students in a circle (usually we sit on the floor).  Pass out a card to each student.  Each card tells them a           part  of a story.  Their job is to tell it to the rest of the circle.  You can even give one card for a small group who                   dramatize the story with movement, sound or tableaux.  Pick up this resource for an example: Drama Circle 

3. Group Based Improvisation Exercises–Once your students appear comfortable with your class, you might try   these improvisation exercises which are still a type of drama game.  If it were me and this was the beginning of the         year, I would try one the second week of classes.  Grab it here. 

If you are looking for more warm up exercises or games, check out my Instagram page @dramamommaspeaks

Drama Games for the Introvertive Student

Where Do I  Go From Here?

If you are seeking more advice or drama games from an experienced drama teacher and director, check out these posts of mine:

The Ultimate Guide for Drama Teachers: Creative Movement? Are you Kidding Me?

Three Lessons to Engage Your Drama Class Using Differentiation

Drama Lessons for Middle Grades from an Award Winning Drama Teacher

Come join my monthly newsletter!  I give advice, tips, suggestions, announce new drama resources I’ve created in the month and a FREE warm-up exercise.  You can join here  DramaMommaSpeaks newletter

Need a lesson you can use tomorrow, check out this one Drama Class: A Playwriting Unit or How to Help Your Students Feel Seen

Click here:  We’re Live! Radio Theater #101

Has Covid Ended the Broadway Theater?

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Has Covid Ended the Broadway Theater?

Recently, my husband and I caught a wonderful performance on BroadwayHD of “Slava’s Snow Show.”  It is quinessential circus theater and we nearly wept with joy while watching it..  Even though it was a filmed performance, it was the closest thing we’d gotten to live theater in nearly a year.

These are unprecendented times, yes?  Everyone in the world is in the same boat.

Will Broadway Theater Re-open?

Broadway, Font, Letters, Sign, Lights, Red, Yellow

It is hard to believe, but Broadway is coming back sooner than we think!

A time line has been drafted for the potential reopening of Broadway theaters and live entertainment venues.

As reported in Broadway News, New York state can reopen venues through a combination of quick Covid tests and socially distanced seating. Although audience numbers would be significantly lower than pre-lockdown levels, it’s the first step to Broadway being back open again.

Speaking about the framework, Governor Cuomo said: “The overall effort is headed towards reopening with testing. And we’re going to be smart, but also aggressive about it.” He also said that Broadway theatres could realistically open if everyone was proven to be Covid negative. As long as all safety protocols were signed off, “You can open a Broadway stage with a set percentage of occupants, where people have tested prior to walking into that Broadway theater.”

During the seven-month Pop Up Festival announced recently, small crowd sizes will be introduced for live performances. This will be the next step since the outdoor Bills Stadium reopened its doors, with up to 7,000 fans attending games.

Here’s the deal, though.  On February 23, venues with a seating capacity of over 10,000 will be allowed to reopen. Of course, this doesn’t include Broadway theater which are much smaller, but hey that’s a start!

Outdoor, Street, Road, City, View, Night, Evening, Time

Not everyone is excited about this plan. From the newyorktheatreguide.com, ” … Broadway leaders previously stated theatres can’t open until Coronavirus levels are low enough to sustain full houses in auditorium.”

Theater is expensive! My personal experiences with administrating theater companies taught me it is not cost effective without a full house. According to nytix.com, “Some may say that any attendance is better than no attendance, but operating costs for Broadway plays are often so steep that they need to sell at least 80% of tickets (or more!) just to break even.

Spending the producers’ money to put on Broadway shows for just 10-25% capacity, could very well create even more losses than having no shows at all. It seems like a real world skit of the famous Nathan Lane show The Producers, but with real consequences for art and people. Broadway Theatres could increase ticket prices but they would have to be 2-3 times the normal cost and they would soon run out of patrons with pockets that deep to buy them.”

At present, Broadway theaters are closed until May 30.

Broadway and West 34th St.

Which Shows Will Re-open?

If you think about it–we are talking about over 97,000 people returning to their jobs and/or be cast.  Unfortunately, they can’t just iron the costumes, turn on the lights and open the grand curtain.  It will take several months for a production to open again.

I looked around to see if I could discern which shows would re-open first. It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack. According to Broadwayworld.com  productions are slated to open sometime in the fall.

Productions included are:

  • The Music Man by December 20, 21l.
  • Caroline or Change
  • David Byrne’s America Utopia
  • MJ the Musical

Many productions (Dear Evan Hansen, Aladdin, Book of Mormon, Aint Too Proud, etc.) haven’t made an announcement yet.  I’ll update this list as news becomes available.

