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  • 1.  Theatre vs. Musical Theatre

    Posted 3 days ago

    I teach at an arts based charter school. We offer additional classes in Theatre, Musical Theatre, Vocal, Instrumental, Dance, Studio Art, Digital Art, and Literary Art. I teach Theatre Arts and have absorbed the Musical Theatre into my curriculum. I have three(3) degrees of higher education in Theatre, BA, MA, & MFA, so I know theatre. I have a minor in Voice and I took dance all through undergrad and 13 years prior to college, so, I also know dance and vocals.

    My advanced class(11th & 12th) did units in Acting - Theatre of the Absurd; Script Analysis - Into the Woods; and we're wrapping up Directing - Shakespeare Re-Imaged & ReMixed with a song moment. The students chose this curriculum. Now they're rumbling that they thought they would be doing more with Musical Theatre. I'm also trying to prepare them for a broader reality with essential skills to be successful in whatever avenue of theatre they pursue. While I know how important student buy-in is when it comes to learning, there are students who are enjoying the content, and students who think they know more than I do. 

    1. is this normal? Students telling teachers what they should be teaching.
    2. Should I adapt to please the masses?
    3. Am I trying to hard?

    My undergrad theatre program and the music program played very nicely together and always collaborated on the yearly musical. My theatre program also had dance requirements, but all of my vocal were taught by the music program. Am I product of the late 90s? Do I need to adapt?

    Because I am teaching a quick bit about Theatre Genres(Epic, German Expressionism, Commedia, Noh/Kabuki) under the guise of Hamlet, to get them thinking about all the various ways they can stage a production... and I often feel like I'm waging and uphill battle.

    Keep in mind most of these student absolutely want to be here for Theatre and Musical Theatre.

    Help!



    ------------------------------
    Rebecca Lustig
    Theatre Arts Teacher
    Westinghouse Arts Academy Charter School
    PA
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Theatre vs. Musical Theatre

    Posted 2 days ago

    Hi Rebecca,

    I expect there's a lot of variety in people's experiences and advice (which I'm looking forward to reading!). Here are some of my thoughts for what it's worth:

    1. I definitely have kiddos making suggestions/asking for things. I try to honor those suggestions when I can, while reminding them that, even if it might not look like it all the time, I have a plan and a purpose for how I'm doing things. I write down their suggestions and try to incorporate them as best I can, but when one is trying to get through a lot of genres or touchstones or experiences, it's not practical to just hang out in musical theatre.
    2. Musical theatre is like a gateway drug. Many kids will have gone to a musical or two before they get to my classes--sometimes you have those diehard kiddos who wear Hamilton and Six and Hadestown swag. The variety, breadth, and history of musical theatre is amazing and could, I think, be used to teach some of the aspects you've mentioned, but my experience is that when students are asking for lessons/activities related to musical theatre, they're thinking about the hits or Disney. 
    3. It certainly doesn't sound like you're trying too hard--it sounds like you're listening to your students and thinking deeply about both what they want and what you know will serve them. Trusting yourself when students grumble is nigh impossible, but don't let them throw you off your game. You're doing great.
    4. Maybe there's a happy medium re: adapting the curriculum. Maybe there's a Taylor Swift song in the Shakespeare directing unit (she loves to include Shakespeare quotes, though I'm not sure she's actually read any Shakespeare...), or you have them look at West Side Story?

    If you have any specific units or lesson plans and you'd like for someone to bounce some ideas off of, hit me up!

    I hope this helps.

    B



    ------------------------------
    Betsy S. Goldman, she/any
    Theatre & Research Teacher
    Meridian Academy
    Jamaica Plain, MA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Theatre vs. Musical Theatre

    Posted 2 days ago

    Hi Rebecca,

    Is this normal? I would answer "yes and no." Your juniors and seniors are not the first teenagers to think they know more than their teacher. I think that is a normal part of adolescent development. (Imagine how they are with their parents!) What we as teachers have to decide is how much of that we are willing to indulge; the more control you give them, the more control they will think they are entitled to. Different teachers have different levels of control they cede to the students, as well as different levels of criticism they are willing to accept from the students. 

    It sounds like you have found yourself in a situation where you have ceded more control than you are actually comfortable with. After all, you are the expert in the room. (I often say I have taught many students with more talent than me, but I still have more knowledge and experience than them.) When you are resetting for next year, I would consider what are your non-negotiables when it comes to curriculum and criticism, and where are the areas you want to give the students more control. I personally would not allow students to choose curriculum, but within a given unit I allow them to choose scripts/scenes/characters/scene partners/student directors/etc. I would also not allow students to give me public criticism, but I do ask for written feedback at the end of some units to see how I can improve. Those are my tolerances; every teacher needs to set their own, and they may change throughout your career.

    Good luck!



    ------------------------------
    Jennifer Bennett
    Lake Mary, FL
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    Original Message


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