Open Forum

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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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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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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