Theatre Resources for Students and Educators
In what is the eighth of 10 exercises focusing on design aesthetics from Associate Professor Rostampour, students design a character mask based on one of the following- Kabuki, ancient Greek, African, Commedia dell´Arte, or virtual game character/anime. They must also
This exercise asks students to create a triptych that tells a story with a beginning, middle, and end. The three panels, which are developed as collages, must utilize the principles and elements of design. This is the sixth of 10
In the fifth of 10 design aesthetics exercises from Auburn associate professor Fereshteh Rostampour, students are given the creative task of translating a 3 to 5 minute piece of music into a visual display. This is a wonderful mid-range exercise
This design aesthetics exercise focusing on composition requires that students convey a focal point, asymmetrical balance, and movement. Students write a short story or develop a theme and then illustrate their central idea through collage. The point is to create
This exercise, which is the third of 10 focusing on design aesthetics, demands that students create their own color wheel and tones. Tones are developed by using varying amounts of black and white. This is an exacting exercise from designer
In this innovative exercise from theatre designer Fereshteh Rostampour, students are given 9 adjectives and they must draw lines to illustrate the emotion each evokes. Creativity, execution and presentation are all important in what is the second of 10 design
is is the first of 10 exercises from Auburn professor Fereshteh Rostampour focusing on design aesthetics. The exercise involves some basic research, the use of a specific artistic technique and incorporation of fine motor skills as students recreate painting using
It’s not uncommon for writers to observe people in everyday life and get ideas for characters and even entire plays. This playwriting exercise offers 30 pictures of 30 different people. The assignment is to create a play creating and using
Why Dramatic Writing and Reading? Playwriting can be a useful tool in active learning, especially if you take the stance that plays are meant to be heard and seen and not simply read silently by individuals. Just about any subject
This is a simple playwriting exercise designed to get students writing dialogue and creating conflict on stage. As it is with all exercises, there are rules for this one. Sometimes students will protest the fact that there are rules for
Attached is a PDF that outlines basic formatting for a play manuscript. This is the industry standard and it based on the Dramatists Guild formatting guidelines. Sample Format Page
This is a great group exercise for advanced high school students or college students. The exercise refers to each group creating a set. The elements used are whatever happens to be handy such as rehearsal blocks, chairs, benches, some hand
The Objects in Space exercise is not about creating a playing space for actors. It is about learning to create an interesting, dynamic space that captures and holds the viewer’s attention. Directing students are divided into groups of four or
This acting rubric focuses on six primary areas in which an actor may be evaluated. It considers how the student actor is able to portray a character, how well they prepared and their ability to sustain the character throughout the
Student directors need to document their process, including showing clearly the reasons for the directorial choices they have made. Here’s is an outline for a Student Director’s Book. Along with the materials outlined below, it would also include: A copy
This acting exercise gets students focused on doing rather than thinking. This is useful and fun for every age, from pre-school through college. Get out of your head and into your body! As an acting teacher, one of the biggest
This exercise focuses on developing concentration, communication and creativity. It works well with primary and middle school children and may also be used with high school students. Objectives 1. Students will identify three main skills they use in their daily
Acting and energy go hand-in-hand. This exercise uses Body Mapping to help actors realize their characters. See the Body Mapping explanation. Part One Step One: Go over Body Mapping information with students. Step Two: Students talk about and discuss characters
(All principles come from The Body’s Map of Consciousness by Lansing Gresham and Julie Nichols) The fundamental principle is that every site on or in your physical structure is predisposed to resonate with one or more specific other levels of
This is a graphic showing the theatre hierarchy. This version of the theatre hierarchy is a tree like most others, but it also shows lines of communication in addition to lines of creative oversight. It is arranged to
This is a role-playing exercise for a mock production meeting. The class is divided into groups of six. Each student is assigned a title (director, lighting designer, stage manager, etc.). Each student is also assigned a list of personality traits
The Light Lab is for use in the classroom. You can use it to demonstrate color, direction, gobos, and instrumentation without setting up equipment in another space. These pages are not a full-fledge virtual lighting system. However, they run with
Television is a part of our everyday lives and NBC continues to be a major player in the market with the long running Today Show, the unpredictable Saturday Night Live and the groundbreaking Dr.Oz Show. NBC Studio Tours started in 1933. Today’s
A time-honored joke asks: How do you get to Carnegie Hall? The answer…practice, practice, practice. Indeed, the luminaries who have graced Carnegie’s stage have ascribed to such advice. However, if you want to get to Carnegie Hall without engaging in any practice
Perhaps no other single venue in New York City is more responsible for introducing the artistry and culture of African-American and Latino musicians and performers than the Apollo Theater. A tour of the Apollo offers insights into individual artists and
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