Who will open first?

Who will open first?  According to the newyorktheatreguide.com website, there are rumors that Hamilton will be the first Broadway show to re-open, with potential performances from Jul. 4, 2021. Yippee!

Speaking to Variety, Lin-Manuel Miranda said: “I think when theater comes back it’s going to be in conversation with technology in an entirely different way. I don’t think we go back to a world where a show premieres on Broadway, and then no one can see it unless they have two hundred bucks. I think producers are going to have to start thinking about how they’re going to capture [their work] because in capturing it they can actually capture a much larger audience for their live show.”

I’m intrigued by this comment.  Does Lin-Manuel mean covid precautions? Or recorded music?

Is Theater Dead? 

As a theater lover, director, producer, actress and teacher I worry about theater even without the pandemic.

It’s easily misunderstood and not everyone understands the power of the performing arts.  I didn’t know it at the time, but this post has come to pass: How Fulfilling is Life Without Theatre? 

I’m always reminded of this quote by John Steinbeck, “The theater is the only institution in the world which has been dying for four thousand years and has never succumbed.  It requires tough and devoted people to keep it alive.”

It does require grit from us in theater arts.  All around you right now there are people working to bring back theater for all of us. Feel comforted by that thought–theater people are a harty bunch!

In the meantime, while we wait to see live theater I can help a little. Here are some lessons which might be of interest to you.

They are quite popular with other teachers. I’ll tell you a secret. (Most of my lessons come with a teacher’s script so a teacher doesn’t have to think what to say to begin the lesson.  I’ve provided it for them.) I have lessons for grades two to twelve. If you don’t know about me, I am a retired drama teacher now selling drama resources. You can find them at Dramamommaspeaks Store

 

Hamilton
Boom Cards
Costume Design
Wicked
Come From Away
Costume Design
Storytelling
High School
Radio Theater
Readers Theater
Drama Vocabulary
Theater will live through this time.  I’m certain it will take several months before we see packed theaters. How exciting will it be to see happy people roaming around Times Square before a performance. I plan to be there, don’t you?

If you could pick which musical and play you’d like to open first, which would you select?  I’d love to hear from you.  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail. com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Deborah Baldwin of DramaMommaSpeaks

Six Great Lessons Students Can Learn from Ground Breaking Musicals

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Six Great Lessons Students Can Learn from Ground Breaking Musicals

Lin-Manuel Miranda is quoted as saying, “The musicals that leave us kind of staggering on our feet are the ones that really reach for a lot.”

I agree with him.  Recently, I happened upon a YouTube video of performers in a Smash Mob from Les Mis’.  The video was from 2017.  The singing made me cry it was so beautiful.

Certain musicals do leave me staggering, how about you?  I consider them to be ground breaking.

What are some ground breaking musicals?

That’s a tough question.  There are many, almost too numerous to list here.

Number One: Rent

My curiosity for information regarding those exceptional musicals was piqued.  Which musicals carved their own way in musical theater?  Looking around, I found this information.

“You might call this one, the “anti-Cats” musical. Drawing on his memories of his first apartment in New York — with rotting floorboards, no heat and a shower in the kitchen — and the friends he’d made then, writer Jonathan Larson created the musical “Rent.” Based on the Puccini opera “La Bohéme,” “Rent” tells the story of a group of struggling artists, and while it’s meant to capture the passion and love often associated with the Bohemian lifestyle, it also illustrates the dire aspects of being a “starving artist,” so to speak.

The re-imagining of the famed opera takes it from tuberculosis-riddled Paris to the East Village in New York City, at a time when AIDS was causing much distress. It depicts love and passion in spite of progressive, incurable illness. The musical, which dispensed with many Broadway staples, like dimming the lights and starting with an overture, went on to win a Pulitzer Prize for drama. It was only the seventh musical ever to earn the distinction.”

The lesson to be learned from Rent?  Live in the moment and to live every day like it is your last.

A teacher who used my unit of Rent, stated,  :Extremely satisfied This was fantastic for discussing and analyzing “Rent”. My student’s were completely focused and active participants. Thank you for such a professional and high quality resource.:

Other Ground Breaking Musicals

Lesson Two:  Oklahoma!

From the 1920s into the 1940s, popular tunes inevitably came from Broadway musicals. Composers such as Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein and Irving Berlin were in the height of their careers. Oklahoma! was ground breaking in several ways. Rather than a huge ensemble number it opens with cowboy Curly singing, Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’! There’s a healthy dose of insanity and murder. Songs aren’t just musical window dressing anymore; they drive the story forward.

