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drama education

Drama Lessons for Home-Bound Students or During the Corona Virus Quarantine

March 9, 2020 By dhcbaldwin 6 Comments

Drama Lessons for Home-Bound Students or During the Corona Virus Quarantine 

 

In light of the Corona virus illness, and many people quarantined at home,  I thought I’d offer you some suggestions of  drama lessons a teacher could assign or a student could take home with them. I am part of several Facebook groups for teachers and typical of teachers, they are all ready preparing for the extended home stays which could happen.

Or……they have a student who will be absent for several days or even weeks.  It does occur.

You’d think it would be impossible for a teacher to assign drama lessons for students to study at home, because we are a performance oriented subject.

Not always, however.

I’d never thought of this learning obstacle until recently.  One of my students who teaches in South Korea has all ready been home for two weeks.  Unfortunately, I fear we are only days from staying home for several weeks here in the states.

A friend told me about a man who bought up all the Purel at a Walmart in Oklahoma.  What an opportunist!

He set up a booth across the street from the same Walmart and charged $100 for a bottle of it!  What?!

Crazy times we live in, huh?

Here are a list of drama lessons and units which your student(s) could complete at home (home bound lessons) either because they are quarantined by the coronavirus or plan to be absent for a week or two.

This gets a teacher started.  There are more lessons which will work and keep the learning going.  I promise.  

KIDS HANDS UP

Creative Dramatics (grades 2 to 5)

  • Costume Design with Goldilocks and the Three Bears

I simplified my middle grade lesson and enlarged the design templates.  I hope this encourages students to try their hand at costume design.  It’s such fun!

  • Costume Design with Red Riding Hood

There are different ways to look at designing costumes for this story.  What if Red Riding Hood lives in the city in 2020?

  • Set Design:  The Rendering (grades 5 to 8)

This is my most popular lesson to date!  Students get the chance to design the set for a play!

  • Saturday, Sunday and Monday Reader’s Theater Script

A student could read the script with a parent or even the family.  There are post discussion questions which might be of use to you as well. There is a bundle with many funny reader’s theater scripts so look for that in my store.

Lin Mauel 2
Lin Mauel 2

Middle School Drama Lessons and Units (grades 6 to 8)

  • Drama Lesson Choice Board

This choice board includes nine different theater companies, Marcel Marceau and what is means to be a Foley engineer.

  • Matilda, the Musical

Just put this up today (March 30).  It’s a great show and fun production to learn about.

  • Costume Design with Super Heroes

This is one which I bet your students would enjoy.  It’s all about costume design and the history of super heroes.

  • Monologue for St. Patrick’s Day 

This is a two-day lesson about playwriting.  It would be a lot of fun for them.

  • Tom Sawyer Play Study Guide

This would be a super unit if you could purchase a class set of the play ahead of the quarantine.  Or maybe get a few copies for your classroom if you have a student who will be absent for an extended period of time. )

You can purchase them at: https://www.dramaticpublishing.com/tom-sawyer- tr5000 

  • Set Design with a Fairy Tale Setting

This is a ten day unit, however a student could complete the entire unit at home by himself if need be.

  • Set Design the Rendering

This is a short lesson giving students an opportunity to draw a set for a fairy tale.

  • Character Development through Personality Profile 

Student can observe someone in their home and after doing a short quiz, write a description of the person.

  • Lin Manuel Miranda

This is a short newspaper formatted lesson about him.  It could be completed at  home with no problem.  The extension activity could be done independently.  This is a very popular lesson with students.

  • Cynthia Erivo Broadway Actress

This is a short biography lesson which students could do easily complete from home with internet access. She’s an up-and-coming actress which they may be not be familiar with.

  • Choice Boards

These boards are marvelous help in distance learning or when everyone needs a break.  They include theaters from around the world and short lessons on designers–costume, set, sound, etc.  Need some differentiation?  These will help.

