Open Forum

My middle school is 42% Asian/Pacific Islander, with the largest subgroups being Filipino, Cambodian, and Vietnamese.  Our next biggest group would be 38% Black, about half of whom are 1st or 2nd generation kids from Africa.  12% are Hispanic, and the rest are evenly Multicultural, White, or American Indian.

My kids read plays from my personal library every Friday while I conference with them one on one.  I have everyone read a mix of contemporary and classic work, but I also try to find stuff that is age and culture-relatable. While I've had a great deal of success finding material for my Black and Hispanic kids, I'm always looking for stuff that speaks to my Asian and African kids.

For some reason, finding shows that speak to the White American experience isn't a problem.  ;-)

Any ideas out there?  Thanks for your help!

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Benjamin Stuart
Middle School Theatre Arts Teacher
Seattle Public Schools


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M Butterfly is good! There is a stage version The Joy Luck Club. Also, F.O.B. and others byDavid Henry Hwang. King and I has that great version of Uncle Tom's Cabin that reads really well, and is a great opportunity to teach theatre styles. I would also challenge them with traditional scripts, trying to recast traditional plays for new ethnicities. I saw a great version of Raisin the Sun, for instance, with a Mexican-American cast. Teach them about color blind casting and their opportunities abound. ------------------------------------------- Elisabeth Ledwell -------------------------------------------
Original Message: Sent: 04-05-2014 20:16 From: Benjamin Stuart Subject: Scripts featuring non-White characters and stories? My middle school is 42% Asian/Pacific Islander, with the largest subgroups being Filipino, Cambodian, and Vietnamese. Our next biggest group would be 38% Black, about half of whom are 1st or 2nd generation kids from Africa. 12% are Hispanic, and the rest are evenly Multicultural, White, or American Indian. My kids read plays from my personal library every Friday while I conference with them one on one. I have everyone read a mix of contemporary and classic work, but I also try to find stuff that is age and culture-relatable. While I've had a great deal of success finding material for my Black and Hispanic kids, I'm always looking for stuff that speaks to my Asian and African kids. For some reason, finding shows that speak to the White American experience isn't a problem. ;-) Any ideas out there? Thanks for your help! ------------------------------------------- Benjamin Stuart Middle School Theatre Arts Teacher Seattle Public Schools -------------------------------------------

"The Redwood Curtain" by Lanford Wilson has a character who is half Vietnamese.  There are only 3 characters, which makes it ideal for reading.  (That young character has a couple of terrific monologues.)

"The Theory of Everything" by Prince Gomolvilas--Dramatic Publishing--has all Asian characters, at all stages of assimilation into American culture.  It is strange and quirky, but my students who have read it have really liked it.

If you have students whose families are recently from Africa, I would hope you might have "Death and the King's Horseman" by Nigerian Wole Solyinka and several plays by South African Athol Fugard. 

Besides most of the August Wilson plays, I've got "Flyin' West" and "Blues for an Alabama Sky" by Pearl Cleage on our reading shelf.  Also, Charles Smith's "Knock Me a Kiss" is a favorite of my students.  

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C. J. Breland
Asheville NC
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-06-2014 06:59
From: Elisabeth Ledwell
Subject: Scripts featuring non-White characters and stories?


M Butterfly is good! There is a stage version The Joy Luck Club. Also, F.O.B. and others byDavid Henry Hwang. King and I has that great version of Uncle Tom's Cabin that reads really well, and is a great opportunity to teach theatre styles. I would also challenge them with traditional scripts, trying to recast traditional plays for new ethnicities. I saw a great version of Raisin the Sun, for instance, with a Mexican-American cast. Teach them about color blind casting and their opportunities abound.
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Elisabeth Ledwell

