The drama component of the Academy combines practical and creative elements to expand the teacher's ability to interpret curriculum in exciting new ways. Creative drama, story telling, and puppetry are typical sessions that are a part of the grades K-6 curriculum, while acting, directing, improvisation, criticism, play writing and technical theatre are more often part of the grades 7-12 curriculum. Instructors from around the country provide stimulating class sessions reflecting current trends as well as the latest research in arts education. In addition to the drama sessions, all participants attend performances, musings, special events and other activities.
Elementary/Lower Middle School
Participants will attend each of the classes listed below each day.
Puppetry in the Classroom
Instructor: Monica Leo
This workshop draws on Monica Leo’s extensive experience as a teaching artist to share techniques for making and using both shadow and hand puppets. She will demonstrate classroom-tested and cost-effective projects that can be incorporated into school curricula. Participants will write a collaborative story to facilitate teaching dramatic structure to children. They will also create puppets out of readily accessible materials and conclude by performing the play they have written.
Including Students of All Abilities: Learning Together Through Drama and Theatre
Instructor: Talleri McRae
Drama and theatre are engaging and essential content areas within any arts program. They also offer powerful opportunities for presenting other subjects across the curriculum in unique ways. Using highly participatory creative drama techniques, active discussion starters, and community-building structures, this course explores ways that drama can encourage inclusion among students with and without disabilities and support a positive learning environment for all.
Life is an Improvisation!
Instructor: Pamela Sterling
Improvisation is the ability to be flexible and to think on your feet—an invaluable skill for any educator, group facilitator, or artist. This interactive course will use improvisation techniques to develop character, creativity, and listening skills. The workshop will also introduce participants to play-building strategies that can be developed to create curriculum-based drama lessons or short scenes that may either be shared within the classroom environment or presented to audiences of all ages.
Upper Middle/Secondary School
Participants will attend each of the classes listed below each day.
Forum Theatre: Acting on Challenging Issues
Instructor: Katherine Burke
Participants will immerse themselves in the techniques of Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed by engaging in games and exercises that build group cohesion, enhance collaboration, and activate the imagination. Groups will develop Forum Theatre plays, which they will perform at the end of the week. Participants will also learn and practice Jokering (facilitation) techniques. Teachers will leave this training with concrete plans to use Theatre for Social Change in schools to address challenging issues such as bullying, peer pressure, and substance use.
Actions Speak Louder than Words: A Primer on Action-Based Acting
Instructor: Bruce Miller
This session will provide a hands-on primer for action-based acting, from analysis to synthesis. Participants will receive training in teaching physical action, finding and playing objectives, making moments, and listening and reacting. Instruction will also include how to break down scripts as well as how to build exciting, clear, and believable scenes.
Back to the Future: Creating a Variety/Vaudeville Show
Instructor: Robert Post
This session will be a fun, fast-paced exploration into the creation, development, and staging of a variety/vaudeville show. Cultivate the diversity of your students’ talents by creating original sketches using classic vaudeville dance, music, routines, songs, and stand-up while putting together a show in which Ed Sullivan meets Saturday Night Live.