Increasing Parent Involvement in Your Theatre Program
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, we provide advice on how to increase parent involvement in your school’s theatre program. Plus, we catch you up on the week's most important theatre news and stories.
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John Patrick Shanley Reflects on His Accidental Retrospective by Darryn King, The New York Times | The playwright discusses the Broadway revival of “Doubt” and his latest, “Brooklyn Laundry.” “People are disagreeing violently with themselves,” he says. Read...
Made for Her Jessica Lange’s haunting role in ‘Mother Play,’ like so much of her work, is one only she could perform by Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture | Sitting in a chair next to a window in a break room at the Hayes Theater, where she’s rehearsing ‘Mother Play,’ the new work by Paula Vogel (How I Learned to Drive), Jessica Lange has a regal presence and a storybook narrator’s voice. Read...
Getting ‘Stereophonic’ to Broadway — fast by Ruthie Fierberg, Broadway News | Lead producers John Johnson and Sue Wagner discuss moving the smash-hit Off-Broadway play to the Main Stem. Read...
‘A Beautiful Noise’ sets a closing date by Ruthie Fierberg, Broadway News | The Neil Diamond bio-musical will launch a North American tour in 2024. Read...
The Louis Armstrong bio-musical ‘A Wonderful World’ will arrive on Broadway by Michael Abourizk, Broadway News | Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart will play the jazz trumpeter and vocalist. Read...
Keller High School cancels ‘The Laramie Project,’ a play about a gay student’s murder by Talia Richman, The Dallas Morning News | The Keller ISD school board recently passed policies decried as discriminatory to LGBTQ students. Read...
Tectonic Theater Project Responds to Texas High School Cancellation of ‘The Laramie Project’ by Meg Masseron, Playbill | Parents received an email Friday night announcing the cancellation, but no transparent reasoning was provided. Read...
Netflix screen adaptation of ‘Patriots’ in the works by Andy Lefkowitz, Broadway News | Peter Morgan’s new drama will mark the first Broadway producing credit for the streamer. Read...
Sweet Emotions: Why the Original Broadway Hunnies Returned to ‘Jelly's Last Jam’ at Encores! by Margaret Hall, Playbill | Thirty-two years on, Allison M. Williams, Stephanie Pope Lofgren, and Mamie Duncan-Gibbs are still shepherding Jelly Roll Morton to the afterlife. Read...
Ariana Grande Had to 'Completely Erase Pop Star Ari' For ‘Wicked’: How She 'Deconstructed' Herself to Play Glinda by Michael Major, Broadway World | The ‘Wicked’ movie will be released in theaters on November 27, 2024. Read...
The Big Idea
Increasing Parent Involvement in Your Theatre Program
by Zach Dulli, The Scene
Theatre programs in educational settings offer students unparalleled opportunities to explore creativity, develop empathy, and hone their communication skills. However, the success of these programs often hinges not just on the dedication of students and educators but also on the involvement of parents. Engaging parents can provide additional support, resources, and enthusiasm, enhancing the overall experience for everyone involved. Here are strategies to increase parent involvement in your theatre program, fostering a more vibrant and supportive community.
Communicate Clearly and Frequently: Start by establishing open lines of communication. Regular newsletters, emails, and social media updates can keep parents informed about what's happening in the program, upcoming performances, and volunteer opportunities. Transparency about the program's needs and goals encourages parents to get involved when they see where their skills and resources can be most beneficial.
Create a Welcoming Environment: Make the theatre a welcoming space for parents. Host a beginning-of-year meet-and-greet, open rehearsals, or backstage tours to demystify the production process and show parents the magic behind the curtain. When parents feel comfortable and valued in the space, they're more likely to contribute their time and energy.
Offer a Variety of Volunteer Opportunities: Recognize the diverse talents and schedules among parents by offering a range of volunteer opportunities. Some might excel at costume and set design, while others can offer administrative support or spearhead fundraising initiatives. Include both short-term tasks for busy parents and longer-term roles for those who can commit more time.