High School Drama Lessons and Units (grades 9 to 12)

  • Play-writing Lesson Dialogue

This lesson is intended for gifted seventh graders through tenth grade.  Using a break dancer as the focus, students learn to write dialogue step by step.

  • Character Development through Personality Profile

This is a lesson for middle grade students, however you could change the assignment and make it more lengthy.

  • Growth Mindset in Theater Artists

This lesson is perfect for drama students. Students research a theater artist, answer questions about artist’s growth mindset, consider their own mindset and finish with a creative project. This unit was created for high school students, however it could be adapted for middle grade students.

  • Play Reading Analysis, Presentation and Project

I never thought of this for a situation like this, but you know it is perfect!  Students select a play, answer a group of very comprehensive questions.  Then they create a power point about the play thinking of it from a director and designer’s point of view. Lastly, they create a three-dimensional object which represents the play.

  • Bundle:  Set, Costume, Sound and Properties Design

This is a bundle of lessons (discounted) which pertain to technical aspects of a  production.  Students could select one of the four units or maybe a teacher gives them one assignment (such as sound design) and everyone turns in the same assignment.

As I mentioned earlier,  I have plenty of other lessons which could work. 

If you need some help deciding which would be best, do contact me.  Or check out my store at:  Dramamommaspeaks

Have you ever had a student who was home-bound?  I did and boy, was it tricky at the time. I wish I’d had home bound lessons at the time.  I’d love to hear from you.  Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Here is a FREE lesson if you are in a pinch:  Speech Review Worksheet (middle school and up)

Here are some other suggestions of products which may help you, all FREE:  Free Teaching Resources Blog Hop

 

 

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Filed Under: arts education, creative dramatics, drama education, elementary, excellence in teaching, High School, middle grades, Teacherspayteachers, Teaching Tagged With: 'tweens, choice board, coronavirus, DISTANCE LEARNING, drama education, family activities, home school, home-bound students, on-line studying, teacherpayteachers

How to Audition Children for a Play or Musical

March 4, 2020 By dhcbaldwin Leave a Comment

How to Audition Children for a Play or Musical

This is a subject near and dear to my heart.

I became a youth theater director by accident.  My college friends would say they thought that’s what I would end up doing with my theater degree.

I had no idea, really. But it stuck with me.  I really did enjoy it!

How to Audition Children for a Play or Musical

In thirty-eight years of teaching and directing, I directed over 250 plays and musicals with adults and children alike.

During that time, I started the careers of several child actors who have gone on to be Broadway performers or work in the industry.  That’s a really cool thing.

In addition, there are probably several hundred who are still involved in theater in their communities.  I love that even more!

If you think of all the people which I’ve auditioned– just crazy!

As a result of these experiences I’ve learned a thing or two about auditioning and directing children.

Of course, It depends upon the age of the child and the production, but here are some questions to ask yourself prior to auditions if you plan to direct them.

How to Audition Children for a Play or Musical

How to Audition Children for a Play or Musical

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

(I’m assuming you are working in a community theater or semi-professional.)

  • How young can a student be to audition for the production?
  • Is there anything in the production that would be too adult for a young child to comprehend?
  • Could an older student portray the role?
  • What is more important to me–to cast someone who is the essence of the character or someone who is the true age of the character?
  • How essential is it to me that the child’s parents are cooperative?
  • Are the parents allowed to sit in auditions?
  • Can parents sit in on rehearsals?
  • How many late evening rehearsals are planned?
  • Will I send the child home early?  Why or Why not?
  • How many conflicts will I accept from the child (school functions, sports games, etc.)
  • Some children don’t do well at cold readings.  Will I allow children to see the script beforehand?
  • Should the child bring in their own monologue for their audition?
  • If the show is a musical, do I expect them to sing a song from the show for their audition?
  • Will I hold callbacks for the child role?
  • How will I handle their callbacks?  Will I run them through a series of improvisations?
  • Should I cast two students in the role with one an understudy?
  • Would it be better to double cast the child role?
  • Do I expect the child to say any swear words written in the play or will I substitute something for them?

