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  • 1.  Theatre History

    Posted 11-14-2022 10:19
    Hello Hive mind!
    Does anyone have any suggestions on a Theatre History textbook or good resources to use? I am trying to spruce up my theatre history unit and so far, those whom I have asked, have not come through.

    Trying to be fun and make history come alive for my middle year kids!


    ------------------------------
    Joshua Watters
    Mr.
    LaGrange Park IL
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  • 2.  RE: Theatre History

    Posted 11-18-2022 11:29
      |   view attached
    Maybe the free Theatre History readers theatre scripts on this website will be helpful to you and/or inspire you and your students to create something similar:
    http://www.artseducationonline.org/CBRT-Sample-Scripts.html
    I am also attaching a copy of an article I wrote about the process.
    Hope these resources help!

    ------------------------------
    Rosalind Flynn
    Head of the M.A. in Theatre Education
    Director, The High School Drama Institute
    The Catholic University of America
    Washington, DC
    drama.cua.edu/graduate/MATE
    drama.cua.edu/summer
    ------------------------------

    Attachment(s)

    pdf
    4. Knowledge in Hand article final copy.pdf   473 KB 1 version
    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Theatre History

    Posted 11-19-2022 23:03
    Thank you for sharing this Rosalind!

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    Tracey Buot
    Director of Theatre
    St. Pius X Catholic High School
    Atlanta, Georgia
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Theatre History

    Posted 11-20-2022 11:44
    Hi Joshua,

    I love teaching Theatre History and yet you mention "history" and students go to sleep or check out, ha, ha. I am so glad that you want to make it come alive and be fun!

    My  school district uses Canvas as its online Learning Management System and there are a lot of good units there. I can share some with you if you use Canvas.

    If you don't have Canvas - a good way to introduce theatre history is to use the Crash Course Theater videos available on YouTube - here is a link to the first one: What Is Theater? Crash Course Theater #1
    YouTube remove preview
    What Is Theater? Crash Course Theater #1
    Welcome to Crash Course Theater with Mike Rugnetta! In this, our inaugural week, we're going to ask the two classic questions about theater. 1.What is theater? And 2. Is it spelled -re or -er? Well, there's a clue to question two in the title of the video.
    View this on YouTube >


    There are short quizzes that go with these through Teacher's pay Teachers: Crash Course History of Theater and Drama COMPLETE SERIES ~ Distance Learning
    Teachers Pay Teachers remove preview
    Crash Course History of Theater and Drama COMPLETE SERIES ~ Distance Learning
    Distance Learning - #DistanceLearningEpisode Guides for Crash Course Theater & Drama YouTube Series!Each guide comes with two versions (with and without timestamps), and a complete answer key.This product easy to use, no-prep product is a perfect last minute lesson plan, review activity, extra "...
    View this on Teachers Pay Teachers >



    Best of all there are wonderful Theatre History units available on the BYU Theatre Education website.  My favorite and most interactive is the Greek Tragedy unit; here is the link:  Greek Tragedy
    Byu remove preview
    Greek Tragedy
    EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVE: Students will be able to explain the techniques involved in presentational Greek acting by discussing examples and practicing gestures, exaggerated movement, exaggerated speech, and Greek chorus techniques as a class.
    View this on Byu >



    If you really want a textbook, Theatre: Art in Action is a good supplement but as a textbook it is dated and not very user friendly.  It does have short scripts and good references to various theatrical time periods and genres.  Here is the link to it through Amazon: Theatre: Art in Action, Student Edition
    Amazon remove preview
    Theatre: Art in Action, Student Edition
    Theatre: Art in Action, Student Edition: McGraw-Hill, Glencoe
    View this on Amazon >



    Hope this helps!

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    Marla Blasko
    Director/Teacher Theatre Arts
    Long Reach High School
    Columbia, Maryland
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Theatre History

    Posted 11-22-2022 07:32
    One technique that worked really well for me was to provide short scene scripts for rehearsal and class performance work for each historical era.  For example, when we studied The Greek theatre period, I did a short 3 page cutting of Medea, including the chorus.  We would spend a few days on it with blocking and character work so they could get a feel for it.  I wouldn't require them to memorize and we didn't do a full performance, but it gave them a sense of how the written work could be performed.  It gave them a much better idea of the concept of a "chorus" on stage and how and why it was impactful.  Then we moved on to another historical period.  Working on different small pieces, through a historical time line, did bring it to life for them and they gained a deeper understanding through the performance and short character study.  Only spending a few days on each piece, kept it fresh and moving forward, so it was never dull and boring.  πŸ˜‰

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    Jeana Whitaker
    Retired Theatre Teacher
    EdTA Alumni
    www.jeanawhitaker.com
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    Original Message


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