Open Forum

I'm trying to plan some possible topics that my high school honors theatre students can research. I'm trying to think of somewhat controversial (but appropriate) topics that will get students engaged such as Bootlegs, Broadway Ticket Pricing, Stunt Casting, etc. Depending on the topics I collect, I might decide to add a debate element to the unit. Does anyone have any additional ideas?

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GL / SC
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Great ideas! I'll add them to my list.

-Genevieve

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Genevieve Lundgren
English / Theatre Teacher
Powdersville High School
SC
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-15-2026 09:58
From: Cathy Archer
Subject: Theatre Research Ideas

How about playwright's responses to events in history....like McCarthyism, womens' rights, etc. Or Theatre of the Oppressed and how it has developed in different parts of this country. 

Cathy

Here are some I’ve done with my Advanced Classes:
- What are Unions and their pros/cons?
- How can we attract more young men to school theatre programs?
- What is an Intimacy Coordinator?
- What constitutes copyright infringement?

Hope this helps!

Josh Ruben
Northwest Whitfield HS,
Drama Director and Fine Arts Chair

What a great idea! Kudos to you. Here are some more possible ideas: the tensions between Broadway and regional theatre economics (what "recouping" actually means, and what it takes), a related topic of the rise and dominance of "jukebox" and "junior" musicals and how it affects the future artistic development of theatre, successes and shortcomings of DEI initiatives, the long-term effects of arts funding cuts

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Jason Sebacher
Founder, Managing Editor
Gitelman & Good Publishers
Chicago, IL
jason@gitelmangoodpublishers.com
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Original Message:
Sent: 7/16/2026 9:05:00 AM
From: Jason Sebacher
Subject: RE: Theatre Research Ideas

What a great idea! Kudos to you. Here are some more possible ideas: the tensions between Broadway and regional theatre economics (what "recouping" actually means, and what it takes), a related topic of the rise and dominance of "jukebox" and "junior" musicals and how it affects the future artistic development of theatre, successes and shortcomings of DEI initiatives, the long-term effects of arts funding cuts

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Jason Sebacher
Founder, Managing Editor
Gitelman & Good Publishers
Chicago, IL
jason@gitelmangoodpublishers.com
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Research I am doing informally but would like to see the results from others: How do different groups of people feel about blind casting for historical characters?  Example: If you were casting a play about Martin Luther King, Jr., would you insist on matching the lead character's gender, age, race, health, vocal cadence, accent, height and body type ... or would you cast someone completely different?

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[Eve] [Sutton]
[Curriculum Designer]
[Mortgage Meltdown: The Musical https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54v8JiG42uU&t=16s]
[Eve@mortmelt.com]
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