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The Only NBC Television Special to See on December 10

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The Only NBC Television Special to See on December 10

Everyone has shed light on many industries who are suffering during this pandemic and rightfully so.

There is one group of people, however, no one has mentioned too much–those in the entertainment industry.  In particular, I am speaking about those who work on Broadway. Thursday, December 10 on the NBC network, a wonderful fundraising event will occur for those people who entertain us whether its on the Broadway stage, backstage in a regional theater, dancing on a cruise ship or a host of other performance venues. Among many others, this includes the technical, front of house and box office, too.

Will there be actual performances?  Yes!

I heard about this event on Sirius and began looking for information about it.  According to Broadwaydirect.com,

“Several of Broadway’s best shows will take over the streets of New York City with special performances from the casts of Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Chicago, Jagged Little Pill, Diana: The Musical, Jersey Boys, Mean Girls, Rent and an appearance by the cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The night will also showcase special sneak peeks at Broadway shows coming in 2021.

The Only NBC Television Special to See on December 10

“One Night Only: The Best of Broadway” will feature performances by Kelly Clarkson, Brett Eldredge, Patti LaBelle and appearances from Annaleigh Ashford, Lance Bass, Kristen Bell, Ron Cephas Jones, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Peter Gallagher, Josh Groban, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sean Hayes, Nathan Lane, Camryn Manheim, Alanis Morissette, Jerry O’Connell, Leslie Odom Jr., Billy Porter, John Stamos, Aaron Tveit, Blair Underwood, Vanessa Williams, Susan Kelechi Watson and more.

Donations during this special will help provide groceries and medication, health care, and emergency financial assistance to those in the Broadway community who are struggling through a pandemic that threatens their health and will shutter their industry for more than a year.

For more than 25 years, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has been helping to support and strengthen The Actors Fund’s safety net of social services, enabling thousands in the entertainment industry receive lifesaving medications, health care, nutritious meals, counseling, and emergency financial assistance.”

If you need assistance and you are in the entertainment industry, I’d suggest check them out:  Actor’s Fund

Radio City Music Hall

With Broadway being crippled by current events, it’s never been more vital to showcase these incredible performers and remind audiences of their extraordinary talents for when they return to the stage,” said Doug Vaughan, Executive Vice President, Special Programs, NBC Entertainment. “We’re proud to partner with Broadway Cares and do our part to help those in that tight-knit community during these difficult times.”

I know these organizations are a God send to those in the entertainment industry.  A student of mine was very ill several years ago with colon cancer.  Luckily, she lived through it and is healthy today. She wanted to keep her performing job and never divulged to the company she was ill.  Can you imagine?  Afraid to tell the company you are sick, for fear of being let go?  The Actors Fund came to her rescue during this time and supported her through all of her doctor visits, surgery and rehabilitation.  It took a year to get her back on her feet.  Soon she will be starring on Broadway again.

Arts Risk Losing their Soul

Several years ago, I blogged about this quote,  Arts Quote We Love #7–Society Risks Losing its Soul

Arts And Society

Have you ever considered what the world would be like without the arts?

I think we found out during this quarantine, haven’t we?  Back in the summer, there were no live concerts, ballets, art shows, new movies, television shows, etc.  Luckily, the entertainment industry is figuring how to keep their employees safe. I understand they are creating bubbles for their staff just as the sports teams have done.

We know the pandemic has affected our restaurants, but no one is speaking about movie theaters closed up for. months. I would imagine this will change the movie industry far more than we realize. It’s affected everyone in some way–I can’t think of a time that has occurred before in my lifetime.

Unsung Heroes Our Teachers

Let’s just consider our arts teachers for a moment.  Can you imagine how difficult this time has been for them? Although an arts teacher can teach using Zoom for instance, some of our instruction must be done in “in the flesh.”  Teaching and directing actors can be done virtually, but it doesn’t have the same power as working in real time.  Many at-risk students depend upon their arts classes to help them feel connected to school. I wonder how those students are coping with the lack of time in their schools. We must continue having arts classes, period.

Broadway and West 34th St.

This pandemic affects me in this fashion.  I really need the arts.  They are like a vitamin for me.  I have to see movies, concerts, stream plays and musicals and dance concerts. But live theater?  There is simply nothing like it.

