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Acting Exercises Everyone Enjoys

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  • an acting exercise everyone enjoys

 

Here’s an acting exercise everyone enjoys no matter the grade or skill level.

TABLEAU!

What is tableau, you ask?

  • Tableau, a frozen stage picture like a living photograph, is one of the most useful and important components of theatre. Tableau became most popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
  • The word is French in origin and means “living picture”. Generally, actors dress in costumes and pose in a static position. The actors do not speak or move throughout the duration of the tableau.
  • Tableau is an effective tool for a director. Humans are visual thinkers. Tableau is a real time snapshot of a moment in a play or musical. It helps the audience member remember the production as it enfolds.

 

Acting Exercises Everyone Enjoys

Why should I teach or learn about it?

  • Tableau is an easy theater component for students to study. Learners of all ages can perform tableau because it requires no speaking or extra ability other than simple movement.
  • Tableau requires no speaking or memorized lines. The actors merely demonstrate a moment in time.

I used to teach for a home school enrichment program in Longmont, Colorado.  I saw 200 different students in three days.  It was a crazy experience because I was extremely busy, but it was a good one too!

In one day I’d teach every grade level from second through twelfth.  One time I taught all of them about tableau.

That was an amazing experience. Just imagine….

  • the youngest were a bit timid, but enjoyed themselves
  • the upper elementary LOVED it–they are fearless at that age
  • middle school kids enjoyed it although they were a little hesitant
  • high school kids LOVED it as much as upper elementary–WHAT?
  • even parents enjoy it given half a chance!

After my students do the first exercise, it is time to switch it up.  We add a bit of dialogue, well one sentence for each character in the tableau to say at will.  Improvisation used in this manner is super.

 Acting Exercises Everyone Enjoys

Tableau shouldn’t be limited to drama class. 

It can be used in other classes such as a literature class.  The students present tableaux of several scenes in a story or book.

Or a Social Studies and/or history class uses tableau to remember significant moments in history.  (Think Washington crossing the Potomac–that sort of thing. The signing of the Paris Peace treaty to end WWII, etc. )

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Photo by 周 康 on Pexels.com

How about in art class?  Students could view a particular painting and re-enact it through tableau. (Seurat’s Sunday in the Park with George is an excellent example.)

In a vocal music class, a choir to strike tableau demonstrating different moments in a musical piece.  It could be metaphorical or literal, that would depend upon the teacher and her needs.

Obviously, the uses are nearly endless. I’m sure you can see this is a super teaching method. 

Shoot, you could even use it in P.E. class to demonstrate certain moves in a game–what is allowed on the court, what isn’t, etc.

Wow, I’m on a roll, huh?

I have several tableau exercises on my Teacherspayteachers.com store.  Check them out here:

Tableau 

An Acting Exercise Everyone Enjoys

Holiday theme— Tableau Holiday Theme

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Thanksgiving theme—Tableau Thanksgiving Theme

Tableau Thanksgiving Cover

Halloween theme—Tableau Halloween Theme

Tableau Halloween Preview

Each product is a comprehensive lesson(s), about 55 minutes in length.

Product includes:

  • the reasons to teach tableau
  • the history of tableau
  • teacher’s script
  • a character list or activities of the particular theme
  • links to alternative activity for inspiration
  • sculpture example
  • evaluation and alternative activities

Here are a few reviews by some teachers who have purchased them:

“Awesome way to learn drama! Love this resource!”

“Such a useful and engaging resource! I love how it was so easy to implement and use. Thank you!”

These are time tested by an award winning veteran drama teacher of 38 years. 

I encourage you to teach tableau to your students.  You’ll be glad you did.

Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or check out my website at DeborahBaldwin.net

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

 

 

Do You Wanna Dance? I do! Introducing: Juke Box Musicals, A Review

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Do You Wanna Dance?  I do!

Are you looking for a musical with lots of roles so all your students can be involved? One that is entertaining, fast moving and light?  One with “ear worm” songs and hip, dancing beats?  Then Juke Box Musical’s Do You Wanna Dance is for you!

juke-box-musical

When I saw this musical advertised on Facebook, I asked the advertising firm if they were looking for pre-launch reviews.  They were and I accepted.

After directing productions for nearly forty years and creating a national playwriting contest, I can call myself an expert in both fores.

 I’m a tremendously experienced drama teacher, too.  I have read countless scripts and directed over 250 productions. I’m the gal you want for this job, that’s for sure.

There are many positives to this cute musical:

  • Twelve leading roles with an even split of female and male. (Hooray!) Plus a chorus of indeterminate size portrays many different characters.  Kids like to be busy on stage, not bored backstage.  This is a real plus.

  • At least twelve “catchy”  popular songs that encourage the listener to reminisce of latter days when they listened to a jukebox

  • List of characters with noted vocal ranges and brief character descriptions

  • Appropriate singing range for younger students (my advice– the production is mountable by middle school students and younger)

  • Simple plot, somewhat easy to project its outcome but moves along nicely and has a good message– Don’t let anyone stop you from the joy of dancing and singing. Everyone can dance.

  • Set description per scene (useful when planning production)

  • Stage directions, indepth (novice directors will appreciate these)

  • Simple costuming that most groups can create (another PLUS in my book)

  • Prop list with no difficult props to secure

  • Projection package of the various locales so that an erected set is not needed (this is a separate cost to the renter)

  • Suitable story for the whole family

Co-writers Mark Brymer and John Jacobsen are qualified and experienced musicians who can easily take on the challenges of writing a musical.  Mark Brymer has been a leading choral writer/arranger for the educational and church choral music markets for many years.

John Jacobson is known as a music educator, choreographer and author.  Both gentlemen are prolific creators.  Their resumes attest to their expertise.

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Do You Wanna Dance seems like a musical review. I think that’s what the writers were aiming for in writing it. I did a little research online and found a youtube video of the co-writers discussing the show.  John Jacobson called the show “campy fun.”

I’d agree with him. Kids love to dance and sing and surprisingly, they will sing songs from other time periods with no qualms or embarrassment.

“Walking on Sunshine” was released in 1979. That was over thirty years ago.  That doesn’t matter with music-a popular song continues to be popular long after its time.

Think about it… A family is sitting around the dinner table and their student begins humming one of the songs he’s hearsing from  Do You Wanna Dance. Before you know it, the parents recognize the song, begin singing along and the little sister jumps up and dances with a broom.

 (Sorry, I got a little carried away there…) if you ask me, that’s a pretty clever way to involve the whole family and the show hasn’t even opened yet.

Most importantly, Do You Wanna Dance doesn’t talk down to students and that’s a plus for me. Next time, I would challenge the writers to create another jukebox musical with a more difficult plot–our kids can handle it these days.  They are quite sophisticated and love a good challenge.

Other than the junior musicals through Music Theatre International, there aren’t many musicals appropriate for younger students to perform. Or they are insipid and not worth anyone’s time. If nothing else, Do You Wanna Dance is just plain fun! A church youth group, Scout troop or an after school drama club could produce Do You Wanna Dance quite successfully.

kids-dancing[1]

 

 

 

 

Who doesn’t like to sing and dance? (Now I’ve got Walking in Sunshine stuck in my head…)

Which is your favorite?  Singing or Dancing?

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

Do you have a budding musical composer in your home?  Or maybe you have a class full of students who love writing and music?  

I have a lesson which they may enjoy:  Create Your Own Musical

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