Wicked

This highly imaginative musical features a fine book by Winnie Holzman and music and lyrics by one of Broadway’s most accomplished composers, Stephen Schwartz. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked will fill you with wonder as it takes

Read More Wicked

The Outsiders

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1967, the hardened hearts and aching souls of Ponyboy Curtis, Johnny Cade and their chosen family of ‘outsiders’ are in a fight for survival and a quest for purpose in a world that may never accept them.

Read More The Outsiders

Theatre: It’s the Human Element

Theatre is an art. Although theatre is an art, it’s an art that thrives on connecting directly and immediately with audiences on various levels, including intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. However, at times, it seems as though the theatre intimidates students,

Read More Theatre: It’s the Human Element

Of Mice and Men: Discussion Topics for the Classroom, Part 3

< Theme of Powerlessness The characters in Of Mice and Men are powerless due to various circumstances. For instance, Lennie, although he is employed as a ranch hand due to his physical strength, he is powerless because of his mental

Read More Of Mice and Men: Discussion Topics for the Classroom, Part 3

Of Mice and Men: Discussion Topics for the Classroom, Part 1

The renowned story Of Mice and Men, based on the 1937 novel by John Steinbeck, is returning to the Broadway stage in April 2014. Of Mice and Men (which is required reading in many schools) is based on Steinbeck’s own

Read More Of Mice and Men: Discussion Topics for the Classroom, Part 1

The Fantasticks: History and Themes for Classroom Discussion, Part 3

Romantic Fantasy in Moonlight, Cold Reality in Daylight Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt named Act I of The Fantasticks “In the Moonlight” (due to its romantic mood) and Act II “In the Sun,” which is where the audience witnesses what

Read More The Fantasticks: History and Themes for Classroom Discussion, Part 3

The Fantasticks: History and Themes for Classroom Discussion, Part 2

The Process Tom Jones collaborated with J. Donald Robb on a musical adaptation of Les Romanesques from 1954 to 1956 as Harvey Schmidt was in the Korean War at the time. They originally titled the musical Joy Comes to Dead

Read More The Fantasticks: History and Themes for Classroom Discussion, Part 2

Big Fish The Musical: Themes for Classroom Discussion

Lessons learned, teaching Big Fish the Musical

Fathers and Sons, Mothers and Daughters, Parents and Children Based on the 1998 novel by Daniel Wallace, Big Fish The Musical is about a former traveling salesman (Edward Bloom) from the South who has a passion for storytelling. His son,

Read More Big Fish The Musical: Themes for Classroom Discussion

Broadway Study Guides and the Class Trip

If you’re a teacher taking a class to see a Broadway musical or play, you may want to utilize a study guide. Broadway study guides can be helpful to teachers. There are a range of study guides available for free

Read More Broadway Study Guides and the Class Trip

Theatre & the Classroom: Theatre History, Literature & Les Misérables, Part Two

In the classroom, teachers can focus on numerous topics in relationship to Les Misérables. In Part Two of our consideration of Les Misérables, we’ll look at a few of the many areas, themes, and subjects that you can investigate with

Read More Theatre & the Classroom: Theatre History, Literature & Les Misérables, Part Two

Theatre & the Classroom: Theatre History, Literature & Les Misérables, Part One

Teaching Les Misérables in the classroom offers educators the chance to include a range of diverse subjects. Plus, with the return of Les Misérables to Broadway in 2014, a hit movie version of the musical, the book, and many other

Read More Theatre & the Classroom: Theatre History, Literature & Les Misérables, Part One

Teaching Lorraine Hansberry’s Classic Drama A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun premiered on Broadway on March 11, 1959. To the surprise of many, the play became a huge success, earning four Tony nominations, the New York Critic’s Circle Award for Best play, and running for two

Read More Teaching Lorraine Hansberry’s Classic Drama A Raisin in the Sun

Broadway Musical NEWSIES: Themes for the Classroom

Musical NEWSIES on Broadway

History The musical NEWSIES is a dramatized, but overall accurate description of what life was like for children in the U.S. back in the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. The newspaper boys (aka the “newsies”) were the primary way that

Read More Broadway Musical NEWSIES: Themes for the Classroom

Teaching Students Depression-era Themes in ANNIE

Annie the Musical History Depression FDR

A Bit of History ANNIE is a Broadway musical based upon the newspaper strip Little Orphan Annie, created by Harold Gray in 1924. The plot of the comic strip follows the adventures of Annie (who wanders throughout a world full

Read More Teaching Students Depression-era Themes in ANNIE

Learning & Teaching about Cinderella: From Books to Broadway

Imagine: You, your students, chaperones, perhaps other educators, all eagerly surrendering your tickets and retrieving the stubs, slowly making your way to the assigned seated area. It may be some of your students first time seeing a Broadway production, or

Read More Learning & Teaching about Cinderella: From Books to Broadway