Open Forum

I've been doing a monologue unit with my middle school students who are all remote.  Last week we explored and analyzed monologues and characters.  This week, students are inventing characters and outlining a monologue.  Next week, they are going to write a monologue and perform it on flipgrid.  However, many of my students have been resistant to performing.  Some are going to flat-out refuse to do the performance piece.  I am trying to think of an alternative activity for them, something to take the written monologue from a Language Arts activity to a Theatre activity.  I've come up with dressing up as the character, or designing a digital backdrop setting for the location on a google slide.  I'd like to have a few more options.  Any creative ideas to extend a written monologue assignment that isn't a performance?
Thanks so much!

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[Pam] [Podolner]
[Speech/Drama Teacher]
[Lincoln Middle School]
[Berwyn] [IL]
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Puppets?

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[Jen] [Jordan]
[Director of Theater and Dance]
[Junior Class and Day Student Advisor]
[Miss Hall's School]
[Pittsfield] [MA]
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-10-2020 13:00
From: Pamela Podolner
Subject: Monologue Alternatives

I've been doing a monologue unit with my middle school students who are all remote.  Last week we explored and analyzed monologues and characters.  This week, students are inventing characters and outlining a monologue.  Next week, they are going to write a monologue and perform it on flipgrid.  However, many of my students have been resistant to performing.  Some are going to flat-out refuse to do the performance piece.  I am trying to think of an alternative activity for them, something to take the written monologue from a Language Arts activity to a Theatre activity.  I've come up with dressing up as the character, or designing a digital backdrop setting for the location on a google slide.  I'd like to have a few more options.  Any creative ideas to extend a written monologue assignment that isn't a performance?
Thanks so much!

------------------------------
[Pam] [Podolner]
[Speech/Drama Teacher]
[Lincoln Middle School]
[Berwyn] [IL]
------------------------------

How about a voice over with animation. That way they still have to develop the character but they may think they are not performing. And, they won’t have to memorize because their face won’t be on screen

Maria Stadtmueller
Kendall Park, NJ

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Original Message:
Sent: 12/10/2020 1:01:00 PM
From: Pamela Podolner
Subject: Monologue Alternatives

I've been doing a monologue unit with my middle school students who are all remote.  Last week we explored and analyzed monologues and characters.  This week, students are inventing characters and outlining a monologue.  Next week, they are going to write a monologue and perform it on flipgrid.  However, many of my students have been resistant to performing.  Some are going to flat-out refuse to do the performance piece.  I am trying to think of an alternative activity for them, something to take the written monologue from a Language Arts activity to a Theatre activity.  I've come up with dressing up as the character, or designing a digital backdrop setting for the location on a google slide.  I'd like to have a few more options.  Any creative ideas to extend a written monologue assignment that isn't a performance?
Thanks so much!

------------------------------
[Pam] [Podolner]
[Speech/Drama Teacher]
[Lincoln Middle School]
[Berwyn] [IL]
------------------------------

Pamela, is it possible that they are afraid to put their creativity up for possible ridicule by classmates? 

Here are some ideas that you might try.

1. Have them start by performing something fun written from a character's point of view, such as part or all of one of Shel Silverstein's poems.  (Set a line limit!)  His poetry is very easy to memorize, which would improve their self-confidence.  And they could write a physical description of the character, as they imagine them, and find the character's intention. 

2. Before they start writing a monologue, have students brainstorm a list of first and last names of potential characters.  Ask them each to choose one first name and one last name from the completed lists, then write a description of the character, inspired by that name.  Then ask them to imagine what that character might want more than anything else.  They can then write a monologue in which their created character tries to convince someone else to give them what they want. 

3. As Jennifer Jones says, puppets are a great way to let the students perform what they write without worrying about having their physical appearance judged.  Everyone has socks at home, so they have a puppet that will work in a pandemic.  

Good luck!

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CJ Breland
Retired Theatre Arts Educator
Asheville NC
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-10-2020 13:00
From: Pamela Podolner
Subject: Monologue Alternatives

I've been doing a monologue unit with my middle school students who are all remote.  Last week we explored and analyzed monologues and characters.  This week, students are inventing characters and outlining a monologue.  Next week, they are going to write a monologue and perform it on flipgrid.  However, many of my students have been resistant to performing.  Some are going to flat-out refuse to do the performance piece.  I am trying to think of an alternative activity for them, something to take the written monologue from a Language Arts activity to a Theatre activity.  I've come up with dressing up as the character, or designing a digital backdrop setting for the location on a google slide.  I'd like to have a few more options.  Any creative ideas to extend a written monologue assignment that isn't a performance?
Thanks so much!

------------------------------
[Pam] [Podolner]
[Speech/Drama Teacher]
[Lincoln Middle School]
[Berwyn] [IL]
------------------------------