Open Forum

For the first time I am directing a show for the second time, Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. I have lots of strong boys and, strangely, only a few girls. Any ideas for setting/design you think might work? We have student discussions and students usually come up with a design concept, but it is always nice to have a few ideas up my sleeve. I would love some suggestions.

On a separate note, my drama classes meet just once a week for 80 minutes, and are out of necessity mostly focused on improvisation, since students don't receive letter grades and have five other academically rigorous classe. This year I have one junior high class, with half of the class taking the elective for the second year and the other half new students, and my high school class has a similar problem, with some students on their fourth or fifth go round and a few new ones. How do you keep repeat customers interested while simultaneously teaching the basics to the new kids?

Thanks!

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Elisabeth Ledwell
Falmouth MA
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For the first time I am directing a show for the second time, Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. I have lots of strong boys and, strangely, only a few girls. Any ideas for setting/design you think might work? We have student discussions and students usually come up with a design concept, but it is always nice to have a few ideas up my sleeve. I would love some suggestions.

On a separate note, my drama classes meet just once a week for 80 minutes, and are out of necessity mostly focused on improvisation, since students don't receive letter grades and have five other academically rigorous classe. This year I have one junior high class, with half of the class taking the elective for the second year and the other half new students, and my high school class has a similar problem, with some students on their fourth or fifth go round and a few new ones. How do you keep repeat customers interested while simultaneously teaching the basics to the new kids?

Thanks!

------------------------------
Elisabeth Ledwell
Falmouth MA
------------------------------

For the first time I am directing a show for the second time, Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. I have lots of strong boys and, strangely, only a few girls. Any ideas for setting/design you think might work? We have student discussions and students usually come up with a design concept, but it is always nice to have a few ideas up my sleeve. I would love some suggestions.

On a separate note, my drama classes meet just once a week for 80 minutes, and are out of necessity mostly focused on improvisation, since students don't receive letter grades and have five other academically rigorous classe. This year I have one junior high class, with half of the class taking the elective for the second year and the other half new students, and my high school class has a similar problem, with some students on their fourth or fifth go round and a few new ones. How do you keep repeat customers interested while simultaneously teaching the basics to the new kids?

Thanks!

------------------------------
Elisabeth Ledwell
Falmouth MA
------------------------------

Attached are 3 images of my last production of 12th Night. We used student-painted flats up center representing the Globe Theatre, and set pieces downstage including a Via Illyria signpost, small (moving) trees to hide behind in the letter scene, and a bench which could play indoors or outdoors. All very flexible to represent different areas, but with an eye-catching central piece as backdrop.

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Richard Carter
Lopez Island WA
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-03-2015 14:14
From: Elisabeth Ledwell
Subject: Twelfth Night and Improv

For the first time I am directing a show for the second time, Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. I have lots of strong boys and, strangely, only a few girls. Any ideas for setting/design you think might work? We have student discussions and students usually come up with a design concept, but it is always nice to have a few ideas up my sleeve. I would love some suggestions.

On a separate note, my drama classes meet just once a week for 80 minutes, and are out of necessity mostly focused on improvisation, since students don't receive letter grades and have five other academically rigorous classe. This year I have one junior high class, with half of the class taking the elective for the second year and the other half new students, and my high school class has a similar problem, with some students on their fourth or fifth go round and a few new ones. How do you keep repeat customers interested while simultaneously teaching the basics to the new kids?

Thanks!

------------------------------
Elisabeth Ledwell
Falmouth MA
------------------------------