What can you do to help?

Open up your laptop and search on-line for theater companies, art galleries, concert halls and the like.  Everyone of them will have a place for you to donate.  When they say “not for profit”–that’s exactly what they are.  A not for profit company uses their profits to sustain the organization.

There is such value in donating, too! People who donate to charities, in this case arts organizations, experience more pleasure, bring more meaning to their life, promote generosity in children (if they are parents).  Of course, there is a plus because donating to a not for profit gives the donor a tax deduction.

The Actors Fund, Broadway Cares and a host of other arts organizations need our help.  I promise you will be glad you did.

I am looking forward to the “One Night Only: The Best of Broadway” television special on NBC December 10.

What is your favorite Broadway play or musical?  I have many, but I lean toward musicals because more people are familiar with them.  Check out this blog post about them: The Reasons These Shows are My Favorite Broadway Musicals

Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net.  I’d love to know more about you!

Deborah Baldwin of DramaMommaSpeaks

 

7 Reasons to Relax: Classroom Decor Made Easy!

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7 Reasons to Relax: Classroom Decor Made Easy!

You’ve arrived at this blog post because you want an answer to– 7 reasons to relax: classroom decor made easy! I think I can help. Although this post was written several years ago, much of it is still as important as it was then. So, read on…

In my opinion, there is one thing about this pandemic which is/was good. Celebrities have been de-mystified. Since everyone is quarantined at home, suddenly we are all alike.

We see people we admire on television or movies or the stage in a whole different light.  Gone is the lighting, makeup and hair stylist. When you’ve watched these folks day in and day out for years, you begin to think they are super humans with flawless skin, perfect hair and toned bodies.  You expect their homes to be decorated with the latest style and elegantly.

Seven Reasons You Need to Stop Stressing About How To Decorate My Classroom

That hasn’t always been the case now that the pandemic has kept most of us at home.  I watch Good Morning America every day and I love seeing the newscasters who are televising from home.  In particular, Ginger Zee and Robin Roberts appear to have rather normal homes.  Ginger usually televises outside or near a window.  Robin televises from her basement.  The first week, the wall behind her was plain white.  I think it’s painted blue now.

7 Reasons to Relax: Classroom Decor Made Easy!

Robin trades out photos people have sent her after they appeared on GMA with her.  Lara Spencer televises from home with her darling dog, Reba who has calmed down considerably since the pandemic began.  Lara’s house is beautiful, but I think that’s to be expected since she has an interest in interior design  It’s stylish, colorful and but not over the top.  I appreciate that.

This is leading me somewhere, honest.

I appreciate finding famous people quotes.  Just like watching all these celebrities in their homes as they televise, the quotes give me some insight into the real person, not their public image. Many times you can gather some insight into their growth mindset.

I have a blog post about growth mindset here: Growth Mindset in the Study of Famous Theater Artists

7 Reasons to Relax: Classroom Decor Made Easy!

The easiest way to decorate your classroom is with posters.  Here are seven reasons which you could use from famous stage actors.

  1.   These artists are in the spot light all the time, so it’s easy to find something new they can be quoted for saying.
  2.    Use their quotes in a class discussion.
  3.   Many are fabulous role models for our students (see Viola Davis and Lin Manuel Miranda, for example.)
  4.   They are timely–You can use them all year and they never have to be switched out for others.
  5.   If you find the quotes yourself, they are free to use.  Check brainyquote.com for ideas.
  6.   This is a unique idea. No one else in your school will have them so students won’t see them repeated in anyone else’s     room.
  7.    They can be used a variety of theater exercises or projects–Use a quote to devise a theater piece or in an improvisation.  Wouldn’t that be neat?

Viola Davis 

“Your ability to adapt to failure, and navigate your way out of it, absolutely 100 percent makes you who you are.”

Lin Manuel Miranda

“The fun for me in collaboration is, one, working with other people just makes you smarter; that’s proven.”

By the way, here’s a free poster for your use: Lin-Manuel Miranda Poster

Daveed Diggs

The act of being nice to somebody at Starbucks is actually a huge thing. It’s a real change you can effect in somebody’s life every day.”

7 Reasons to Relax: Classroom Decor Made Easy!

Meryl Streep

“The gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy.”

