10 PRACTICAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL TIPS FOR THEATRE TEACHERS
Plus, your weekly round-up of theatre news you may have missed!
Welcome to The Scene, your weekly round-up of theatre news you may have missed. In this week’s email:
BROADWAY BEAT- How to Dance in Ohio Sets Fall Broadway Bow | Grey House Cuts Broadway Run Short | IATSE Strike Averted With Tentative Agreement; Broadway and National Tours to Continue as Scheduled | Michael John LaChiusa's The Gardens of Anuncia Will Make Off-Broadway Premiere at Lincoln Center Theater
HOT TOPICS - Educational Theatre Association Awards More Than $50,000 in Scholarships to Theatre Students in 2023 | Why Adam Pascal Shunned Rent for a While, And Why He's Now Returned | Museum Of Broadway Adds New Costumes From The Cher Show, The Wild Party, And Marie Christine | It's Like Hogwarts But Real Life: Behind Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Ensembles
WEST END WATCH - The Crown Jewels opens on the West End | Dr. Strangelove Will Open on the West End in 2024 | Here's Who Will Join Kenneth Branagh in King Lear | Stars of Six Will Lead U.K. Tour of Punk Rock Musical Lizzie
THE BIG IDEA – 10 Practical Back-to-School Tips for Theatre Teachers
FREE READ - Discover four plays you can read for FREE this month!
The Broadway Beat
HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO SETS FALL BROADWAY BOW - Seven autistic actors will make their Broadway debuts in the neurodiverse musical by Jacob Yandura and Rebekah Greer Melocik
GREY HOUSE CUTS BROADWAY RUN SHORT - The suspense thriller stars Laurie Metcalf, Tatiana Maslany, and Sophia Anne Caruso
IATSE STRIKE AVERTED WITH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT; BROADWAY AND NATIONAL TOURS TO CONTINUE AS SCHEDULED - The backstage union has reached a tentative agreement on its Pink Contract with The Broadway League and Disney Theatrical, which will now be voted on by union membership
MICHAEL JOHN LACHIUSA'S THE GARDENS OF ANUNCIA WILL MAKE OFF-BROADWAY PREMIERE AT LINCOLN CENTER THEATER - Priscilla Lopez, Eden Espinosa, Andréa Burns, Mary Testa, and more will star in the new musical, inspired by the life story of choreographer Graciela Daniele
Hot Topics
EDUCATIONAL THEATRE ASSOCIATION AWARDS MORE THAN $50,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO THEATRE STUDENTS IN 2023 - Students in Arizona, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Virginia took this year's honors
WHY ADAM PASCAL SHUNNED RENT FOR A WHILE, AND WHY HE'S NOW RETURNED - The performer will direct a production of the Tony- and Pulitzer-winning musical on Long Island
MUSEUM OF BROADWAY ADDS NEW COSTUMES FROM THE CHER SHOW, THE WILD PARTY, AND MARIE CHRISTINE - The costumes were worn by Stephanie J. Block, Eartha Kitt, and Audra McDonald
IT'S LIKE HOGWARTS BUT REAL LIFE: BEHIND CARNEGIE HALL’S NATIONAL YOUTH ENSEMBLES - The National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America, which trains young musicians, celebrates its 10th year.
West End Watch
THE CROWN JEWELS OPENS WEST END PREMIERE - The comedy is based on the true story of a heist attempt on the royal British jewels during the reign of King Charles II
DR. STRANGELOVE WILL OPEN ON THE WEST END IN 2024 - The world premiere production adapts the 1964 dark comedy about a nuclear crisis
HERE'S WHO WILL JOIN KENNETH BRANAGH IN KING LEAR - The production will play in London's West End before transferring to Off-Broadway's The Shed
STARS OF SIX WILL LEAD U.K. TOUR OF PUNK ROCK MUSICAL LIZZIE - The production will launch in September at Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre and will also include an engagement at London's Southwark Playhouse Elephant
The Big Idea
10 Practical Back-to-School Tips for Theatre Teachers
As the summer break comes to an end, theatre teachers find themselves preparing for the new school year, brimming with excitement and eager to inspire their students with the magic of the stage. Back-to-school season is a crucial time for theatre educators to set the tone for the rest of the year and create a nurturing and creative environment for their students. Here are ten practical back-to-school tips for theatre teachers to ensure a successful and fulfilling year ahead.
Establish Clear Goals and Expectations: At the beginning of the school year, take the time to set clear goals and expectations for your theatre department. Outline what students can expect to learn, the projects they'll be working on, and the standards of behavior and dedication you expect from them. This will provide a sense of structure and direction for both you and your students throughout the year.
Create a Safe and Inclusive Space: Theatre is all about self-expression and vulnerability, so it's crucial to create a safe and inclusive space for all students. Encourage open communication and mutual respect among classmates. Foster an environment where everyone feels comfortable taking creative risks and sharing their ideas without fear of judgment.
