Open Forum

Good morning,

After teaching theatre for over 20 years to students from a mostly homogenous culture and exposure level, and a high interest in performing, I am now at a school teaching students who have little to no exposure to theatre, little to no interest in performing, and they all come from a variety of different backgrounds (variety of cultures, ethnicities, races, genders, religious faiths and belief systems). Most are academically low, and have no real interest in any part of theatre.  After spending the first 9 weeks forming relationships, I think if I could find a way for them to relate to theatre, I could hook some of them.

At first, I thought maybe I just needed to start at a lower, simpler level. But, then I realized, they weren't interested because they were finding all of the material and info unrelatable. I gave them monologues that I thought would be easy to work on. In the character analysis I had them to do, many described their characters as white...then I understood that I was asking them to play characters they could not recognize or relate to. I want to give them material they can relate to.  But, this middle-aged, well-meaning, theatre-loving, white lady is feeling at a loss for the first time. It's like everything I've done successfully for my whole career isn't working. And, I really want them to walk away with some appreciation for theatre, and maybe even an interest. I'm open to any materials, resources, ideas, and encouragement you can give me. 

Thanks,

Cherie FIrmin

Good morning,

After teaching theatre for over 20 years to students from a mostly homogenous culture and exposure level, and a high interest in performing, I am now at a school teaching students who have little to no exposure to theatre, little to no interest in performing, and they all come from a variety of different backgrounds (variety of cultures, ethnicities, races, genders, religious faiths and belief systems). Most are academically low, and have no real interest in any part of theatre.  After spending the first 9 weeks forming relationships, I think if I could find a way for them to relate to theatre, I could hook some of them.

At first, I thought maybe I just needed to start at a lower, simpler level. But, then I realized, they weren't interested because they were finding all of the material and info unrelatable. I gave them monologues that I thought would be easy to work on. In the character analysis I had them to do, many described their characters as white...then I understood that I was asking them to play characters they could not recognize or relate to. I want to give them material they can relate to.  But, this middle-aged, well-meaning, theatre-loving, white lady is feeling at a loss for the first time. It's like everything I've done successfully for my whole career isn't working. And, I really want them to walk away with some appreciation for theatre, and maybe even an interest. I'm open to any materials, resources, ideas, and encouragement you can give me. 

Thanks,

Cherie FIrmin

Good morning,

After teaching theatre for over 20 years to students from a mostly homogenous culture and exposure level, and a high interest in performing, I am now at a school teaching students who have little to no exposure to theatre, little to no interest in performing, and they all come from a variety of different backgrounds (variety of cultures, ethnicities, races, genders, religious faiths and belief systems). Most are academically low, and have no real interest in any part of theatre.  After spending the first 9 weeks forming relationships, I think if I could find a way for them to relate to theatre, I could hook some of them.

At first, I thought maybe I just needed to start at a lower, simpler level. But, then I realized, they weren't interested because they were finding all of the material and info unrelatable. I gave them monologues that I thought would be easy to work on. In the character analysis I had them to do, many described their characters as white...then I understood that I was asking them to play characters they could not recognize or relate to. I want to give them material they can relate to.  But, this middle-aged, well-meaning, theatre-loving, white lady is feeling at a loss for the first time. It's like everything I've done successfully for my whole career isn't working. And, I really want them to walk away with some appreciation for theatre, and maybe even an interest. I'm open to any materials, resources, ideas, and encouragement you can give me. 

Thanks,

Cherie FIrmin

Good morning,

After teaching theatre for over 20 years to students from a mostly homogenous culture and exposure level, and a high interest in performing, I am now at a school teaching students who have little to no exposure to theatre, little to no interest in performing, and they all come from a variety of different backgrounds (variety of cultures, ethnicities, races, genders, religious faiths and belief systems). Most are academically low, and have no real interest in any part of theatre.  After spending the first 9 weeks forming relationships, I think if I could find a way for them to relate to theatre, I could hook some of them.

At first, I thought maybe I just needed to start at a lower, simpler level. But, then I realized, they weren't interested because they were finding all of the material and info unrelatable. I gave them monologues that I thought would be easy to work on. In the character analysis I had them to do, many described their characters as white...then I understood that I was asking them to play characters they could not recognize or relate to. I want to give them material they can relate to.  But, this middle-aged, well-meaning, theatre-loving, white lady is feeling at a loss for the first time. It's like everything I've done successfully for my whole career isn't working. And, I really want them to walk away with some appreciation for theatre, and maybe even an interest. I'm open to any materials, resources, ideas, and encouragement you can give me. 

Thanks,

Cherie FIrmin