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Lorraine Hansbery's 'Les Blancs' or 'Raisin in the Sun' could be further options. There is also this absolutely incredible play called 'Indians!' by Arthur Kopit. It's the story of Buffalo Bill, and it is wonderfully tragic and comic by turns. Content can be a little much (language, sexual overtures, and the like), but if you have a more liberal base then it might be worth having a look at. I'm going to try and run it past my principal, highlighting the obvious 'educational' value! ------------------------------------------- Phillip Goodchild Valrico FL -------------------------------------------
Original Message: Sent: 04-10-2014 20:59 From: C. J. Breland Subject: Scripts featuring non-White characters and stories? "The Redwood Curtain" by Lanford Wilson has a character who is half Vietnamese. There are only 3 characters, which makes it ideal for reading. (That young character has a couple of terrific monologues.) "The Theory of Everything" by Prince Gomolvilas--Dramatic Publishing--has all Asian characters, at all stages of assimilation into American culture. It is strange and quirky, but my students who have read it have really liked it. If you have students whose families are recently from Africa, I would hope you might have "Death and the King's Horseman" by Nigerian Wole Solyinka and several plays by South African Athol Fugard. Besides most of the August Wilson plays, I've got "Flyin' West" and "Blues for an Alabama Sky" by Pearl Cleage on our reading shelf. Also, Charles Smith's "Knock Me a Kiss" is a favorite of my students. ------------------------------------------- C. J. Breland Asheville NC -------------------------------------------
Original Message: Sent: 04-06-2014 06:59 From: Elisabeth Ledwell Subject: Scripts featuring non-White characters and stories? M Butterfly is good! There is a stage version The Joy Luck Club. Also, F.O.B. and others byDavid Henry Hwang. King and I has that great version of Uncle Tom's Cabin that reads really well, and is a great opportunity to teach theatre styles. I would also challenge them with traditional scripts, trying to recast traditional plays for new ethnicities. I saw a great version of Raisin the Sun, for instance, with a Mexican-American cast. Teach them about color blind casting and their opportunities abound. ------------------------------------------- Elisabeth Ledwell -------------------------------------------

Try any of Brecht's pieces - Caucasian Chalk Circle or Good Woman of Szechuan.  These allow for mixed cast, and have wonderful lessons to teach.
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Raquel Encalada
Acting Coach
Self
Lakewood OH
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-05-2014 20:16
From: Benjamin Stuart
Subject: Scripts featuring non-White characters and stories?

My middle school is 42% Asian/Pacific Islander, with the largest subgroups being Filipino, Cambodian, and Vietnamese.  Our next biggest group would be 38% Black, about half of whom are 1st or 2nd generation kids from Africa.  12% are Hispanic, and the rest are evenly Multicultural, White, or American Indian.

My kids read plays from my personal library every Friday while I conference with them one on one.  I have everyone read a mix of contemporary and classic work, but I also try to find stuff that is age and culture-relatable. While I've had a great deal of success finding material for my Black and Hispanic kids, I'm always looking for stuff that speaks to my Asian and African kids.

For some reason, finding shows that speak to the White American experience isn't a problem.  ;-)

Any ideas out there?  Thanks for your help!

-------------------------------------------
Benjamin Stuart
Middle School Theatre Arts Teacher
Seattle Public Schools


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M Butterfly by David Henry Hwang

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Benjamin Stuart
Middle School Theatre Arts Teacher
Seattle Public Schools
Seattle WA
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-05-2014 20:16
From: Benjamin Stuart
Subject: Scripts featuring non-White characters and stories?

My middle school is 42% Asian/Pacific Islander, with the largest subgroups being Filipino, Cambodian, and Vietnamese.  Our next biggest group would be 38% Black, about half of whom are 1st or 2nd generation kids from Africa.  12% are Hispanic, and the rest are evenly Multicultural, White, or American Indian.

My kids read plays from my personal library every Friday while I conference with them one on one.  I have everyone read a mix of contemporary and classic work, but I also try to find stuff that is age and culture-relatable. While I've had a great deal of success finding material for my Black and Hispanic kids, I'm always looking for stuff that speaks to my Asian and African kids.

For some reason, finding shows that speak to the White American experience isn't a problem.  ;-)

Any ideas out there?  Thanks for your help!

-------------------------------------------
Benjamin Stuart
Middle School Theatre Arts Teacher
Seattle Public Schools


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