Never Underestimate the Influence of Teaching with Videos
When I began teaching, we didn’t have videos to show students anything pertaining to theater. Friends, never underestimate the never underestimate the influence of teaching with videos!
That was 1980 and the closest thing we had was an old projector which showed black and white films. Yuck. Part of the reason this was uninspiring to students is as we know, theater is a visual art. Plus, it gives students a concrete example of the quality of work professionals turn out. Consequently, not many students enrolled in drama classes.
I was looking around for more reasons why teaching with video works. I ran on to www.nextthoughtsstudios.com I found this quote helpful: “Studies have shown that the use of short video clips allows for more efficient processing and memory recall. The visual and auditory nature of videos appeals to a wide audience and allows each user to process information in a way that’s natural to them. In a nutshell, videos are good teachers.”
Things are different now, huh?
Practically with the snap of a finger, a teacher can search for what she wants and show it in her classroom within a few minutes.
Never Underestimate the Influence of Teaching with Videos
Creating products gives me oppportunities to see many videos worth viewing in the theater classroom. I thought they might be of benefit to you, too!
Primarily, these videos are located on youtube.com. If your school allows you to use Youtube. com, you will be good to go. I’ve also mentioned several videos that you could rent or purchase for your classroom.
Never Underestimate the Influence of Teaching with Videos
Hamilton!
Let’s Look at Hamilton, first!
There are many videos of Hamilton. However one that I especially like is: Adam Savage Examines the Props of Hamilton.
Let’s begin with set design. Set Design for Hamilton is terrific. It’s only 3 minutes in length. Fascinating stuff here.
The lighting design for Hamilton is awesome! Behind the Scenes with a Hamilton Stagehand Who Told Stories with LightsThis one shows what its like for a stagehand. So interesting. (5:58 mins.)
The costume design for Hamilton is a Hamilton Designers Explain How Costumes are Made I think you’ll learn something new here. (29:42 mins.)
Hamilton is available on line through DisneyPlus only. Honestly, I’d sign up for DisneyPlus just to have the opportunity to show it to my students.
If you’d like more information about Hamilton, check out: Hamilton the Musical: A Drama Lesson with a Unique Perspective
Wicked!
Behind the Emerald Curtain is a series of videos which were created for the express purpose of education.
Wicked Behind the Emerald Curtain is a fascinating interview with the costume designer, Susan Hilferty. There is more information here than just costume design, so take a look at this! (5:35 mins.)
In this video, the choreographer for Wicked explains the difference between choreography and staging a musical. See how the entire world of Wicked the musical was choreographed. (4:47 mins.)
Who is an expert in stage smoke, fog and torches? This man is. You’ll want to check out the special effects of Wicked for certain. Wicked: Special Effects (3:37 mins.)
Good news! A movie version of Wicked is slated to begin productions in the summer of 2022. Cynthia Erivo will pay Elfaba and Arianna Grande will be Glenda. How wonderful will that be?
Considering teaching a whole unit on Wicked? Check out my post: Will Wicked The Musical Ever Rule the World?
Dear Evan Hansen
Now that the Dear Evan Hansen movie has been released, this would be a fantastic time to study the musical.
David Korins, Set Design of Dear Evan Hansen shares an incredible story about his creative process. (3:43 mins.)
Here is a short piece on the Genius Design of Lighting of Dear Evan Hansen you simply must show your students! In this video clip, the announcer explains the complexity and number of light cues used in one part of a song. Amazing. (3:13 mins.)
Maybe you need something physical for your students to do? You could use this as a warm-up of even lesson for the day. Check out Dear Evan Hansen Dance Combo (27:01 mins.)
You can rent Dear Evan Hansen through a variety of ways–Apple TV and Prime are two.
Here’s a blog post concerning Dear Evan Hansen which you may find useful and interesting. Like “Dear Evan Hansen”? Then You’ll Love This News
Never Underestimate the Influence of Teaching with Videos
Spongebob Squarepants
Oh my gosh, friends. Spongebob Squarepants is such fun and your younger students will really enjoy learning about it.
You’ll want to look at the interview of a set designer. Set Designer David Zinn ( 7:00 mins.) I enjoy how he explains his concept of the musical, but also explains how color, the use of unusual objects and looking at the story as a child would.