Celebrate Contributions: Acknowledgment goes a long way. Celebrate the contributions of parent volunteers publicly, whether through shout-outs in programs, thank-you posts on social media, or special recognition events. Showing appreciation not only makes parents feel valued but also motivates others to get involved.
Facilitate Parent-to-Parent Connections: Foster a sense of community among parents by facilitating connections. Create a parent volunteer group that can meet regularly, share ideas, and support one another. When parents form their own networks within the program, their engagement becomes self-reinforcing.
Provide Training and Resources: Some parents might hesitate to volunteer because they feel they lack the necessary skills or knowledge. Offering workshops or resources on various aspects of theatre production can empower them to contribute more confidently. This not only enhances their involvement but also enriches the program with their improved skills and understanding.
Involve Parents in Decision-Making: When appropriate, involve parents in decision-making processes. This could range from input on fundraising activities to suggestions for future productions. Feeling a sense of ownership and influence in the program encourages deeper investment and involvement from parents.
Create a Feedback Loop: Finally, establish a mechanism for parents to provide feedback about their involvement and the program overall. This could be through surveys, suggestion boxes, or regular meetings. Listening to and acting on parent feedback demonstrates that their input is valued and can lead to improvements that make the program more welcoming and engaging for everyone.
Increasing parent involvement in your theatre program is not just about filling volunteer slots; it's about building a community that supports and celebrates the arts and student achievement. By implementing these strategies, you can create a more inclusive, vibrant, and successful theatre program that benefits students, educators, and parents alike. Remember, the goal is to foster a collaborative environment where everyone's contribution is recognized as part of the show's success.
World Premiere of Lucy Kirkwood’s ‘The Human Body’ Opens at the Donmar Warehouse by Andrew Gans, Playbill | Outgoing Artistic Director Michael Longhurst co-directs with Ann Yee. Read...
BBC And Broadway Eyeing Award-Winning West End Musical ‘Standing At The Sky’s Edge’ by Baz Bamigboye, Deadline | BBC commissioning executives are booked to see the award-winning musical, which opens Wednesday night at the Gillian Lynne Theatre following its transfer from a sold-out season at the National Theatre. Read...
‘Marie Curie’ Musical to Receive English-Language Premiere in London by Margaret Hall, Playbill | Originally premiering in 2020 in South Korea, the musical traces the life of the scientific pioneer. Read...
Idina Menzel inhabits a magical world in La Jolla Playhouse’s moving ‘Redwood’ by Pam Kragen, The San Diego Union-Tribune | The world premiere musical co-conceived by Menzel and playwright-director Tina Landau, with a score by Kate Diaz, is a triumph of groundbreaking media design. Read the review...
Denver Center Theatre Company to Present World Premieres From Sandy Rustin & Jake Brasch by Chloe Rabinowitz, Broadway World | The Reservoir by Denver local Jake Brasch will first receive a world premiere co-production launching in January 2025. Read...
Karen Ziemba, Conor Ryan, Hannah Corneau, More to Star in World Premiere of Prelude to a Kiss Musical by Andrew Gans, Playbill | David Ivers will direct the musical adaptation of the Craig Lucas play for South Coast Repertory. Read...
Read entire plays for free! Free Reads titles are perfect for your theatre, school, and competition performances. Click on the Play’s title or image to be taken to the Play’s page; once you are there, click the "READ NOW" button and enjoy!
Free Read of the Week:
Now Let Me Fly: The Struggle Toward Brown v. Board by Marcia Cebulska
The Story: It is 1950, and Thurgood Marshall wants to fly in the face of tradition and overthrow the Supreme Court doctrine of "Separate But Equal." But when the ghost of his mentor, Charles Houston, visits him, he is stricken with doubt. Houston takes Marshall on a journey to look in on the lives and losses of those working in the grassroots struggle against legalized segregation. Based on hundreds of oral histories and personal interviews, Now Let Me Fly tells the story of the unsung heroes and heroines in the battle for civil rights.
Historical drama | 80 - 90 minutes | 3 W, 8 M, (7-33 actors possible: 2-7 W, 5-26 M) | Content Notes: Some mild adult language | Set: Several chairs, stools, or blocks.