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Bryce Cahn

NYCDOE - Office of Arts and Special Projects

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NYCDOE - Office of Arts and Special Projects

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RE: Another online resource for theater/Broadway content

Posted By Bryce Cahn 03-20-2020 09:51
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Thank you! ------------------------------ Bryce Cahn Theatre Arts Teacher Tompkins Square Middle School New York, NY ------------------------------

Best Fog Machines

Posted By Bryce Cahn 09-23-2019 10:08
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Hi All, I'm directing Macbeth this year and I'm curious about your milage with fog machines.  I prefer low-lying fog for this show over something more diffuse.  What have you tried that you liked? Thanks! ------------------------------ Bryce Cahn Theatre Arts Teacher Tompkins Square Middle School ...

RE: New light board for new black box theatre

Posted By Bryce Cahn 05-02-2019 10:45
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I use an ETC Colorsource 20 for a similar black box classroom setup, and it is ideal - programmable, easy for students to learn and use, very flexible and (mostly) intuitive.  Worth it. ------------------------------ Bryce Cahn Theatre Arts Teacher Tompkins Square Middle School New York, NY ...

Costume design, representation, and cultural responsiveness

Posted By Bryce Cahn 02-20-2019 12:40
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Hi Friends, In advance of seeing The Lion King with my 7th graders on Manhattan's Lower East Side who are currently in their costume design unit, I'd like to lead some discussions and activities on the responsibilities of a designer when representing a culture (or using cultural elements) other ...

RE: Vignette plays for class work

Posted By Bryce Cahn 02-14-2019 09:43
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Have you looked at Class Action by Brad Slaight?  It's all vignettes of 2-5 players, and was written for high school students to perform.  I'm working on it now with my middle schoolers, and it lends itself very well to the situation you described. ------------------------------ Bryce Cahn Theatre ...

RE: Ragtime

Posted By Bryce Cahn 01-17-2019 10:40
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Hi All, I'm so gratified that we are a community of educators having this specific discussion with thoughtfulness, depth, and respect.  It's in that spirit that I feel really moved to reply. I'm writing as a white teacher who serves a highly diverse school - 45% latinex, 20% black, 20% white, 15% ...

RE: Cultural appropriation

Posted By Bryce Cahn 01-07-2019 09:58
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If you've cast a white actor and are setting the play on a Polynesian island, why not feature Caiban's whiteness instead of hiding it behind faux "native" tattoos?  Dress him as a European - their savagery when they encountered people that they considered "other" is legendary.  It would be a fantastic ...

RE: Dealing with Difficult Parents

Posted By Bryce Cahn 09-20-2018 10:23
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Hi Tallen, I would urge you not to attend a meeting where a lawyer is present without first speaking to your union.  Lawyers are keyed to very specific language and it is easy with the best of intentions to talk yourself into a difficult situation.  I would hope that your principal would not put you ...

RE: West Side Story challenges?

Posted By Bryce Cahn 05-08-2018 09:27
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Hi Kayla, Could you say a little more about what you mean by "lack of diversity"?  I'm assuming you're saying you have a majority white student body, and don't have enough latinx students in your cast, but I may be wrong. Thanks! ------------------------------ Bryce Cahn Theatre Arts Teacher ...

RE: musical for very small high school on very small budget

Posted By Bryce Cahn 09-14-2017 10:35
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Have you looked at Runaways? ------------------------------ Bryce Cahn Theatre Arts Teache Tompkins Square Middle School New York, NY ------------------------------

RE: Shakespeare Class

Posted By Bryce Cahn 05-16-2017 09:06
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I teach a Shakespeare unit to my 8th grade theatre arts classes, and highly recommend taking a drama rather than a lit perspective.  They're plays, not novels - they should be played!  A great starting place is the Folger Shakespeare Library's "Shakespeare Set Free" series.  It has detailed lesson plans ...

RE: NCAS - converting standards to grades

Posted By Bryce Cahn 03-06-2017 13:52
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Yes, a 4 would indicate exceeding mastery, 3 is mastery/proficient, 2 is approaching mastery. What we learned, though, is that a 3 across the board (which would be considered a good score), comes out as about an 88% after conversion. We try to keep that in mind when scoring. ------------------------------ ...

RE: NCAS - converting standards to grades

Posted By Bryce Cahn 03-01-2017 09:51
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Our school uses an online grading platform called JumpRope (JumpRope | Standards-based Grading) that offers a number of conversion algorithms for when we generate transcripts for high school admission. It has worked well for us so far. ------------------------------ Bryce Cahn Theatre Arts Teacher ...

RE: Failing Grades

Posted By Bryce Cahn 02-16-2017 10:07
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A few questions to consider: How often are you giving feedback - do kids know that they're not doing well in time to fix it? Are there clear remedies if a kid is failing (like makeup assignments or alternate ways to show what they know that may or may not include written assignments)? ...

RE: Where do you get your swords?

Posted By Bryce Cahn 01-09-2017 10:00
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Thanks to all who've replied so far! Phillip: I know what you mean about school computers - some of the sites don't load here thanks to our filters on weapons! Robert: I've heard good things about Weapons of Choice. Their prices are fantastic. Nice to hear that you've had a positive experience ...

Where do you get your swords?

Posted By Bryce Cahn 01-05-2017 09:55
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There are several suppliers that I've found of stage-ready swords at a wide range of prices (sort of expensive to "we will never have that kind of money" expensive). Do you have a favorite source for swords that can stand up to classroom life (I teach a combat unit, currently with 1/2 inch dowels standing ...

RE: Required class reading of plays

Posted By Bryce Cahn 12-21-2016 09:43
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"Have you read Clybourne Park? Obviously all schools are different, but there is no way I'd have have gotten away with reading that with students when I taught middle school. Language galore...(though my high school students loved it and we still make "Neapolitan" jokes)." Hi Laura, I teach ...

RE: Required class reading of plays

Posted By Bryce Cahn 12-13-2016 15:38
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I used A Raisin in the Sun with 7th graders to great effect. In the future, I might pair it with Clybourne Park. ------------------------------ Bryce Cahn Theatre Arts Teacher Tompkins Square Middle School New York, NY

RE: Stipend Help

Posted By Bryce Cahn 09-30-2016 09:49
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Hi Carolyn, As well as being a theatre arts teacher, I'm also the union chapter leader at our school. What you're describing is a union issue, and I urge you to reach out to your representation. As educators, we all donate a number of hours each year, and that is normal and expected but it's not ...

RE: Racism or not

Posted By Bryce Cahn 09-19-2016 16:13
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Hi Dan, This is an incredibly sensitive subject, and I applaud your bringing it to the forum. I feel strongly that, as white-identified teachers, it is our responsibility to prioritize the experience and points of view of our students of color. And when you say that some people find the depiction ...