Distance Ensemble Experiences for Theatre Educators and their Students Session Eight
April 27, 2020
The experiences detailed can be used for Warmups, Collaboration, Cool Downs. Students experience the 21st Century Skills-Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Communication and Collaboration (by distance). I do not teach Theatre Games, because games indicate a winner and loser. In Ensemble Experiences, each participant is a winner. We work with Objective, Obstacles, Tactics and articulating participant's thoughts and feelings with Reflective Inquiry.
For Distance Learning, students need be seated so that you can see each. Later you will ask each to stand; they need to stand with some open distance for movement. It is great if students can view all of the participants.
Educators, you have permission to tweak any experience to fit your needs. Enjoy.
*P=P-I PERFORMANCE EQUALS POTENTIAL MINUS INHIBITORS
An actor is invited to address any inhibitors prior to the experience.
Ensemble based learning/cooperative learning/make your partner look good-even at a distance.
**Lights, Camera, Action
Objective: Actors individually act out a movie or play in one minute for their ensemble to guess the title of the movie/play. The participants may use theme music or sounds, but no dialogue.
Obstacles: Creating a nonauditory one-minute movie/play may be very clear to you the actor, but does not communicate to the audience.
Tactics: Plan either the entire movie/play in 1 minute or pivotal recognizable highlights. Be sure to face the camera.
Teacher, you may suggest to each student by individual contact a title from the list below or ones of your own knowledge. Please guide the students to wait to guess until you call "Name that Movie/Play." Then they can call out the title, or you, the teacher, can call on a student to try to title it. If after a couple of guesses, and they can't guess it, you can ask the entire group to call out a title, or do an individual coaching with the performer for some ideas.
Suggested Movies
MARY POP, WIZARD STAR WARS, ET. FINDING NEMO, SNOW WHITE, SOUND OF MUSIC, GONE WITH WIND, CINDERELLA, CARS, RUDOLPH RED NOSE, TOY STORY, JURASSIC PARK, LITTLE MERMAID, WIZARD, STAR WARS, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, CINDERELLA, LION KING, , GOLDILOCKS, AVATAR, TRANSFORMERS, HARRY POTTER, TWILIGHT, SPIDERMAN
Plays for Suggestions
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, OUR TOWN, BYE BYE BIRDIE, GREASE, SOUND OF MUSIC, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU, CRUCIBLE, ROMEO AND JULIET, OKLAHOMA, YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CB, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, LION KING, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, HARVEY, THE GLASS MENAGERIE, MACBETH, JULIUS CEASAR
**Oscar/Academy Award Speech/Tony
After the performances of one-minute movie/play, instruct the participants to stand and as a group begin an awards' acceptance speech. Remind them to thank everyone who ever helped them in their journey.
You, as Instructor, can call an actor's name to highlight while others give focus to that actor.
Direct all to TAKE A COLLECTIVE BOW by virtually holding hands and bowing.
**Group Mirror
Objective: The group moves in slow motion using hands, arms, heads, and upper bodies with actions that can be followed in real time. The teacher privately selects a leader. Participants should be aware as to the first move and follow immediately.
Obstacles: Students must be able to view all participants. Some participants may move too fast or too slowly.
Tactics: The designated leader must move slowly so that participants can follow.
Allow for various participants to lead during the 2 or 3 minutes of the Group Mirror
Discussion about what successes, what challenges, and how useful it is for actors to practice this experience.
**Compliment Square
Objective: To focus on each participant and share compliments about the participant.
Obstacles: The participant being honored responds to each compliment with a suitable "Thank you," without denying the shared compliment. The complimenter takes stage by standing and stating one positive compliment about actor being honored. It is recommended for the complimenter uses one specific compliment, staying away from "good job," "great personality." Think individual Compliments, such as, (name of actor) I like how you are able to think creatively in our classwork. Or (name of actor) I appreciate how you help me with lines.
Tactics: All actors sit focusing on the center square-that of the participant being complimented. When ready to compliment, the complimenter stands, and speaks. Others remained seated until the speaker finishes with the one compliment and the complimented participant says, "Thanks."
Note to the Teacher: Perhaps you determine the maximum number of complimenters per participant.
Discussion can happen in the form of how did it feel receiving compliments; being recognized positively by your peers. Why is it important to hear your peers compliment you and how it feels to give compliments for ensemble members.
Enjoy…More To Be Shared by Gai Laing Jones
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Gai Laing Jones
gai.jones@sbcglobal.netgai@gaijones.comwww.gaijones.com------------------------------