List of Contributions

How to Reactivate an Inactive Troupe

Posted By Chelsea Petty 12-03-2021 19:07
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I found years ago that our high school had a troupe that has been inactive for a very long time. We are looking at re-activating it, but now I can't figure out where I once found that inactive troupe. Can anyone direct me? ------------------------------ Chelsea Petty Teacher Columbus Middle School ...

RE: Musical Ideas

Posted By Chelsea Petty 02-19-2018 08:43
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I teach in a very conservative community in Mississippi, where theatre is very misunderstood and extremely undervalued. A drama teacher at a nearby school wasn't allowed to do "Once on This Island" because it promotes witchcraft. 🙄I tend to stick to the Jr and Young@part versions to play it safe, ...

Props and Costume Accessories

Posted By Chelsea Petty 08-30-2017 10:48
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I design and build my own costumes, but I have been using theatrehouse.com for many years to supply our shows' props and costume accessories. Their website no longer works and they're not answering the phone, so I'm guessing they are no long in business. Can anyone recommend another source for me? ...

RE: Ideas for English Language Learners

Posted By Chelsea Petty 08-26-2017 08:49
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I'm interested in responses to this question. I've had several students who are ELL, but speak English quite well. Recently, however, I had a student added to my class who moved here from Mexico and speaks no English. I've been using Google Translate and a bi-lingual student in that class to try to ...

RE: Music Theatre International

Posted By Chelsea Petty 08-26-2017 08:41
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I got a perusal script from them once and then promptly sent it back per their instructions. They claimed that they never received it and therefore I owed them $40. I was told the only thing I could do was produce a tracking number, which my school didn't pay for in mailing it. We went around and around ...

RE: Kissing Scenes

Posted By Chelsea Petty 03-06-2017 07:50
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Working with middle school, I had always had the boy put his hands on her face and kiss the inside of his hand. For years, my audiences didn't know the difference. It wasn't until a former principal objected that anyone other than the two people I had worked with in a private rehearsal one afternoon ...

RE: A Question of Timing...

Posted By Chelsea Petty 03-01-2017 08:38
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It's never an actual question at my school. Often the students know a teacher is leaving before the teacher does. And even if they don't, they'll know within a week of that teacher putting in paperwork. Nosey community and EVERYTHING goes on the school board agenda, which is online and open to anyone. ...

RE: Cinderella Carriage Rental

Posted By Chelsea Petty 03-01-2017 08:32
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I am currently borrowing a fabulous one from Starkville HS in Starkville, MS. It's pretty fabulous, except the horses that were attached are no more. Their new drama teacher told me "they died." We are making our own horses for it right now, but other than that, it's really nice. It's gold, easy to maneuver, ...

RE: Suggestions for a murder mystery play

Posted By Chelsea Petty 02-27-2017 07:05
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"And Then There Were None" is a lot of work, but an absolute blast! ------------------------------ Chelsea Petty Columbus MS ------------------------------

RE: Overtime

Posted By Chelsea Petty 02-23-2017 08:27
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When I interviewed at our high school, I was told the drama teacher stipend was $2400. They ended up not hiring a high school drama teacher and hiring me at our brand-new middle school. When I asked about the stipend, I was told it was for high school and no drama stipend had been established with the ...

RE: Failing Grades

Posted By Chelsea Petty 02-14-2017 09:58
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I dealt with this problem for a long time when I first started our program, but it seems to have improved dramatically. I started making both them and their parents sign a contract making it clear the expectations for grades and the consequences. I e-mail all the teachers and ask for them to let me know ...

RE: Assitance Needed

Posted By Chelsea Petty 01-30-2017 07:45
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Having a history background will be a great asset to you in theatre! I have been a drama teacher for eleven years, but have been pulled to teach history several times and find that there are many similarities. One of the things I teach in my drama class is theatre history. I Show the students how theatre ...

RE: Choosing Crew Members

Posted By Chelsea Petty 10-15-2016 06:06
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I am a middle-school teacher who runs the program completely by myself, so my answer may not be what you need. When it comes to construction of the set and costumes, I like to choose 1-2 of my best behaved classes (I teach 7 throughout the day.) and teach them specifically set and costume construction ...

RE: Just heard about ITS

Posted By Chelsea Petty 08-15-2016 12:03
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There is a points chart or the easiest way I find to do it is that my students get 0.1 point for every hour they devote towards something theatrical. We have a sign-in sheet for work days and for rehearsals. Naturally, the kids with the larger parts have more rehearsals and therefore get more points. ...

RE: Great Interview Questions for a Theatre Director Position?

Posted By Chelsea Petty 06-14-2016 10:34
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I love everything that's been so far, especially asking about three shows, no financial constraints. I might also add, though, that many times, a drama teacher has to support the core teachers as well. Ask them how they could teach cross-curricular activities and what ways their class can build students ...

RE: Aladdin

Posted By Chelsea Petty 06-13-2016 12:00
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We did the musical version from Pioneer Drama and had a lot of fun. I know they have a non-musical version as well. ------------------------------ Chelsea Petty Columbus MS

Homeschoolers in Public School Drama Programs

Posted By Chelsea Petty 06-13-2016 11:59
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I have a couple very involved students who went to being homeschooled when they transitioned to high school. It was my understanding that they could continue in after-school extracurricular activities since their parents pay taxes into our school district to support these activities. Our school board ...

RE: Thriller or Horror Plays

Posted By Chelsea Petty 02-22-2016 07:46
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I wrote "The Legend of Cathy" for our fall semester play in October and it was the most attended, most talked about play in the history of our theatre program. It was about our school's theatre ghost and we took advantage of the side curtains in our theater to scare the day lights out of the students. ...

RE: Opening Night Traditions?

Posted By Chelsea Petty 02-13-2016 12:56
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At our school on Opening Night, we have what has come to be called The Potluck. Every student involved in the show brings some kind of "dish to pass" and the cast and crew stay after school to have a meal together before donning their make-up and costumes for Opening Night. It's Mississippi; food is ...

RE: Becoming A Theatre/Drama Teacher

Posted By Chelsea Petty 01-15-2016 07:46
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At 9, I did the traditional Christmas play at my church. I knew all my 6 lines and where to stand, but I was so afraid of being seen that I hid my face behind the veil of my costume. Looking at pictures later, I was disgusted with my self. (Yes, even at age 9) I couldn't believe I had worked so hard ...

Chelsea Petty

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