List of Contributions

Sarah Gerling

Theatre Teacher and Director,
Hickman High School

Contact Details

Theatre Teacher and Director,
Hickman High School
Bronze Member

My Content

1 to 20 of 36 total

RE: Puffs

Posted By Sarah Gerling 05-18-2022 16:21
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
We just closed this show a few weeks ago and had a blast with it. Audiences were very receptive of it and seemed to enjoy it a lot. I will say that our student population probably enjoyed it a bit more than some of our older audience members. I did have several people, though, who confessed that they ...

"Feel Good" Show

Posted By Sarah Gerling 08-31-2021 17:09
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I had decided that one of the shows my students would do this year would be Anatomy of Grey.  I love the show and I love the parallels that we can draw from the show for our times right now.  I am reconsidering, though, for something that is perhaps more light-hearted.  What would be your suggestions?  ...

Clue: On Stage Effects

Posted By Sarah Gerling 01-19-2020 23:14
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Hello!  I'm looking for some ideas about what others have done successfully for a few of the effects called for in the script of Clue: On Stage.  Most notably, suggestions for: 1. The body dummies used (where did you purchase these, how did you make them, etc.) 2. Getting the cop's head to fall off ...

RE: Help! Games with No Space

Posted By Sarah Gerling 08-19-2018 12:40
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If you can move the desks so kids can get in a circle, I have quite a few ideas for games. A few that come to mind with limited space are: 1. Mr. Know-it-All 2. Feet off the Ground 3. Join In If you can move the desks, both Zombie and Musical Personalities have worked best for me when each kid ...

RE: Your fav large cast ensemble plays

Posted By Sarah Gerling 07-23-2018 12:59
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I would greatly recommend Midsummer, The Laramie Project, and Elephant's Graveyard also. In addition to those mentioned, I have loved doing Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, Peter and the Starcatcher (the script offers opportunity for expansion), and A Piece of My Heart (it is only written for ...

Awesome 80s Prom

Posted By Sarah Gerling 04-03-2018 16:55
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Has anyone had experience with The Awesome 80s Prom?  I am loving the script and the combination of rehearsed and improvised scenes.  I would be interested, though, in getting some perspective on preparing for it, what space worked well for the performance, how some of the "questionable content" was ...

RE: New Class Warmups and Improvs

Posted By Sarah Gerling 04-01-2018 23:17
Found In Library: Open Forum

RE: New Class Warmups and Improvs

Posted By Sarah Gerling 04-01-2018 23:17
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Attached is a document I created for a post I made similar to yours at the beginning of the semester.  These are some of the warm ups my students and I do routinely.  If you have any you love, please share them! :) ------------------------------ Sarah Gerling Theatre Teacher and Director Columbia ...

Miracle Worker Ladder

Posted By Sarah Gerling 01-26-2018 14:53
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For those of you who have been involved in a production of The Miracle Worker, what suggestions might you have for getting Annie safely down the ladder while being carried by Captain Keller?  We do have Annie's room as a full second story and a large window opening for her to come out of.  However, every ...

RE: Warm Up Activities

Posted By Sarah Gerling 01-26-2018 09:19
Found In Library: Open Forum

RE: Warm Up Activities

Posted By Sarah Gerling 01-26-2018 09:19
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It took me a bit to get these all typed up, but these are the descriptions of the ways that my students and I do these activities.  I'm sure there are lots of different ways to play them or that some groups have different names for the activities.  I'm still on the hunt for more exercises similar to ...

Warm Up Activities

Posted By Sarah Gerling 01-03-2018 11:54
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As we begin the new semester, I am on the hunt for some new warm up activities or ensemble-building activities for my students.  There are lots that I have done with my students in the past, but I feel like I need to inject my repertoire with some new ones.  Optimally, these would be exercises to get ...

RE: Peter and The Starcatcher-- recorded music

Posted By Sarah Gerling 09-24-2017 18:17
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I directed this earlier in the year.  We searched forever trying to find some sort of recorded version of the music, but without any success.  Sorry! ------------------------------ Sarah Gerling Theatre Teacher and Director Columbia MO ------------------------------

RE: Technical Theatre Ice Breakers/1st Day Activity

Posted By Sarah Gerling 07-22-2017 15:57
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You might try searching for some STEM ice breakers. I did that last year for tech theatre. We did an activity where the kids (in small groups) were given a certain number of popsicle sticks (I think 25) and a strip of duct tape. Then, using the tables in the classroom set about 1 1/2-2 feet apart, they ...

Shakespearean Play Selection

Posted By Sarah Gerling 07-10-2017 15:59
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My students are really excited to try performing a Shakespearean play this year.  It is my first time directing Shakespeare and I am SUPER intimidated by it.  I am also torn on which show to choose.  I have narrowed it down to three: Midsummer, Twelfth Night, and The Tempest.  I feel like Midsummer is ...

RE: Peter & the Starcatcher instrumentation

Posted By Sarah Gerling 05-16-2017 09:37
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We just closed the show.  The percussion is pretty huge in the show.  In an early conversation with the music director, we joked that the show requires every percussion instrument ever created. I second everything that Holly said--especially incorporating the music with the blocking as early as possible. ...

RE: Film Studies Class?

Posted By Sarah Gerling 05-15-2017 09:33
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I teach a Film Studies class in my district.  We have never had any formal curriculum for it, though.  We are supposed to be working on that this upcoming school year.  I can absolutely pass on lesson ideas, but I don't have formal curriculum to share. ------------------------------ Sarah Gerling ...

RE: Stagecraft Class Sizes?

Posted By Sarah Gerling 05-15-2017 09:25
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1.  We have about 1500 students in our school. 2.  We only have room for 2 sections in the schedule because of FTE.  We have enough enrollment to have a 3rd and sometimes a 4th. 3.  We have been able to convince administration and guidance that 20 should be the cap for the class.  This is our first ...

Large Cast Play

Posted By Sarah Gerling 05-10-2017 16:39
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Unless guidance decides to split my Acting 2, 3, and 4 classes into smaller sections, I will likely have all of them in the same class period.  Luckily, my enrollment is increasing.  The only thing tricky about it is choosing a main stage play for a large group, which is a component of the course.  Next ...

RE: Peter and the Starcatcher Amulet

Posted By Sarah Gerling 04-25-2017 09:22
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Thank you all for the responses--we are going to experiment and see what works! ------------------------------ Sarah Gerling Theatre Teacher and Director Columbia MO ------------------------------