Benedict Cumberbatch

“If you have an over-preoccupation with perception and trying to please people’s expectations, then you can go mad.”

If you are looking for posters for your classroom, I’ve got several. (I could never find what I wanted for my classroom, so I made them myself.) Click HERE.

Seven Reasons You Need to Stop Stressing About How To Decorate My Classroom

7 Reasons to Relax: Classroom Decor Made Easy!

Idina Menzel

“I wish I had read more and majored in literature rather than theatre. I think I would have been a better artist for it. I am trying to play catch-up now.”

Denzel Washington

“I’d be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I’d been given. I’d be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.”

I think it’s a great hobby collecting quotes of all kinds from famous people or books.   They lift your mood, help you to express your thoughts, inspire you, give you a different perspective, costs nothing and are tremendously interesting because you select the ones which speak to you.  You should try collecting quotes.  I have one friend who collects book passages that she loves and notates them in a journal.   She’s done this for many years.  I wonder how many journals she has filled?

In-depth Investigation of a Remarkable Person

7 Reasons to Relax: Classroom Decor Made Easy!

I ran on to the website: technokids.com with an excellent reason to study people and use quotes as a stepping off point.

An in-depth investigation into a remarkable person can fit into almost all curriculum areas: language arts, history, social studies, science, art, or computer studies. Here are some ideas:

  • Write a Life Story: Practice expository writing. Write an engaging life story that offers insight into a person. Captivate reader’s attention.
  • Celebrate a Historical Figure: Develop a deeper understanding of a historical period. Research the contributions of a historical figure. Explain their importance to the past and influence on future events.
  • Acknowledge a Hero: Inspire others with the accomplishments of personal hero, role model, mentor, or newsmaker. Detail their successes and challenges. Outline reasons their efforts are admirable.
  • Investigate Scientific Contributions: Appreciate amazing research findings and inventions. Outline the path to discovery of a scientist. Explain how their work has improved the lives of others.
  • Appreciate the Arts: Learn about an art period or artistic style by studying a famous artist. Examine their artwork. Describe its meaning and how it influenced other artists.
  • Develop Word Processing Skills: Introduce advanced word processing skills in a computer studies course. Learn to customize styles, insert a table of contents, draw a graphic organizer, organize data using tables, adjust page layout, and add bookmarks.

If you are looking for more theater artist quotes, I have two products Growth Mindset Posters for this express purpose. 

 

7 Reasons to Relax: Classroom Decor Made Easy!

7 Reasons to Relax: Classroom Decor Made Easy!

Here is a new set!  Drama Class Posters

Each product includes:

This is a set of 24 growth mindset, the arts and character education posters which highlights the subject by quoting famous theater artists. In addition, the set includes suggested uses such as class discussion, improvisation or for an essay. These posters can be displayed all year long or along with a particular theme.

7 Reasons to Relax: Classroom Decor Made Easy!

These quotes speak about being your authentic self, how to handle failure, what makes the arts and theater special, being versatile, loving yourself and resiliency.

Although these were created for secondary classes, an elementary class could use these as well. The teacher is the expert as to which posters their students should study. Check out:  Growth Mindset Posters

I heartily suggest you or your students collect quotes which speak to them. One of my favorites by Ann Landers is, ” People of integrity expect to be believed. They also know time will prove them right and are willing to wait.” Boy, that’s me all over although I don’t like the waiting part….

I’ve just created pendants for the theater classroom!  You can find them here:  Posters and Pendants Theater Artists Quotes

What is a favorite quote of yours?  I’d love to hear it.  Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Seven Reasons You Need to Stop Stressing About How To Decorate My Classroom

Facts You Never Knew about White Theatrical Privilege on the Stage

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Facts You never Knew about White Theatrical Privilege on the Stage

I’d never really thought about this until yesterday when in my Facebook feed  this particular meme showed up with facts about white privilege on the stage.

Facts You never Knew about White Theatrical Privilege on the Stage

I’ve been involved with theater for over forty years. I can only think of a few times I’ve cast color blindly.  Several students–Mahogany, Antonio, Cortaiga, Micah, Ayanna, Greg and John come to my mind.  I directed all of these kids and hundred of others. Also, I directed a cast of boys for a play version of Holes comprised entirely of black males and one white one.  Such an awesome experience.