Tony Award-Winning Child Actors

How many child actors go on to make a career of it?  When I was researching this topic, I found several biographies on Wikipedia.com.  I remember seeing these four perform.

They were absolutely stellar.

Daisy Eagan started her early theatre training at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre’s Junior School where she had classes in acting, singing, and dancing in the early 1990s. She then went on to star on Broadway in “The Secret Garden” with Mandy Patinkin and Rebecca Luker. She became the youngest recipient to receive the TONY award for featured actress in a musical.

 

How to Audition Children for a Play or Musical

The Billy Elliott Boy Dancers

David Alvarez is one of the three boys originally cast to play Billy in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot the Musical, along with Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish. He needed to study tap, acrobatics, voice and acting for the role and spent July 2007 through March 2008 preparing. Billy Elliot the Musical began previews in New York on October 1 and officially opened on November 13, 2008. His first preview performance was on October 2, 2008. He played his final performance on January 3, 2010. Alvarez’s portrayal of Billy Elliot was highly praised by the critics.

Alvarez, jointly with Kiril Kulish and Trent Kowalik won Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Musical 

How to Audition Children for a Play or Musical

Kiril Kulish was born in San Diego, California on February 16, 1994. His parents, Raisa Kulish and Phil Axelrod, are Jewish immigrants from Ukraine. His older brother, Victor, is a singer/songwriter and recording engineer, and his older sister Beata is a TV/film producer. He grew up speaking Russian, Ukrainian, and English. He started studying ballet at age five and ballroom dancing at age 8. He studied at the San Diego Academy of Ballet and was the youngest male to be admitted to their junior company.

Kiril was the winner of the Junior division Grand Prix at the Youth America Grand Prix in 2006, 2007, and 2008  and won the Hope Award in the Pre-Competitive division in 2006. Kiril Kulish won first place in Latin Ballroom at the USA National Dance Championships in 2006 and 2007. In 2012 and 2013 Kiril Kulish became the Youth USA Champion in Latin DanceSport and will represent the USA in Beijing and Paris.

Trent Kowalik was born in Wantagh, New York, the son of Lauretta (née Splescia), an organist and pianist at St. Raphael’s Roman Catholic Church in East Meadow, New York, and Michael Kowalik, a surveyor. He has three older sisters. He started dance lessons at the age of three at Dorothy’s School of Dance in Bellmore, New York. At age four, he began instruction in Irish dancing. At age six, he was competing at the highest level, Open Championship. He danced with the Inish free School of Irish Dance.

In April 2006, at age 11, Kowalik won the youngest male age group of the World Irish Dancing Championship (Irish: Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne) in Belfast. He is a five-time undefeated North American Champion and a World Champion. He holds multiple national titles in Scotland, England, and Ireland, and continues to study ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical dance.  He graduated from The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School–Pre-Professional Division American Ballet Theatre in 2013. He graduated from Princeton University in June 2018. He was a member of student dance groups Princeton University Ballet and BodyHype Dance Company.

Note:  Most child actors grow up to lead lives away from the stage.

However, if you have the chance to get them started take heed of my questions.  They will help you immensely.

If you’d like a lesson concerning Billy Elliott, check out Billy Elliott The Broadway Musical Lesson

How to Audition Children for a Play or Musical

For more information about working with children, check out these posts:

Double Casting a Show? Here’s Advice

How to Make Your Drama Class More Successful–Lessons Learned from 38 Years of Teaching Drama-Elementary

How to Make Your Drama Class More Successful –Lessons Learned from 38 Years of Teaching-Middle School

What child actors have you started?  I’d love to hear about them.  Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

 

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Filed Under: arts education, community theater, directing experiences, drama education, youth theatre Tagged With: 'tweens, auditions, child actors, directing tips, drama education, Middle school, professional theater, youth theater, youth theater directing

