List of Contributions

Billy Houck

California Educational Theatre Association

Contact Details

California Educational Theatre Association
Silver Member

My Content

1 to 20 of 50+ total

Wednesday's Wisdom from the Emeritus Community

Posted By Billy Houck 03-12-2024 18:55
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Faith and Trust There are many different elements that go into producing an educational theatre production, but there is a common thread that runs through all of them: Choosing a play to present is a leap of faith. Casting that play is another leap of faith. Trusting every actor to learn their lines ...

RE: Trying to find the origin of the Wrong Diagram for Antigone (Have you been taught this?)

Posted By Billy Houck 02-10-2024 18:46
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
I used a diagram like this, or very similar to this, to teach the fundamentals of playwriting, or just writing in general. I also showed students how this is modified in different plays, for instance, in a murder mystery, the initial incident (the murder) sometimes happens before the action begins. Also, ...

Wednesday's Wisdom from EdTA Emeritus Sages

Posted By Billy Houck 11-14-2023 22:05
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
The Calendar is All I've been reading a lot on social media from young teachers who are overwhelmed with the basics of how to rehearse a play. In my early years of teaching, I discovered a tool that controls chaos, saves time, and formats educational experiences: the calendar. I started with a basic ...

RE: Shakespeare

Posted By Billy Houck 08-01-2023 17:46
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Over 40 years of teaching High School Theatre, I directed 25 Shakespeare titles, several of them more than once. It might seem overwhelming at first, but it eventually became the bedrock of my program, along with student-written plays. Do you have a favorite Shakespeare play? Start there.If you don't ...

RE: Sound Effects

Posted By Billy Houck 07-26-2023 19:23
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Is this what you're interested in?Research "Foley Artist"If you do it right, the audience will enjoy watching it.Foley artist shows how sounds effects are made Foley artist shows how sounds effects are made Billy HouckEmeritus Theatre TeacherCarmichael, CA

RE: Musical

Posted By Billy Houck 06-27-2023 03:51
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Take a look at "Oh My Nellie Bly" at Concord. 16f, 8m, flexible casting.Oh My Nellie Bly | Concord Theatricals Oh My Nellie Bly | Concord TheatricalsThe musical tells the story of Nellie Bly, America's first female journalist Billy HouckTheatre Teacher, Retired

RE: Theatre Department or Performing Arts Department?

Posted By Billy Houck 05-21-2023 13:26
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Who asked you to list it that way?I always felt that the purpose of the posters was to advertise the show and give people the information they may need before they come. Eye-catching graphics, title, author, date, time, venue, cost, plus any extra information required by contract. You can list presenters, ...

Wednesday's Wisdom from Sage Emeritus

Posted By Billy Houck 05-02-2023 16:51
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
I've seen a lot of posts on social media from teachers looking for play recommendations. Along with this is a glut of requests for titles that are "family friendly." It must be terribly frustrating to find a title, go through the application process only to have your show shot down by an administrator, ...

Wednesday’s Wisdom from Sage EdTA Emeritus Members

Posted By Billy Houck 04-11-2023 23:16
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Memorization Issues Whenever I meet a new group of actors, whether they're students or adults, I like to ask a question: how do you memorize lines? Does anyone have a special trick or method that works well for them? Over the years, I have heard different versions of these methods: 1. As soon as ...

Wednesday’s Wisdom from Sage EdTA Emeritus Members

Posted By Billy Houck 01-24-2023 20:16
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
A few thoughts about choosing and scheduling shows Everyone's school situation is different, but somehow we all need to get our shows selected and scheduled- here's my recommendation: don't wait. Start now. Think about what you want to do next year, what plays you want to present and why*. Even if you ...

RE: swords

Posted By Billy Houck 01-11-2023 09:38
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
This company specializes in swords and weapons for the stage, especially educational theatre. They both sell and rent. Weapons of Choice Weaponsofchoice remove preview Weapons of Choice Since 1990 Weapons of Choice has provided scary items specifically designed for STAGE USE. You've seen ...

Wednesday’s Wisdom from EdTA Emeritus

Posted By Billy Houck 11-29-2022 23:06
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Great plays you've probably never heard of... (a new series) Some common issues on Theatre teachers' social media: What play should I do next? I want to do something that the other schools in my area aren't doing. I need a play with a majority of female characters. I need a play that won't need to ...

Spirit Halloween...dissapearing soon near you!

Posted By Billy Houck 11-01-2022 01:30
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
A quick seasonal reminder...the day after Halloween, everything goes on sale at Spirit Halloween. By the second of November, most of the stores will have disappeared completely. Of course it's mostly cheap nylon costumes, and tacky horror stuff, but you know there's something you "need" in there. I once ...

RE: Needed: great Greek play translations

Posted By Billy Houck 08-18-2022 15:29
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Brian-I'll send it to you today.Anyone else want a free perusal of "My Name is Lysistrata!"? mister.houck@gmail.com. Billy

RE: Needed: great Greek play translations

Posted By Billy Houck 08-16-2022 21:33
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Hey Brian- A hip young kid named Stephen Sondheim wrote a musical adaptation of The Frogs in 1974. The premiere production was done in a swimming pool at Yale. Really. It's available through MTI.If you don't want to do it, you'll have to settle for my adaptation of Lysistrata. Have a great year,Bill ...

RE: Lysistrata Translation

Posted By Billy Houck 06-19-2022 03:55
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Hi, I wrote an adaptation of Lysistrata a few years ago and produced it at my High School. I'd be glad to send you a copy. I titled it "My Name is Lysistrata." Billy Houck ------------------------------ Billy Houck Theatre Teacher, Retired Northern Rep to the California Thespian State Board Carmichael, ...

"Wednesday’s Wisdom" from EdTA Emeritus...Favorite Theatre Quotations

Posted By Billy Houck 06-14-2022 12:14
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
"It was all going too fast; there were a hundred things still undone that I knew could not be done now before we opened. What I had not yet learned, and would have to learn the hard way, was that once in rehearsal a play – and everyone and everything connected with it – is sent spinning down a toboggan ...

RE: Theatre Awards Night

Posted By Billy Houck 06-05-2022 17:02
Found In Egroup: EdTA Theatre Education Conference \ view thread
I agree - get rid of the word "Best"..(it implies that there is also a "worst)..I used "outstanding" And take out gender reference words. Call Everyone an Actor or a Performer or a Technician. Set a number of awards you're going to give in each category...and give that many awards, with no references ...

How to create a season (well, one way)

Posted By Billy Houck 05-10-2022 16:11
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
It's May! It's that time of year when we do one last show, look back at the year we've just had, give out some awards and congratulate ourselves for living through another impossible year. But before you lock up for the summer – did you put together a season for next year yet? If you have, good for ...

Sage Ramblings

Posted By Billy Houck 02-22-2022 03:17
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
I know quite a few Theatre Teachers who have had some version of this conversation: Friendly Person: Hi, are you one of the teachers? Drama Teacher: Yes. I'm the theatre teacher. Friendly Person: THE-a-ter? Really? Drama Teacher: Yes, really…in fact, we have a show coming up next week, it's… Friendly ...