Not many black students participated in my programs, though I don’t know if that was my fault or not.  They certainly enjoyed my classes.

It’s always easy to find a student who is interested in participating on a production.  They nearly shout it or jump in front of you for your attention.

Some students may be interested but don’t know how to cross the bridge to audition or be a part of the technical crew.

Did I make it welcoming to them?

I tried.

Just looking at the above meme startles me and makes me sad. There are several statements in that meme which really speak to me.

Casting for “Diversity’s Sake” 

portrait of a gorgeous black woman

Here’s an example for you.   I observed it in a children’s theater company who was casting a play of Cinderella.

I knew that color played a part in some directors’ casting.

A friend asked me to help her cast the production.  Sometimes directors do this so that it lessens the blow if someone isn’t cast as they could be and accuse them of racial bias. However, at the time I didn’t know this was the reason I was asked to help.

Two women auditioned–one a pretty white, blonde haired and talented.  The other was a black woman–beautiful, vibrant and equally talented.

After the auditions were over, I suggested the black girl be cast as Cinderella.  I thought her perspective would make the show unique.  How many Cinderellas have you seen in story books or movies?

Not many.

That’s why I thought she would be a good choice.  Plus, I knew that school groups would see the show and many black students would enjoy and better relate to it.

The black woman was a student in college.  After the production closed, someone asked her about the experience of portraying Cinderella.

She said, ” I never in a million years thought I would ever have an opportunity to play Cinderella.  It was an amazing experience.  I’d look out at the student audiences and see little black girls smiling ear to ear with tears in their eyes. It was incredible.”

Roles Written in Stereotype

In youth theater, I haven’t run into this problem very much.  Probably it’s because I never selected a show which put a minority student in a negative light.

How awful for someone struggling to feel seen and accepted for themselves to have someone pigeon- hole you into the very thing you are trying to fight.

Last February, pre-covid quarantine, a new version of West Side Story was running on Broadway.   If you know West Side Story, you are aware of the typical casting of whites as Jets and Latinos as Sharks.  However, in this version the cast includes black in the Jets, too. How wonderful.

West Side Story_Broadway_2020_Production Photos_X_HR

Never having to adapt our social behaviors for the cast and crew

Honestly, I don’t know what this statement means. Does it mean when a black person laughs loudly at a joke while a white person might not and vice versa? So the black person learns to “blend” to be included.

Image may contain: 2 people, people standing, mountain, sky, outdoor and nature

I asked one of my students, now an adult, what that statement meant to her.  This is some of what Mahogany said, “We often have to minimize black culture for the sake of making white people feel we are no different than them. an example of adapting social behavior is for theme days: when asked to dress in costume or embody a theme for the day, a black person may think twice about what to choose so they make white people feel more comfortable i.e., they may choose to dress as in rode attire over Wakanda for the sake of now drawing attention to one’s blackness for the sake of white people NOT for their own pleasure.”

I’d never thought about it.  Oh my gosh, how tiresome it must be for black people to do this.  I’m sorry, Mahogany.

I just found information about a training program specifically for black actors. It’s called Black Acting Methods.com. Check it out here: https://www.blackactingmethods.com/

How to be aware of my racism

I’d like nothing better than to see a production with an all black cast or Latino cast or even a color blind cast.  Let’s celebrate our differences and acknowledge that we are all different, but we all matter. Because of our differences it puts us in the same in that light in that regard.

The only way I can fix racism is to first be aware of it at all times.  That’s where I’ve started. I hope I grow.

Let’s help our students never go there.  Let’s celebrate the talents of others.  In this case, I am speaking about black people.  I create drama lessons and sell them in my store on Teacherspayteachers.com.

Here is one for you as an example.  Famous Theater Artist-Billy Porter

If you are interested in seeing more about this product, go to:

Famous Theater Artist Billy Porter Biography and One Pager Assignment

I hope you’ll consider your place in the subject of racism and what you can do to make everyone feel equal and included.  I know I am.

Until next time.

DEB BLOG PHOTO600

I’d love to hear from you.  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

If you’d like to read another post about making people feel welcome, check out: This Is What Happens When You Don’t Think Too Much, a Special Kind of Spontaneity

If you’d like to see why I think it’s important for our students to read biographies, check out: Should Students Read Biographies?

