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DRAMA
USE WITH ALL SUBJECT AREAS
GAME AND EXERCISES
The following Introduction game and exercises are specific for theater classes but can be used in all classes.
"INTO" GAME-WARM-UP EXERCISE
Have students work in groups of 5-6 to improvise tableaux focusing on different hot topics that they create out of the prompt: What is a hot topic on campus? For example, the students could use the topic of violence in the media, teen pregnancy, cheating, etc. Take the images created by each tableaux and build a short scene to present to the class.
PREP STUDENTS
When watching the film, use the Student Movie Guide or have students focus on how the scenes are edited together as a way to look at story evolution (i.e., how does Michael Moore build tension as the film progresses?)
- Focus on what is "wanted" by different people in the film.
- What are the obstacles and what are the outcomes?
AFTER THE FILM
Warm up with a game of "statues" in which each group showcases what they believe to be an emotional and/or important essence from the film as a lead-in to a discussion. In the game of "statues," the actors form groups of 5-6 and are given a theme or emotion from the film: FEAR, LOVE, VIOLENCE, HATE, SADNESS, ANGER, CONFUSION, GRIEF, etc. The audience does not know the group's theme/emotionÑthe group must convey it to the audience through their statue.
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1. The first actor comes to center stage and holds a tableau that somehow exhibits that emotion/theme.
2. The next actor builds upon the "statue" by adding to the theme/emotion.
3. Each actor in the group continues to build on the "statue" until one commanding theme is given in physical expression to the audience.
4. They hold the "statue" for a few moments and then each actor peels off one by one and turns his/her back to the audience in a line upstage. When every actor is in line, the game is complete and the audience has to guess the theme/ emotion.
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THEATER AS A SOCIAL RESPONSE-WORD FOR WORD PROJECT
"Word for word" is an abstract type of theater in which the ensemble interprets a piece of text by turning it into a production in which the text is presented word for word in a creative way. In a "word for word" interpretation, the goal is to deliver every wordÑthe dialogue, the description and the "he said's" or "she replied's" in the text. However, you aren't just standing up there presenting a text as story time with narrators. While delivering the "word for words", you will be physically presenting the text for the audience to see.
In Bowling for Columbine, Michael Moore offers a social response to the issues of gun violence in America and the creation of fear in its audience that the media relies on (these are just two of his many social commentaries).
After watching Michael Moore's film, the students will create a piece of "word for word" theater in which they use the text of articles, short stories, poems, essays (even Moore's film if they choose), etc., to create a piece of theater that acts as a social response to an important topic.
Each group of 6-8 actors will do the following:
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1. Choose at least three pieces of text to interpret word for word that all revolve around the same social topic.
2. Break the texts down into a cohesive script in which everyone in the ensemble has lines to deliver. Be creative (you can have five different people deliver one sentence or the entire ensemble deliver a single word for emphasis). Also, if transitions are necessary between pieces, make sure that the transitions are obvious.
3. Make sure the piece has a clear introduction to the topic and adequate closure.
4. Stay on stage during the entire show.
5. Stay within a 7-10-minute time window.
6. Wear simple, ensemble-based costumes that imply the topic.
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