The lesson to be learned from Oklahoma!: Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule; Be tolerant of differences; Use good manners, not bad language; Be considerate of the feelings of others; Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone; Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements. Pick up my unit for Oklahoma here: Oklahoma! Broadway Musical Unit

One teacher who reviewed the unit said, “Extremely satisfied. This resource is very complete and provided lots of teaching options to use with my students. Versatile and appealing!”

Lesson Three:  West Side Story

Another innovative musical is West Side Story.  Wow, you can’t beat it, can you?  The carefully cut costumes of the Jets and the Sharks still look fresh from the dryer. There is no profanity (unless you count, “Krup you!”) and only one gun. But in the 1950s, a gang version of Romeo and Juliet packed with racial tension and a bittersweet conclusion was a big deal. Reviewer Walter Kerr of the New York Herald Tribune summed up the reaction after opening night when he wrote, “The radioactive fallout from West Side Story must still be descending on Broadway this morning.” The musical scored by Leonard Bernstein was also doubted initially as too operatic.

The lesson to be learned from West Side Story:  There are consequences of racial/ethnic/cultural hatred and what occurs when one’s pride controls a person’s behavior and attitude. You can find my unit here: West Side Story Broadway Musical Unit.

One review said, “Extremely satisfied. This resource is extremely detailed and well-written. I love West Side Story. This resource kept my older students engaged. What a awesome lesson!”

Lesson Four:  Jesus Christ Superstar

Let’s not forget Jesus Christ Superstar!  Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and librettist Tim Rice, both British, debuted with the first rock opera, all of the dialogue set to music. That style of libretto has since evolved into the norm for musicals. I remember hearing the musical for the first time at a youth group meeting–amazing experience.  If you haven’t seen the live television version of it, check out my blog post concerning the talent who portrayed Judas, Brandon Victor Dixon and  The Two Most Inspiring People I’ve Seen This Year

The lesson to be learned from Jesus Christ Superstar: There are consequences to success and the power that comes from it.  

Lesson Five:  Chorus Line

“Five, six, seven, eight!”  Those are familiar directions to a cast.  Chorus Line looks inside the lives of seventeen dancers competing for eight spots in a Broadway production. Before its fifteen-year run ended, the Michael Bennett musical further loosened the definition of how musicals had to be structured. With A Chorus Line, monologues and songs could serve as their own plot, if they stayed consistent with a central idea. This philosophy gave future musicals permission to try other, less traditional innovative forms.

The lesson to be learned from Chorus Line: Dreaming is important, but action is even more important.  

Lesson Six:  Hamilton

Here are several quotes from websites about Hamilton which I think say it better than I can,  “The show combines hip-hop, rap, R&B, soul, and traditional show tunes to create its novel score. And Miranda’s witty, sophisticated lyrics bring the familiar historical characters to life in a whole new way, drawing the audience in with their humanity and familiarity. The resounding success of Hamilton is undeniable.”

The blog, Broadwayinbound, mentions, “America’s founding fathers were all white, and many of them owned black slaves; in Hamilton, however, people of color play the leading roles — and Miranda says that was very intentional. “This is a story about America then, told by America now, and we want to eliminate any distance.”

Here’s another from https://www.cbc.ca, “From childhood Miranda loved musicals, and performed in several high school productions. One of his all-time favorites is Les Misérables, and that musical theatre classic inspired Miranda’s thinking on Hamilton. The things that you can see in Hamilton that are affecting people are also present in Les Mis. One, it’s trying to capture so much of the human experience that even if we fall short, we’ve got a lot of it. I mean, Les Misérables starts in prison. It’s ‘Look down, look down, you’re standing in your grave.’ And then it goes up from there,” he said in an interview.”

I especially like this quote from The Guardian, :Hamilton features black and brown actors, but its story never depicts a slave. That said, it’s also true that minstrelsy is crucial to Miranda’s project: he takes the long American minstrelsy tradition of white people in blackface on stage and reverses it.”

Isn’t it easy to understand why it is so popular?

Every season in the fall,  I look forward to the next ground breaking musical, don’t you?