 

The Reasons to Teach Broadway Musicals to Your Students

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The Reasons to Teach Broadway Musicals to Your Students

There is a phenomena I can’t quite explain.

It used to be people weren’t all that excited about musicals.

Well, some people weren’t. I always liked them.  In fact, I remember the first musical I attended.  I saw Pearl Bailey in Hello Dolly! on Broadway.  That was a really amazing production.  My parents took me to see George M. Cohan as well and all I remember (because I was 10) was the tap dancing and lots of it.

Those of us who are eat-sleep-breathe-drama-and music love all of them.  Although I have several favorites.

Learn about them here: The Reasons These Shows are My Favorite Broadway Musicals 

Movies Adapted From Broadway Musicals– All right!

The Reasons to Teach Broadway Musicals to Your Students

Broadway Musical Lessons

I began creating Broadway musical lessons about two years ago and to date I have over twenty lessons. They are very popular and I’m so glad I created them.

When I taught at a school in Colorado, our musical theater students chose a musical they wanted to share with the rest of the class. They’d share its synopsis, a song and a bit of trivia.

At the time, I thought it would be a super experience for students to learn about these over the course of the school year.  Maybe every Friday could be Broadway Musical Day? In that particular case, I only saw the students once a week (they were basically home schooled the rest of the week) so I couldn’t take the time for my idea.

However, I thought a drama or vocal music teacher might find these of use.

The Reasons to Teach Broadway Musicals to Your Students:

  1.  It is always very entertaining.
  2.  Musical theater is a fabulous blend of music and theater–you get a little of both and never too much of either.
  3.   The action in a musical moves along fairly quickly because it’s peppered with song and/or dance, hence it keeps everyone engaged.
  4.   It is an excellent example of cooperative learning and creative problem solving–it incorporates every other arts medium–dance, art, music and theater!
  5.   Songs allow for interpretation of moments that a monologue can not explain so easily.
  6.   An entire moment in a story can be demonstrated through a song and dance which is much more interesting than  merely using dialogue.
  7.   In a school environment, most school musicals involve more than just the drama department–the music department participates which includes band and orchestra students.   Talk about involving the school!
  8.   Musicals are an excellent way to teach about current or historical events–Hamilton, Ragtime, Les Mis, 1776, The Scottsboro Boys, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Parade, Come From Away to name a few.
  9. Musicals teach about social issues–Rent, Cabaret, Dear Evan Hansen, Fun Home, Newsies, South Pacific, The book of Mormon, Hairspray, West Side Story, Falsettos, Newsies, Next to Normal, etc. 
  10.  Plus, as my husband said, “They are just fun!”

At least once a month or two, I create a new Broadway musical lesson.  Here is what they include:

(Here is an example from Hairspray, the Broadway Musical and pair it with Costume Design with Hairspray Characters

Broadway Musical Lessons for You to Use Tomorrow!

The product includes:

  • Letter to Teacher
  • Two Warm Ups–Dance Tutorials from the Actual Production
  • Teacher’s Script–What I Say and How I Say it!
  • Photos of Hairspray
  • Synopsis of the Musical
  • Plot of the Musical
  • Short Biography about Marc Shaiman composer and choreographer Jerry Mitchell
  • Separate File of Photos for Teacher’s Use in Lecture
  • History about the Origination of the Production
  • AND a Mini-Lesson on What are the Tony Awards?
  • List of Tony Awards
  • New York City Map with Competing Theaters Labeled
  • Student Note Page for Hairspray
  • Teacher Note Page Key
  • Trivia about Broadway and Hairspray
  • Songs List
  • Pinterest Board Link Specifically about Hairspray
  • Extension Activities– SEVEN Terrific Suggestions of Ways to Secure the Learning and Enrich the Experience either Individual or Group
  • Two costume design templates for one of the extension activities
  • Sources & Links to Film Clips from the Show
  • And More!

Comprehensive? You bet.

Did you know that Wicked is being made into a film with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande?

How can I use these in my classroom?  It depends upon the musical lesson, but teachers have used them in elementary through high school grades in classes of drama, vocal music, language arts and American history.  These lessons can be as short as one day or up to three days in length depending upon what the teacher requires.

All of the musicals in the gallery are available in my store here: Dramamommaspeaks Products

Plus, they are great with substitutes!