Drama Lessons for High School from an Award Winning Drama Teacher

February 26, 2020 By dhcbaldwin 3 Comments

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
Billy Elliot, the Broadway Musical
The Invisible Man Radio Play Unit
The Invisible Man Radio Play Unit
Growth Mindset Posters
Growth Mindset Posters
Rent, the Broadway Musical
Rent, the Broadway Musical
Famous Theater Artists
Famous Theater Artists
Stage Makeup
Stage Makeup
Broadway Musical Lessons
Broadway Musical Lessons
Hamilton, the Musical
Hamilton, the Musical
The Cask of Amontillado and Radio Theater Unit
The Cask of Amontillado and Radio Theater Unit
Famous Theater Artists
BUNDLE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL BLUE BACKGROUND400 (1)
COSTUME DESIGN HIGH SCHOOL COVER 38

Radio Play Performance

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

Dramamommaspeaks Resources

  • Radio Theater Unit Plus Radio Play of “The Invisible Man”
  •   The Producer
  • Rent, the Broadway Musical
  • Theater Artists You Should Know Growth Mindset
  • Bundle:  Biographies of Theater Artists–Lin Manuel Miranda, Audra McDonald, Hugh Jackman, Meryl Streep, Cynthia Erivo, Denzel Washington and Ming Cho Lee
  • Bundle:  Stage Makeup -Zombie, Fantasy, Basic-Old Age, Circus
  • Costume Design: High School
  • Bundle:  Costume, Stage Props., Set and Sound Design (sold separately as well)
  • Bundle:  Tony Awards & Broadway Musicals
  • Hamilton, the Broadway Musical
  • NEW!  Daveed Diggs Theater Artist Biography
  • NEW!  Camille A. Brown Theater Artist Biography
  • NEW!  Billy Elliot, the Broadway Musical
  • NEW!  Something Rotten Broadway Musical 
  • NEW!  Choice Board–Theater Around the World

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

 

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Filed Under: acting, arts education, drama education, excellence in teaching, High School, Musical Theatre, performing arts, plays, Radio Theatre, Teacherspayteachers, theater Tagged With: Broadway musicals, costume design lesson, DISTANCE LEARNING, drama, drama education, famous theater artists, google classroom, high school drama lessons, high school lessons, play reading analysis, radio theater, set design lesson, stage makeup

Play Reading and Analysis–An Important Skill for Our Students

January 10, 2020 By dhcbaldwin Leave a Comment

Play Reading and Analysis–an Important Skill for Our Students

Deborah Baldwin teaching

I am a drama teacher.  Consequently, I eat, sleep and breath theater even now that I’m newly retired.

I listen to the Sirius Broadway station all day which keeps me abreast to upcoming productions and tours.

Because of my love for theater, I spend a lot of time on Pinterest.com pinning anything that pertains to theater–plays, musicals, set design, costume design, stage properties do it yourself creations, stage makeup, videos, lighting plots, show posters, etc.

I have A LOT of boards…………….:)

I see theater teachers in Facebook groups looking for play titles to read with their students, especially middle school.  If you are looking for a good one to study,  try Tim Kelly’s dramatization of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.  Here is a study guide and set design unit for it:  Study Guide and Set Design Units Tom Sawyer

BUNDLE TOM SAWYER STUDY GUIDE AND SET DESIGN

Sorry, I digressed.

Strengthening Literacy through Play Reading

Back to literacy.

I looked for research concerning the reasons our students should read a play script and of course, ran on to balanced literacy.

“When students have a voice in the reading process, they’re learning to contribute to their own knowledge.  Because they can select the books (in my case, plays) they wish to read, they have greater control over what they want to learn. Students are much more likely to view reading as a priority when they have some ownership in the reading process.