I have several Broadway musical lessons (all useful for distance learning)  which demonstrate these lessons.  For more information about them, check out:  DramaMommaSpeaks

What musical do you think is significant?  I’d love to know.  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Deborah Baldwin of DramaMommaSpeaks

 

Nine Drama Lessons for Black History Month Which Increase Student Engagement

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Nine Drama Lessons for Black History Month Which Increase Student Engagement

Most of us are aware that February is Black History Month.  I’m so glad we give people of color a spotlight.  They certainly deserve it. Today I’m going to discuss Nine Drama Lessons for Black History Month Which Increase Student Engagement.

What is Black History Month?

Good question.

Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and Canada, and more recently has been observed in Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Black History Month began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. Celebrated in February in the United States and Canada, while in Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom it is observed in October.

If you are looking for My Black History Month Famous Theatre Artists Biography e-book, go here: Black History Month Famous Theatre Artists Biography

 

When did February become Black History month?

According to www.history.com, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

Do you need some help in the classroom?  Pick up this FREE guide and Lesson Here 

How Can We Celebrate Black History Month in My  Classroom?

Usually, during this time a drama teacher will read a few plays written about black Americans or playwrights. (Check out:  Concord Theatricals for their offerings.) If you need a list, a group of drama teachers compiled this list.  (I take no responsibility for them other than to share the list. I have not vetted them either.)

  • Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage.
  • Anna in the Tropics by Nilo Cruz
  • Vietgone by Qui Nguyen
  • Good Grief by Ngozi Anyanwu,
  • Our Lady of Kibeho by Katori Hall
  • Choir Boy by Tarell Alvin Mccraney
  • BLKS by Aziza Barnes
  • Shoe by Marisela Tevino Orta
  • Disengaged by Milta Ortiz
  • The Thanksgiving Play by Larissa Fasthorse,
  •  Durango by Julia Cho
  • Fade by Tanya Saracho
  • Caught by Christopher Chen
  • Behind the Sheet by Charly Evan Simpson

Powerful Voices: Contemporary Plays Exploring Identity, Culture, and Resilience

  •  Sender by Ike Holte
  • Obama-ology by Aurin Squire
  • Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them by A. Rey Pamatmat
  • Anonymous by Naomi Lizuka
  • Middle School Girls or The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Biohazards
  • Saturday Night/Sunday Morning by Dominique Morriseau
  • Hoodoo Love by Dominique Morriseau
  • We are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia...by Jackie Sibblies Drury.
  • Vietgone by Ngozie Anyanwu
  • Our Lady Kibeho by Kato Hall
  • Choir Boy by Tarrell Alvin Mccraney
  • Listen to Your Parents by Benjamin Zephaniah

Amazing list, huh?

Want a FREE biography lesson about Audra McDonald? Click here: Audra McDonald

Videos to View for Black History Month

Another activity a drama class would appreciate is to view a play or movie with a black cast.  If students are in high school, I first suggest Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom with Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman.  Just excellent!

I compiled this list of videos as a quick way to give you ideas.  Check out: https://redtri.com for more suggestions.

High School–

  • Harriet 
  • Ragtime, the Musical (I’ve only found a student version of Ragtime on youtube.com)
  • Fences
  • Raisin in the Sun
  • Lilies of the Field

Elementary and Middle Grades– 

  • Akeelah and the Bee
  • And the Children Shall Lead
  • Remember the Titans
  • Harriet
  • Hidden Figures
  • Sounder 
  • The Wiz (P.S.  I have a Broadway musical lesson about this production.  If you are interested, check it out The Wiz Broadway Musical Lesson

Drama Lessons Celebrating Black History Month

If you want something unique, I have famous theater artist biographies available.  First, these are great for a substitute provided you have access to the internet and youtube.com.  Primarily, I developed these short lessons as a way for students to learn about successful theater artists journey to Broadway–a growth mindset sort of lesson.

They include:

I add to this group all the time, so if you don’t follow me you might want to do so.  FOLLOW ME

Here is an example of a product’s description:

This distance learning lesson focuses on actor Oscar, Emmy and Tony award-winning James Earl Jones. The student researches questions about his life, journey to Broadway, and various accolades he’s received while practicing growth mindset. Finally, using a One Pager assignment, the student designs his life.

This lesson takes sixty to ninety minutes to complete. Now they come in a digital book!  Pick them up here!

Need something for a substitute? All is needed is the internet.

A Suggestion for You

HOW DO I USE THIS IN MY CLASSROOM? Many teachers combine these biographies with other DramaMommaSpeaks artists Lin Manuel Miranda, actresses Audra McDonald, Cynthia Erivo, Meryl Streep or designer Ming Cho Lee, composers Tim Minchin, Pasek and Paul. Or they tie it to a lesson about the Tony Awards, Tony Awards Lesson

Now they come as a book!