I hope you consider teaching with a Broadway musical lesson in the near future.  Do check back often, because as I mentioned, I’m always adding another to the store.

Want some free stuff?  Check out my page FREE Stuff.

What do you like about musicals?  I’d love to hear from you.  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Deborah Baldwin, author of Dramamommaspeaks

 

Drama Lessons for Families Who are Home-Bound

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Drama Lessons for Families Who are Home-Bound

 

Tick, tock, tick, tock…….

Is it only Wednesday?

Have you worn out the Play-dough, grown frustrated by the board game, broke the new cool toy, gained five pounds by baking chocolate chip cookies and just can’t make one more blanket fort? 

The Joy and Intrigue of Broken Toys

Families:  Have you exhausted your ideas during this pandemic? 

If you’d like a free guide And lesson plan from me, click here LESSON PLAN

Need a little help?

I am here to help you.

Drama Lessons for Families  Who are Home-Bound

If you’d like a free guide And lesson plan from me, click here LESSON PLAN

Many years ago, we lived in Missouri.  I  remember when we’d have a couple of snow days in a row.   Deep snow and ice kept us home.

Of course we didn’t know how long we’d be, but the school district had a rough idea of when we’d return to the classroom.

pexels-photo-3626789

That was fine and it really was fun, but this?

Well, who knows how long this quarantine will last?

When our daughters were children, being very creative beings, they would orchestrate little programs for us.  They’d rehearse for hours, invite us to their concert or play and my husband and I would sit quietly while they gleefully performed for us.

We’d clap at the end as they bowed.  One time they put on their own rendition of Lion King.  Part of the end of the performance included walking around in a circle with a sign which read “Lion King” misspelled to “Loin King.”  We still call the show Loin King to this day…

It was such fun for all of us.  Honestly, I have many fond memories of those performances.  In fact, I remember them more than other times in their young lives.

Drama Lessons for Families  Who are Home-Bound

I say families that do drama together stay together.  (Last Saturday I said “families who Face Time together stay together” so you can see I toss this phrase around as needed.)

When I researched this subject, here was something I found very interesting about families in a research essay, childtrends.org:

Drama Lessons for Families Home-Bound

pexels-photo-1231365
Photo by Yulianto Poitier on Pexels.com

Time Use
Perspectives: Shared parent-child activities are important both because they are intrinsically satisfying and because they can help educate and socialize
children. For example, research has found that children whose homes emphasize learning opportunities and cognitively stimulating activities are more academically motivated than other children. In addition, a positive and enriching family environment can help prevent behavior problems in youth, including delinquent behavior.18 Moreover, sufficient quality time together may be a prerequisite for well-being in
family relationships.

Here are a few ideas for you of ways to provide quality time with your family.

Drama Lessons for Families Home-Bound

Here’s a new one! Drama Choice Boards–keep an eye out for more of these.

Drama Lesson Choice Board

Saturday, Sunday and Monday Unit and Play Distance Learning

SATURDAY, SUNDAY & MONDAY READERS THEATER COVER

This reader’s theater script is perfect for a family to use.  It has many roles and opportunities for younger children to be involved even if they can’t read yet.  Plus, there’s an original song.

Bow Wow Blues Unit and Play Distance Learning

RADIO THEATER IV BLUES COVER 285 dpi

The whole family can learn about radio theater with this gem.  Written in the style of old radio shows, Bow Wow Blues is a silly cops and robbers tale.

Plus, the family can learn about the radio theater of old and where it is most present today.

Set Design Rendering Lesson Distance Learning

SET DESIGN THE RENDERING EDITED

A precursor to my set design unit, this gives a family the chance to learn about set design and draw a rendering for any setting.

Maybe a set design of a child’s classroom? A castle?  The wild west?  The moon?

It Could Always Be Worse Reader’s Theater Distance Learning

The title of this reader’s theater is really all anyone needs.  Based on a Jewish folk tale, it is full of humorous moments and roles of animal sounds.

Part of the fun is the chaos that ensues every time the man does another thing that the rabbi suggests.

HINT:  THIS KIND OF PLAY IS RELAXING AND FUN FOR EVERYONE. 

Or how about some beginning playwriting?

