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Jessica Speck

Drama Director,
Wheaton High School

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Drama Director,
Wheaton High School
Bronze Member

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1 to 20 of 32 total

RE: after school stipends and pay

Posted By Jessica Speck 03-04-2022 07:32
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In the district where I work, all extra and co-curricular stipends are posted with descriptions and the assumed number of hours. The stipends for athletics, drama, music, clubs, etc are set so the pay seems to be about $15 an hour. Of course, these descriptions and the pay level has only been raised ...

RE: If you have directed Peter and the StarCatcher....

Posted By Jessica Speck 10-26-2021 07:25
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I just looked back at my rehearsal schedule from a production I did in the fall of 2018. We rehearsed for a total of 9 weeks. I haven't looked at the calendar between now and Valentine's Day. I will say it can be frustrating to rehearse during the winter when there are so many interruptions, but I don't ...

RE: NBCT and pre-AP Theatre

Posted By Jessica Speck 06-05-2021 10:48
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I don't have any insight into pre-AP Theatre, but there is a cohort of theatre teachers in my district about to start NBCT for Theatre under CTE. It is on page 6 of this document: https://www.nbpts.org/wp-content/uploads/Choosing_the_Right_Certificate.pdf ------------------------------ Jessica Speck ...

Theatre As An Empathy Gym

Posted By Jessica Speck 09-13-2020 16:33
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How do we add this/capitalize on this in our advocacy efforts? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-2-0-empathy-gym/id1028908750?i=1000489701901 --------------------------------- Jessica Speck Drama Director Theatre and English Teacher Thomas S. Wootton HS Rockville, MD --------------- ...

RE: List of large cast plays by female playwrights

Posted By Jessica Speck 07-30-2019 09:10
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This is an incredible list. Thank you so much! I hope it is okay, but I've made it into a Google Doc so I can keep track and refer to it later. I've made it open for anyone with the link to view (but not edit) the list: Large Cast Plays by Female Playwrights Large Cast Plays by Female PlaywrightsWe ...

RE: Pajama Game

Posted By Jessica Speck 06-26-2019 09:56
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I directed The Pajama Game many years ago and it was overall a great show with fantastic music and dance opportunities. However, I saw a professional production here in DC recently and I was stunned by how tone-deaf the dialogue seems in the wake of Me-Too. Things that we cheeky or fun 20 years ago ...

RE: New Topic: What Plays are Awesome but Just Not Doable by Teenagers?

Posted By Jessica Speck 02-15-2019 09:36
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My favorite play of all time is The Heidi Chronicles by Wendy Wasserstein. While the characters appear as teens/college age in early scenes, it goes all the way up to Heidi turning 40 and adopting a baby. The scene between Heidi and Peter at the hospital is a personal favorite. So, I like to read it ...

RE: Inclusive audition packets

Posted By Jessica Speck 08-16-2018 11:18
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I agree that asking them if there is anything they are comfortable with (or not comfortable with) that might be required in the show is a good way to go.  I recently listened to Fresh Air with Terry Gross where she was interviewing Desiree Akhavan who wrote and directed The Miseducation of Cameron ...

RE: Pick My Musical!

Posted By Jessica Speck 08-16-2018 10:58
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I am such a huge, huge fan of The Drowsy Chaperone and it definitely fits the sillyness and expandable cast (use lots of maids and butlers) and its just sweet and people love it even if they are not familiar with it before hand. ------------------------------ Jessica Speck Drama Director Theatre ...

RE: Question about the American High School Theatre Festival & The Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Posted By Jessica Speck 11-17-2017 08:10
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I took students to AHSTF in both 2006 and 2009. While I LOVED the experience, the fundraising to cover the costs is overwhelming so I'll probably never do it again. (Some schools who were there just charged the kids the total and they paid it. Even working in a wealthy suburb, that was not my experience. ...

RE: RENT School Edition

Posted By Jessica Speck 09-08-2017 08:50
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I did the school edition back around the time it first came out in 2008. I do not believe the integrity of the piece is compromised by the minor language changes and the elimination of the song "Contact." It was a fantastic experience.

RE: Possibly useful tool for tracking points?

Posted By Jessica Speck 06-06-2016 09:48
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Hi everyone-- I was able to make the google sheet for tracking points open to be viewed by anyone (and if you wish to use it for your school, I think you can just make a copy and go from there). There are two sheets--one where the students track their points and then it determines the rank ...

RE: Possibly useful tool for tracking points?

Posted By Jessica Speck 06-03-2016 08:38
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This is a great use of our community. A couple of years ago, I also created a Google Sheet with a similar purpose and formulas, but the sharing makes it easier for my Thespians to update their points at any time. (I have a template and then make a copy for each student after they apply). I'd be happy ...

RE: Female-Heavy Musical

Posted By Jessica Speck 05-03-2016 09:51
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We just did Legally Blonde this year in part for the reason you articulate. It has technical challenges and there is some content some members of your community may have concerns about, but the opportunity to feature so many fabulous female performers with an uplifting message was too hard to pass up. ...

RE: Looking for great WIZARD OF OZ script version

Posted By Jessica Speck 04-22-2016 08:55
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I can't be of any help with the music, but I can tell you that the RSC version licensed by Tams-Witmark is the one you want to match the movie the closest. We did it here in 2012 and it was the biggest money maker in my time here (hint: cast elementary students as the Munchkins and the parents/family ...

RE: Troupe Director Supplemental

Posted By Jessica Speck 03-19-2016 09:56
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I used to receive a small amount as the Drama Club/Thespian sponsor at my last school on top of my modest Drama Director stipend. Different school, same district and no such stipend. Club sponsorship came out of discretionary stipend money given to principal. I never thought to fight to get it because ...

RE: Scripts for analysis

Posted By Jessica Speck 02-19-2016 08:45
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I would second Kevin's recommendation here. I directed The Dining Room years ago at another school and it remains a favorite.

RE: Casting Regret

Posted By Jessica Speck 09-20-2015 09:03
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I might be in the minority here, and I can't say that this philosophy has worked out perfectly for me, but I'm very forgiving of past transgressions. I really try to take the specific audition as the most important piece of information and whether an actor demonstrates they have the right skills for ...

RE: Culturally Diverse Play?

Posted By Jessica Speck 08-15-2015 09:33
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Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I like to teach the classics, and I'll still teach Twelfth Night and Beth Henleys Crimes of the Heart, but I was thinking that none of these plays have any cultural diversity. It's not so much that my student populations have changed, but my awareness of them has. I'm ...

Culturally Diverse Play?

Posted By Jessica Speck 08-13-2015 21:18
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Hi all-- For all of my 17 years of teaching an introductory Theatre course, I've used a play I love and is a classic--Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest--as the first text we encounter after doing units on pantomime, voice and improvisation. Anyone have any thoughts about an equally rich ...