However, this doesn’t mean students can make their independent reading choices willy-nilly.  There does have to be some structure involved. First of all, the independent reading selection must be at their reading level.  No “easy” books during independent reading. “At their reading level” means students should be able to read their selections with 95%-100% accuracy.”

I agree with everything mentioned above.

Reading a play can be an amazing, satisfying experience.  Once my students become accustom to reading a script aloud (which takes about one class period), they are invested.

woman reading book

Here are some of the reasons for our students to read a play:

  1.  The dialogue is terrific.  You can’t help but be engaged.  The playwright hones his script to be the most compelling experience he can create.  He certainly doesn’t want an audience member leaving the production.  When an audience members leaves, it’s not the same as turning off the television–EVERYONE sees the bored person leave.  Yikes! Also, if you are teaching students how to write dialogue, reading a script will help them immensely.
  2. There is no narration or superfluous information.  There might be someone who narrates, but again, the narration is short, concise and entices the audience.
  3. For many moments in the plot, stage directions are included.  If the play reader becomes lost, it is easy to find one’s place in the script merely by reading the directions.  The stage directions help a reader to visualize the action. They were either added to the script by the playwright or placed there in honor of the first company who produced it.
  4. Characters are well developed.  A well crafted play can be read without looking at each character’s printed name within the play.  A reader should be able to read down the middle of the script and know who is speaking and why.
  5. Each scene and act follows the traditional plot structure–a beginning (the conflict is unveiled), rising action and some sort of resolution.  Generally, an act is ended like a cliff hanger in a movie or book.  Or, it makes a thought provoking statement which enhances the theme and encourages the audience member to return after intermission.
  6. Generally, the plot concerns a short amount of time in the main character’s life.  If the script becomes too epic, the audience is lost and again they’ll quit listening.
  7. Everything that is published in the script is vitally important to its success on the stage. That means anything mentioned or used has been carefully chosen.
  8. I can’t think of a script I haven’t enjoyed reading.  Sure, I’d rather see the script in a live production but reading the script works for me almost as well.

Strengthening Literacy through Play Reading

So how do you find the scripts your students will enjoy?  I surveyed a group of drama teachers from all over the world and they helped me come up with a list of plays they think students should read.

For High School

  • Harvey
  • Arsenic and Old Lace
  • Still Life With Iris
  • To Kill a Mockingbird
  • Oslo
  • Inherit the Wind
  • Diary of Anne Frank
  • The Giver
  • The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds
  • Anne of Green Gables
  • Fences
  • Vanities
  • Yellow Boat
  • The Giver
  • Dark Road
  • Children’s Hour
  • Our Town
  • The Crucible
  • Raisin in the Sun
  • Antigone
  • The Doll’s House
  • Glass Menagerie
  • Dancing at Lughnasa
  • Death of a Salesman
  • Doubt
  • Proof
  • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
  • The Heidi Chronicles
  • Last Night at Ballyhoo
  • The Miracle Worker

Strengthening Literacy through Play Reading

Most of these scripts can be purchased through one of the various script publishers.  If you don’t know where to start, try searching the nae of the script, such as “The Giver, the play version.”

If that gets you nowhere, you can try findaplay.com  This site used to be my favorite, but I’ve noticed not every script is listed there anymore.

Your students may find on-line versions to read, especially of the classics (our Town, The Crucible, Raisin in the Sun, The Doll’s House, etc.)  or check out your school or public library.

Sometimes you’ll find them in anthologies, especially if they were Tony Award Winners.  I believe this list includes only Tony Award winners.

I have a unit (two actually) which can help you teach about play analysis.  It is:  Play Reading and Analysis (PDF) 

and Play Reading and Analysis Google Classroom

Packed with questions and a rubric it contains:

  • Letter to Teacher
  • Project Assignment–What is Expected in the Assignment
  • Play Analysis Questions–as a Producer, Director and Designer
  • Play Titles–Vetted and Compiled from Drama Teachers Around the World
  • Rubric (FULLY EDITABLE)
  • Exit Slip prompts for 5 days–Questions are Provided for Each Day
  • Source Page

I hope you’ll check it out and use it.  It’s very different.