Costume Design with Fairy Tale Characters

Costume Design Fairy Square Cover 400 dpi

Does the family enjoy fairy tales?  Here’s a lesson about costume design using fairy tale characters as the focus.

With costume design, a student considers the character from a different perspective or time period. (There is also one for super heroes and one for circus performers.)

It’s important our students learn about growth mindset by learning about successful people.  This series of theater artist biographies include

Idina Menzel, Hugh Jackman, Lin Manuel Miranda and many more.

Famous Theater Artist:  Idina Menzel 

I have several one pager assignments.  One for Idina Menzel and also Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Who am I?

Deborah Baldwin, Dramamommaspeaks

I am a retired drama educator having taught for thirty-eight years in both the public and private sectors. Whew! During this time, I created curriculum for studies in creative dramatics, creative movement, introduction to musical theatre, musical theatre, film making, technical theatre, introduction to Shakespeare, introduction to theatre as well speech and debate. I created seven youth theater companies that continue today in various parts of the midwest, oversaw productions for thirty-eight years, and developed a national playwriting contest for youth theater scripts. In addition, I am an award-winning director who has directed over 250 plays and musicals with children and adults alike. My sister was an elementary teacher for many years as were my aunts. In the late 1800s, my fraternal grandmother was known for her strength in teaching math in the wilds of Kansas. My maternal grandmother established the first kindergarten in Osaka, Japan in the 1890s. In short teaching is in my blood and comes to me joyfully and naturally.

Who’d a thought we’d be practicing social distancing and quarantined?  Not me that’s for sure.

I hope you’ll check out my lessons in my teacherspayteachers store, Dramamommaspeaks.  It’s free to join TpT and there are lots of free lessons to pick up for other interests, too.

In fact, here are a bunch for you: Free Teaching Resources Blog Hop

Take care.  Contact me if you need some advice or just to share how you used the lessons.  I’d love to hear from you.

Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Drama Lessons for High School from an Award Winning Drama Teacher

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Drama Lessons for High School from an Award Winning Drama Teacher

Hello!

I wanted to introduce you to drama lessons for high school from an award-winning drama teacher. You may not know me or be familiar with my work.  I’m Deborah Baldwin (but my friends call me Deb.) I am a recently retired award winning drama teacher for thirty-eight years.  In that time, I directed over 300 plays and musicals with students and adults as well.  I taught every grade level, but the bulk of my time was spent with secondary students. I’m also an award-winning director and middle grade author.

Here is my resume if you’d like to see it: DeborahBaldwin.net

deb directing

My Teaching Style:

Drama is a hands-on class. To this end I’m always on my feet modeling for my students while teaching them a host of concepts. It is not unusual to hear my classroom in chortles of laughter because humor is an outstanding way to gain a student’s attention. I empower students at an early age.

Although I am always mindful of my learning objectives, I think it’s vital for students to experiment within the confines of my instruction. I encourage students to be independent and creative thinkers.

Many less confident or reluctant students benefit from my teaching methods as together we hit the challenges they encounter. I am creative, intense, driven and brave–these are qualities I nurture in all my students and generally receive outstanding results in them.

If you are looking for drama units, lessons and plays for your students, I can help you.  Here are a few of my lessons for high school students:

Billy Elliot, the Broadway Musical
The Invisible Man Radio Play Unit
Growth Mindset Posters
Rent, the Broadway Musical
Famous Theater Artists
Stage Makeup
Broadway Musical Lessons
Hamilton, the Musical
The Cask of Amontillado and Radio Theater Unit

Radio Play Performance

(Here is a production of this script by an ESL class in Tiblisi Georgia!)  “The Invisible Man” Radio Play

Dramamommaspeaks Resources

Most lessons lasts at least two days.  The units’ length range from several days to three weeks.

I have lessons for younger students, too!  Check them out:

Creative Dramatics Lessons from an Award Winning Drama Teacher

Drama Lessons for Middle Grades from an Award Winning Drama Teacher

If you’d like a FREE lesson, be my guest and pick up one:   Free Stuff!

Here’s a recent review of one of my newest products, Acting Styles/Stanislawski, “Dramamommaspeaks hits it out of the park again!! Every unit I get is perfect. I teach three levels of theatre in the same class. The unit was great for the entry level students while still providing a challenge to my most advanced class.”  5 stars

Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net