Davis Zinn is exceptionally talented! He designed the costumes for the production as well. Explore the Costumes of Spongebob Squarepants. (2:56 mins.) Your students will love what he uses for each costumes and the detail is immense.
Switching gears here. I think showing a rehearsal of a production. It’s very important for our students. It demonstrates that rehearsals should be done with high energy, full commitment and dedication. Get a Sneak Peak at New Broadway Musical Spongebob Squarepants (2:25 mins.)
Need a scope and sequence for your middle school theater class? I can help here: Drama Units Scope and Sequence
Hadestown
Take a Tour Downtown of Hadestown with Rachel Hauk, set design and Rachel Chavkin, director. (4:09 mins.) For your students who can’t get enough of the creative process of designing a production, you’ll want to show this one.
Making the Music Anais Mitchell (3:50 mins.) talks about composing the music for Hadestown. In particular, she talks about the song, “Why Do We Build a Wall.: The lyrics to this song are not a political statement, but when Hadestown opened our former president was busy trying to keep immigrants out of the country. Talk about life imitating art and vice versa.
Broadway’s Hadestown is a Google Talk (55:31 mins.) which older students would appreciate. I think I would use it for a discussion and pick out certain parts which I wanted to point out–blocking, staging, etc. Members of the cast have an opportunity to share about the production. I especially appreciate Andre Shields’ interview. Although long, it’s worth the time.
You can find bootleg copies of Hadestown. That means someone recorded it illegally. I don’t recommend using these because it just perpetuates the idea that this activity is acceptable.
Here’s a blog post of mine about Hadestown and all its wonderfulness. What Can We Learn from Greek Mythology?
Never Underestimate the Influence of Teaching with Videos
Beetlejuice
Heres a fun one to study: Beetlejuice! The Cast of Beetlejuice Performed at medley at the Tony Awards. (3:48 mins.) Something interesting about this musical is that it was nominated for many Tony awards and didn’t win one. Strange, huh?
The set design is so imaginative–I’d show this for your gifted students. They’ll get a kick out of it! David Korns strikes again as the designer of the Beetlejuice set. It might be interesting to show the three video clips of his work and see if there are any similarities. That’s what I would do. Set Tour with Designer David Korin/ Beetlejuice the Musical. (7:22 mins.)
In How William Ivey Long Created the Beetlejuice and Tootsie Costumes (9:35 mins.) Long speaks about his process for the musical. Talk about talented! You’ll see that he spent over two years designing Beetlejuice. Amazing.
We can’t leave out plays. They are fabulous to teach with too
Teach with Plays
We can’t leave out plays. They are fabulous to teach with too.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Oh yes! To study a little bit of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play would be fabulous for middle grade students.
If your students are unfamiliar with the play, show them this montage first: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Exclusive Montage. (4:43 mins.)
This clip shares many things–the director, special effects, blocking, staging, lighting design, costume design–you name it. Behind the Scenes of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (2:49 mins.) is a definite show on my list!
I think students will find this video Magic to Do: Harry Potter with James Snyder (9:51 mins.) demonstrates that actors are pretty much like the rest of us. Pretty goofy.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Let’s say you want to read a play in your high school theater class? I’d suggest To Kill a Mockingbird. I’d include these video clips while we read it. Maybe as a warm-up.
I’d begin with this video clip. It concerns how the play was reworked by the director, Aaron Sorkin. How Aaron Sorkin Reworked To Kill a Mockingbird for Broadway (7:19 mins.) It’s fascinating.
To Kill a Mockingbird Lessons for Today focuses on (7:10 mins.) the show’s star Jeff Daniels and playwright Aaron Sorkin about translating Lee’s characters to the stage, and with students who talk about “Mockingbird”‘s relevance to today’s audience.
Lastly, this video clip discusses the characters of the play. Citizens of To Kill a Mockingbird LaTanya Richards Jackson as Calpurnia (2:40 mins.)
Never Underestimate the Influence of Teaching With Videos
I hope these video links give you a lot of choice and ideas for your classroom use. If I were you, I’d teach a different musical or play each day–that’s 8 days or more of lessons for you. And….a substitute could use these as well.
Have you used video clips in your classroom? I’d love to hear about it. Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net
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