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  • 1.  Teaching spaces

    Posted 12-21-2022 11:01
    Good morning all-
    I was just curious as to where you were teaching your theater classes.  For example, I normally have the auditorium, but for the last two weeks - it needed to be used for testing makeups so I was relegated to a regular classroom.  This makes it extremely difficult to do anything other than book work or videos.  I was just wondering what kind of spaces others had for teaching theater.

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    Michelle Meyer
    Clarksburg High School
    MD
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  • 2.  RE: Teaching spaces

    Posted 12-22-2022 08:26
    I'm converting my classroom into a black box theatre lab.  Got a donation to buy paint and pay professional painter. Got 2 grants to buy stage lighting system, 4 lighting trees, sound system/mixing board/speaker monitors, video projection design, B&G built pony wall for control booth, Apple computers to run technology soooo I have a black box theatre lab learning environment that mirrors the professional industry + a 2nd performance space for intimate and experimental pieces.  

    Last Spring we hosted an audience of 75 per show and this November we shared a devised piece 11/15-18 (4 days) with 3 performance each during the school day for students. It was a great experience for the ensemble and the audience.  Audience engagement was fabulous!

    Getting to Bliss!


    Awele (ah WAY lay)
    She/Her/Hers Pronouns
    510-601-0178

    EMMY 2020, OUTSTANDING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM

    We Are The Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical

    Streaming: HBO Max







    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Teaching spaces

    Posted 12-22-2022 08:47

    My school doesn't have a designated performance space. No auditorium, no cafeteria with a stage, no stage at all. I teach in multiple classrooms. One being a science lab with large tables that are a challenge for manipulating the space. Also it's where I have to continuously remind students during rehearsals to "stay away from the lab tables and materials". The other is a math classroom, while the room is smaller, it is much easier to manipulate. For both rooms, circling up has been creating circles around desks and we tend to play theatre games/activities that don't rely heavy on any crossing in the circle. 

    I do have students shift the classes into proscenium or thrust style seating when presenting scenes. 

    I too am curious how other teachers classrooms are set up. Annnnd I welcome suggestions on navigating space. My student rosters range from 29-32 students.



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    Charity Phalo-Davis
    NYC
    Theatre teacher
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Teaching spaces

    Posted 12-22-2022 11:03
    I teach in the theater that yes often gets used for class meetings and the like.  My admin is very supportive however and.tries to schedule them during my office hours.  

    If you can move the desks around the outside walls of a classroom or create a thrust environment that can work pretty well.  I have always envied folks who have a full time classroom with couches.

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    Michael Johnson
    Trinity High School
    NC
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    Original Message


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