Have you considered the importance of students reading biographies?  If not, check out Should Students Read Biographies?

I’m hoping that 2023 will be a year of celebrating diversity.  Let’s face it–we have a problem and the only way to fix it is discussions concerning our differences and more importantly, how we all deserve respect and understanding.

Want to better understand drama integration and how to use it in your classroom?  Pick up my FREE guide and lesson Here

 What better place than in our classrooms?

What do you do for Black History Month in your classroom?  I’d love to know about it.  Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

 

Five Reasons You Shouldn’t See The Prom Musical on Your Own

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Five Reasons You Shouldn’t See The Prom Musical on Your Own

I know this blog title sounds like I’m going to talk about something scary in The Prom–it’s quite the opposite! It’s wonderful.

Did you know Netflix is streaming The Prom musical?

It’s available to stream beginning December 11.  I’m looking forward to seeing it.

Here are five reasons you shouldn’t see The Prom musical on Your Own:

Reason #1–Movies are meant to be seen with someone, in my opinion. How much fun is it to see a musical all by yourself? You need someone to sing with you!

1960's prom night. : TheWayWeWere

A Synopsis of The Prom

Emma becomes an instant outcast and a national headline when her high school cancels the prom rather than let her attend with her girlfriend. Sensing a chance to correct an injustice and maybe get some good publicity along the way a group of fading celebrities takes up the cause, and invades Emma’s small Indiana town. But their bumbling attempts at social activism make the situation far worse than they or Emma could have ever imagined. Cultures clash and the town erupts in chaos. The community’s reputation, Emma’s future, and the celebrities’ careers, all hang in the balance, until a true hero emerges to save the day. Uproarious and ultimately uplifting, this musical proves that standing up for yourself and inspiring others to accept their differences can make you the star you were always meant to be.

40 Cool Pics of the '70s Prom Couples ~ Vintage Everyday

Emma becomes an instant outcast and a national headline when her high school cancels the prom rather than let her attend with her girlfriend. Sensing a chance to correct an injustice and maybe get some good publicity along the way a group of fading celebrities takes up the cause, and invades Emma’s small Indiana town. But their bumbling attempts at social activism make the situation far worse than they or Emma could have ever imagined. Cultures clash and the town erupts in chaos. The community’s reputation, Emma’s future, and the celebrities’ careers, all hang in the balance, until a true hero emerges to save the day. Uproarious and ultimately uplifting, this musical proves that standing up for yourself and inspiring others to accept their differences can make you the star you were always meant to be.

An All Star Cast

Reason #2–The Cast is exceptional! Having someone to chat with about the direction makes the viewing all the more worthwhile.

Nice, huh?

The movie cast is excellent and includes Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Andrew Renalls, Kevin Chamberlain, Ariana Grande, Keegan Michael-Key, Kerry Washington and a host of other great performers.  Newcomer, Emma Pellman will portray the lead role of Emma and Arianna DeBose as Alyssa.

Wow!

The Creative Team

Reason #3–This is an excellent artistic staff at the helm.  I mean, Casey Nicholaw?  You can’t get someone much better than him.  Just check out his biography. You might miss something in the direction  if you watch by yourself and a friend might catch it.  I understand the humor is spot on.

Casey Nicholaw, Director

Casey Nicholaw (born 1962) is an American theatre director, choreographer and performer. He has been nominated for Tony Awards for directing and choreographing The Drowsy Chaperone (2006), The Book of Mormon (2011), Something Rotten! (2015), and Mean Girls (2018) and for choreographing Monty Python’s Spamalot (2005) and Aladdin (2014), winning for his co-direction of The Book of Mormon. He also was nominated for the Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Direction and Choreography for The Drowsy Chaperone (2006) and Something Rotten! (2015) and for Outstanding Choreography for Spamalot (2005).  

Bob Martin, Co-Playwright

Bob Martin began his career acting and directing at The Second City in Toronto in 1996. He won a Tony award for Best Book for a Musical and Best Actor in a Musical category portraying “Man in Chair” in Drowsy Chaperone.  In addition, Martin wrote the Urinetown music and lyrics. Among many of ventures,  he returned to Broadway by co-writing the book for Elf with Thomas Meehan. He co-wrote Prom the Musical with

Like many artists, Martin’s resume is varied.  It includes writing the book for a musical adaptation of the 1973 film The Sting and is currently writing the book for a sequel to The Drowsy Chaperone, a musical adaptation of The Princess Bride, a musical adaptation of A Night at the Museum, and a musical adaptation of Millions.