Plan Engaging Icebreaker Activities: Icebreaker activities can help break down barriers and create a sense of camaraderie among students. Incorporate fun and engaging icebreaker games that allow students to get to know one another, as well as activities that spark their creativity and imagination.
Assess Students' Skill Levels: At the beginning of the school year, assessing your students' skill levels is essential to tailor your lesson plans accordingly. This will help you understand where each student stands regarding acting, singing, dancing, or technical skills. Individualized attention and support can go a long way in fostering their growth and development.
Build a Strong Team: Forming a solid production team is vital for your theatre productions. Recruit students interested in backstage roles, stage managers, designers, and technicians. A reliable and cohesive team will ensure your shows run smoothly and efficiently.
Introduce Theatre History and Literature: Take the opportunity to introduce your students to theatre's rich history and literature. Teach them about influential playwrights, significant theatrical movements, and iconic performances. Understanding the roots of theatre can help students develop a deeper appreciation for the art form and inspire their creativity.
Encourage Creative Exploration: Allow your students to explore their creativity freely. Provide opportunities for improvisation, scriptwriting, and character development exercises. Encouraging creative exploration nurtures their artistic talents and empowers them to discover their unique voices as performers.
Organize Theatre Visits and Workshops: Organize trips to local theatres or invite professionals from the industry to conduct workshops. Exposing your students to live performances and industry experts can be highly inspiring and educational, giving them real-world insights into the world of theatre.
Offer Constructive Feedback: As theatre teachers, your feedback is invaluable to students' growth. Provide regular, constructive feedback on their performances and projects. Focus on both strengths and areas for improvement, fostering a growth mindset that encourages them to strive for excellence.
Celebrate Achievements: Celebrate your students' achievements throughout the year, no matter how big or small. Applaud their efforts and hard work in rehearsals, performances, and any extracurricular theatre-related activities. Recognizing their accomplishments boosts their confidence and reinforces their passion for theatre.
In conclusion, back-to-school season sets the stage for an exciting and transformative journey in the world of theatre. By implementing these practical tips, theatre teachers can create a supportive and enriching environment that nurtures their students' creativity, fosters their talents, and instills a lifelong love for the performing arts. Together, teachers and students can embark on a rewarding theatrical adventure that will leave lasting impressions and fond memories for years to come.
PLAYSCRIPTS FREE READS | JULY 2023
Playscripts is proud to provide readers of The Scene with a selection of plays to read for free for July. The theme for July is Freedom. Keep scrolling to see this month’s accessible read selections.
Click on the title of the play you want to read below. Once you click and have been taken to the play’s main page, click on the title, then on the next page, you will see a "READ For FREE" button in red, click the button and enjoy!
Rue by Mandy Conner
Comedy | Run Time: 85 - 95 minutes | Cast: 7 W, 7 M, 10 Any (19-48 actors possible: 4-43 W, 5-44 M) | Set: Minimal | About: Deep in a Louisiana swamp, sixteen-year-old Josephine struggles with intense anxiety following the mysterious disappearance of her parents. She refuses to leave the safety of her home and face the outside world, even as it becomes increasingly dangerous for her to stay in the marshland. Against the wishes of her brother and best friend, Jo turns to the dark inhabitants of the swamp for answers. But is she brave enough to face the truth about her family—and herself?
The Election by Don Zolidis
Comedy | Run Time: 85 - 95 minutes | Cast: 7 W, 7 M, 10 Any (19-48 actors possible: 4-43 W, 5-44 M) | Set: Minimal | About: After an embattled student body president resigns in disgrace, Mark Davenport figures he will cruise to victory in the special election. After all, his only opponent is nerdy Christy Martin, who wants to eliminate football. But when a mysterious Super PAC gives her an unlimited budget, things start to get very ugly. Mark must face total annihilation or accept the services of a slick, professional campaign manager with questionable ethics and a million-dollar Super PAC of his own. A hilarious and timely satire on the contemporary political scene.
Alice in Wonderland adapted by Jason Pizzarello.
Drama/Comedy| Run Time: 30 - 40 minutes | Cast: 9 W, 9 M, 12 Any (11-38 actors possible: 5-32 W, 6-33 M) | Set: Minimal | Content Notes: The length of this play can be cut for time restrictions. Please contact Playscripts for permission | About: After Alice tumbles down a mysterious rabbit hole, she finds herself in a strange land where everyone is raving mad. With the help of a Cheshire Cat, an astute Caterpillar, and a righteous Humpty Dumpty, Alice must find her way home and discover who she really is. A darker, more faithful version of Lewis Carroll's classic tale that reimagines the experience of Wonderland and ends with an unexpected new twist.
Booby Trap (Formerly Booby in the Trap) by Ed Monk
Drama | Run Time: 30 - 35 minutes | Cast: 6 W, 5 M, 6 Any (11-17 actors possible: 5-12 W, 5-12 M) | Set: One realistic tree stump and six combat uniforms | Content Notes: Mild adult language | About: In the near future, an American soldier sits in a combat zone, trapped by a land mine. As he waits to see what will happen to him, scenes from his past, present, and future unfold around him.