Open Forum

Distance Ensemble Experiences for Theatre Educators and their Students Session Three
March 26, 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.
**Birthday Take A Stance
Objective: Each student stands, makes a physical move with their hands and arms; announces their birthday as if it is a national holiday. Classmates replicate the physical move and voice to reflect the birthday. Students may popcorn their announcements-each taking a stance in any order. Each physical move must differ from any other physical gestures. Remind the students to listen and remember birthdays, physical move, and announcement of the birthday.
Discuss potential Obstacles and Tactics.
**Birthday Take a Stance Part II
Objective: Beginning with the student whose birthday is nearest to January 1, stands; makes a physical move and announces birthday; Then in chronological order from Jan. 1-Dec. 31. If one stands in the wrong order, or if it takes longer than 1,002 counts for the next person to stand after the entire group replicates the action and voice, then start from the first date closest to Jan. 1 again.
Discuss Obstacles and Tactics.
Celebrate.
**Birthday Month Tableau
Students whose birthdays are in Jan. (or the first month you have if no Januarys) stand. You the teacher announce a movie/familiar story. (***List below) In chronological order the student whose birthday is closest to the first day of the month take a stance which might help convey the pivotal moment of the movie/familiar story. Then the next person of Jan. add to the tableau. And so on, until the final student whose birthday in that month completes the tableau.
Discuss Obstacles and Tactics.
At the end of each month celebrate with jazz hands by all of your students.
*** MARY POP, WIZARD OF OZ, STAR WARS, E.T. FINDING NEMO, SNOW WHITE, SOUND OF MUSIC, GONE WITH WIND, CINDERELLA, CARS, RUDOLPH RED NOSE, TOY STORY, JURASSIC PARK, LITTLE MERMAID, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, LION KING, , GOLDILOCKS,
**Ensemble Morphs
It is essential for the students to be able to see all of the class members at the same time for Ensemble Morphs. Announce the Morph Title, such as shortest member to tallest member; blondest of hair to darkest of hair; first letter of their first name A-Z; last digit of their phone number 0-9; (add other ideas)
After hearing the Morph Title, students stand one at a time to form the complete ensemble morph.
Before you announce the next one ask for potential Obstacles and Tactics. Decide a group what to do if there needs to be an adjustment.
Congratulations for honoring your ensemble of students during this time.
More Ideas next week
Gai Laing Jones

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Gai Laing Jones
gai.jones@sbcglobal.net
www.gaijones.com

www.gaijones.com
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