Chad Beugelin, Lyricist and Co-Playwright

Chad Beguelin (born September 24, 1969) is an American playwright and four-time Tony Award nominee. He wrote the book for Disney’s Aladdin, as well as additional lyrics for the score. He was nominated for Best Original Book and Best Original Score for Aladdin. He is also known for his collaborations with composer Matthew Sklar, having written the lyrics and co-written the book for the Broadway musical The Wedding Singer and the lyrics for the Broadway musical Elf the Musical. Beguelin was nominated for two Tony Awards for his work on The Wedding Singer, as well as a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics. He, too, graduated from New York University’s Tish School of the Arts.

What did the Reviewers Think of it When It Opened on Broadway?

Reason #4–Reviewers love the Broadway version.  See if you agree with the reviewers.  You can’t exactly discuss the pros and cons of the production with just yourself.   When it opened on Broadway, the reviewers extol much praise on the show.  That’s a good sign the musical will be well accepted, too.

The Prom was the first musical of the 2018–2019 Broadway season to be named a New York Times Critics Pick, with Jesse Green calling it “such a joyful hoot. With its kinetic dancing, broad mugging and belty anthems, it makes you believe in musical comedy again.”

Frank Rizzo, writing for Variety wrote that “with a tuneful score, a playful book, and performances that remind you what Broadway heart and chutzpah are all about, this cause celebre of a show turns out to be a joyous, funny, and sweet production that should appeal to several generations of musical fans.”

New York Magazine‘s Sara Holdren wrote: “There’s such genuine joy rolling off the stage in The Prom that you’re ready and willing to forgive it its minor misfires… Did I shed several real tears in The Prom’s final scene? Maybe I did… I also seldom stopped laughing. The show is full of witty delights.”[16]

Adam Feldman of Time Out Magazine gave the show 4 out of 5 stars, saying “It is cheering to see a musical comedy that engages with modern questions, with a teenage lesbian romance at its center to boot… But while the issues are contemporary, there is a 1980s feel to the character types and the overall style of Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar’s score, which resembles their work in The Wedding Singer; a stronger dose of reality in the lyrics and the book (by Beguelin and Bob Martin) would better justify the show’s eventual turn to sentimental education. But Casey Nicholaw’s peppy direction helps give the show enough momentum to power past its narrative potholes and occasional bumps of heavy-handedness.”

In The Hollywood Reporter, David Rooney called the show “one part satire, packed with delicious theatrical in-jokes delivered with aplomb by game stage veterans playing caricatures of themselves; and one part inclusivity teaching moment, reminding us there’s a place for everyone beneath the Mylar balloons at a high school dance, even in conservative Indiana. If the two halves aren’t entirely seamless, especially in the uneven second act, the show has enough humor and heart to paper over the cracks.”

Reason #5  Your Students will LOVE it! You will feel so trendy because you will know the newest scoop in the show. There’s nothing better than making them happy (it does wonders for your ego too.) The Prom is contemporary, fun, quick witted and entertaining.

I have a Broadway musical lesson for The Prom available at The Prom Broadway Musical Lesson

It includes:

  • Letter to Teacher
  • Warm Up–MY Version of a Popular Physical Warm Up
  • Teacher’s Script–What I Say and How I Say it!
  • History of Prom and How it Became an Important Event in a Young Person’s Life
  • Photos (1950’s & 2018)
  • Plot of the Musical
  • Separate File of Photos for Teacher’s Use in Lecture
  • History about the Origination of the Production
  • Information on the Director, Casey Nicholaw
  • Information on the composer and choreographer, Matthew Skylar
  • Information about the Co-Playwrights, Bob Martin & Chad Beugelin
  • Information about the lyricist, Chad Beugelin
  • A Shortened Lesson on : What are the Tony Awards?
  • List of Tony Awards
  • New York City Map with Competing Theatres Labeled
  • Student Note Page
  • Teacher Note Page Key
  • Trivia about The Prom, LGBTQ rights and Recent Data About Prom
  • Lyrics from “Just Breathe”–good for class discussions or as a jumping off point
  • Extension Activities–Terrific Suggestions of Ways to Secure the Learning and Enrich the Experience
  • Sources & Links to Film Clips from the Show
  • And More!

If hope you’ll check out The Prom soon.  I know I will!  What Broadway musical is your favorite?  You know I’d love to know more about you. Don’t know much about me?  Check out:  The Top Reasons to Listen to Podcasts   Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

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