 

Or, if you’d like to get a heck of a deal, look into this bundle:  Drama Units and Lessons for High School Students

Until next time.

Deborah Baldwin, author

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

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Filed Under: arts education, drama education, excellence in teaching, play reading, plays, Teacherspayteachers, theater, youth theatre Tagged With: 'tweens, drama education, drama lessons, high school, Middle grade, middle grades, play analysis, play reading, theater education, youth theater

Creative Dramatics Lessons from an Award Winning Drama Teacher

December 28, 2019 By dhcbaldwin 2 Comments

Creative Dramatics Lessons from an Award Winning Drama Teacher

Deborah Baldwin, Dramamommaspeaks

Hello!

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 of thirty-eight years.  At that time, I directed over 250 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.

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

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.

first rehearsal

If you are looking for creative dramatics lessons and plays for your students, I can help you.  These lessons are for grades third to fifth. So many of these lessons can be used in a reading or language arts classroom, too.  They jibe together easily.

Here are a few:

Given Circumstance Monologue Creative Writing Lesson

Got some creative writers?  This lesson fits in nicely with a creative writing unit and/or to study playwriting just a little.

OjiSan C. Dramatics Cover

This is fun to perform for younger children.  There are two versions of this product–one for younger students and one for older.

Ojisan and the Grateful Statues

COSTUME DESIGN WITH HALLOWEEN GRADE 3-5 SQUARE COVER 3

Oh my gosh!  Costume design is a wonderful way to celebrate Halloween.  Students love this because they can be very creative and learn at the same time.

Costume Design with Halloween Theme

COSTUME DESIGN WITH NUTCRACKER CHARACTERS SQUARE COVER.jpg

Do you ever show clips from The Nutcracker Ballet?  This lesson includes video clips, a lesson on costume design and gives the students an opportunity to design as well.

Costume Design with Nutcracker Ballet Characters

COSTUME DESIGN WITH HOLIDAY PARADE CHARACTERS .jpg

Costume Design with Parade Characters

TABLEAU HOLIDAY THEME COVER

Tableau Exercises–Holiday Theme

ST. PATRICKS THEME COVER

Stage Properties–St. Patrick’s Day Theme

Drama Lesson:  St. Patrick’s Day Play Writing Monologue 

BUDDY AND THE EVERGREEN TREES READERS THEATER COVER.jpg

Buddy and the Evergreen Trees Reader’s Theater

Here’s my newest:  Chanting Lesson for Grades 3 to 5

Creative Dramatics Lessons from an Award Winning Drama Teacher

I hope you’ll check out my drama education products.  There are nearly 160 of them ready and waiting for you.  

Or maybe you were hoping for something free?  Check out this:  Free Teaching Resources Blog Hop

If you don’t find what you need, contact me.  Chances are I’d be interested in creating what you are needing.  That’s always fun!

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

 

 

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Filed Under: arts education, creative dramatics, creative movement, DeborahBaldwin.net, drama education, elementary, excellence in teaching, Teacherspayteachers, Teaching, theater Tagged With: creative dramatics, drama education, drama lessons, drama units, free stuff, youth theatre

What is Quora Digest? How Did It Inspire Me as a Drama Teacher

April 10, 2019 By dhcbaldwin 1 Comment

My Favorite Broadway Musicals

Come From Away

What is Quora Digest? How did it Inspire Me as a Drama Teacher

How does it relate to musical theater? (In my world, everything relates to theatre somehow.)

According to their website, “Quora Digest is the method, Where Quora sends a daily email containing a set of questions with one answer that is deemed the best answer given a certain ranking requirements. In simple words, In Quora, the answer which is the best gets registered in Quora Digest.”

Pretty cool, huh?

Thanks to Quora, I have a new product line of lessons, Page to Stage.

I created the Page to Stage lessons about Broadway musicals, but they’re more than just the plot!

I sort of fell into Quora a few years ago.

I’m a Quora expert. Aren’t you impressed? Ha!

What is Quora?

All that means is I answer questions which people send to me through Quora which pertain to theatre. Questions range anywhere from “What is the best Broadway musical?” to “I want to be on Broadway.  How can I make that happen?”

It’s interesting answering the questions because the answers seem so obvious to me. I think there are people in the world who require a more personal touch rather than searching on the internet for the answer. 

When I read the questions, they feel a little like we are sitting at a coffee shop and we just met.

Recently, a fellow asked me if I thought getting a theatre degree in college would make him employable.  He enjoys working in lighting design in high school.

My answer was a resounding Yes!

Some of the most secure jobs in the theatre world are in the technical aspects.  I advise students that if they truly want to be involved in theatre any way they can, once they graduate from college, look into technical theatre.

These are:

  • set design
  • costume design
  • lighting design
  • sound design
  • stage properties
  • stage management

Had I known then what I know now, I might have pursued stage management because it’s an all encompassing job, involving all areas of the production.

I have a bundle of units about technical theater for high school students.  Check them out at:  Bundle High School Units

Plus, once the show is up the SM takes over after the director moves on and keeps the show ticking away until it closes.

As a theatre goer, teacher, director and so on, I know the many occupations which come from having a theatre degree. But our students don’t know there is more than performing.

That’s where I come in.

What is Quora?

What is Quora Digest?

I have answered the most questions about musicals.  So, I got to thinking……

Introducing:  Page to Stage Lessons

Page to Stage is a new Dramamommaspeaks product line of lessons concerning Broadway musicals and plays! They are available through my Teacherspayteachers store:  Dramamommaspeaks

This one or two-day lesson can stand alone or be combined with one of my Famous Artist biographies. They are here:  Bundle Famous Artists

Need a quick emergency lesson plan? Or one for a substitute? Everything is provided for the busy teacher.

This Product 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!
  • Photos from the Broadway Production
  • Plot of the Musical
  • History about the Origination of the Production
  • Information concerning the composer, lyricist and playwright
  • Tony Awards it Received
  • What are the Tony Awards
  • New York City Map with Competing Theatres Labeled
  • Student Note Page
  • Teacher Note Page Key
  • Trivia
  • Quotes from the Musical–Good for Discussions and Assignments
  • Extension Activities–Terrific Suggestions of Ways to Secure the Learning and Enrich the Experience
  • Sources & Links to Film Clips from the Show
  • And More!

I have six lessons as of this writing.

Hadestown

The Prom

What is Quora?

Dear Evan Hansen

SQUARE COVER

SpongeBob SquarePants

The Reasons these Shows are my Favorite Broadway Musicals

Wicked

Wicked, the Musical

It is my hope I can shed light on the creative process theatre artists go through when they are developing a new musical.

I want to answer questions such as:

  • Who wrote the music?
  • Where did the script come from?
  • How long did it take to create the show?
  • Did the person who wrote the music also write the lyrics?

In time, I will offer plays, too!  

What is really exciting and fun about these lessons is how timely they can be.  Whatever musical is most popular at the time will be turned into a lesson for students.  No waiting for someone to create a newspaper article or video about it!  I can take care of it for you.

If you aren’t following me, please do so then you can be first to use the newest lesson with your students.

Do you ask questions through Quora?  What is your favorite Broadway musical?

I’d love to hear from you.

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

Deborah Baldwin

 

 

 

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Filed Under: arts education, Broadway, drama education, excellence in teaching, Musical Theatre, performing arts, plays, Professional Theatre, Teacherspayteachers, theater, theatre, youth theatre Tagged With: Broadway musicals, DISTANCE LEARNING, drama education, drama lessons, LGBTW issues, musical theater lessons, quora, youth theater

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