Theatre vs. Drama

(Taken from the 4-H Theatre Arts Group Activity Helper's Guide)

Theatre involves the presentation of drama before an audience.  It often requires rehearsal to achieve the performance goal.  The person directing theatre is trained in acting and  directing styles and understands the convention of staging.  Creative dramatics or informal drama, on the other hand, consists of drama activities which encourage individual expression and are not performed for others.  Any dramatic form can become informal (creative dramatics) or formal (theatre), depending on the leadership approach you take.  For example, role-playing can be spontaneous and informal or structured and formal.

(We do both)

Play Verses Rehearsal

This week we discussed setting the stage and our in class performances.  Each student will be performing in front of our class  on January 29th.  They are required to bring any costumes, props or make up needed for co-op on that date.  We also discussed our field trip which will be to a theater tour in downtown Tacoma on April 9th.  More information about the field trip will be posted later.
This semester, I am using the 4-H theater arts curriculum.  For each blog, I will try and share a little bit of information from the leadership tips. This week is play verses rehearsal:  The 4-H curriculum "promotes the imaginative process of play, not rehearsal for performance. . ." This is important because the acting games that we do all have a purpose and I will be sharing more about those in the blog updates each week.  We will also have  a section of class next week be for rehearsal for those who are doing their in class performance with another student.
 
 

Class Outline

Welcome to Performing Arts!  I sent home a class outline with each child.  In case it did not get to you or it gets lost.  Here it is:

(Dates are subject to change so make sure to check the blog every week)

Performing Arts – 2^nd Semester

The goal of this class is to help students to become more outgoing and able to express themselves through theater.  This may be through acting, singing, dancing, playing an instrument, other types of performances or stage craft.  Each class will begin with warm-ups designed to help the young performers to be able to think on their feet, speak loud enough for others to hear and to have fun. 

Expectations:

-          Come to class ready to pay attention

-          Willingness to try new things

-          Support others!

Assignments: Prepare and perform a short act in front of the performing arts class.
                         Participate in a talent show at end of semester.

Bonus: (optional) Join the 4-H performing arts project and perform at the Pierce County Fair.
                               Enter an educational poster in the Pierce County Fair.
                               Perform a public presentation at the Pierce County Fair.

Class Outline: (Topics in 4-H Theatre Arts Curriculum)
            January 8th – Class Overview and Getting to Know You Games
            15^th – 22^nd - Setting the Stage
            29^th  – Setting the Stage Performance
            February 5^th – Theatre arts Skillathon Fun
            12^th – Dancing Scarves
            19^TH – Smiles or Shrieks?
            26^th – Playwriting fun
            March 5^th – Homemade Makeup Magic
            12^th – Don't Mask Your Feelings
            19^th – My Name is on the Director's Chair
            26^th – Creating Costumes
            April 9^th – My Place in the Theatre- (Field Trip?)
            16^th-30^th – Warm up game and then performances
            May 7^th – Warm up game and performances
            May 14^th – Talent Show Rehearsal
            May 21^st – Field Day

Talent Show Date and Location to Be Announced 

The big play is tomorrow!

Please work hard today in making sure that your lines and blocking are memorized for tomorrow!  Let's show our commonwealth school what you have learned about acting this semester.

Play Time!

We have only one more rehearsal before our play!  I was a little disappointed in the level of preparedness yesterday.  When we asked for the young actors to pull out their scripts, only one had brought their script with them.  I was hoping that with two weeks to read over the scripts, most lines would be memorized and that our actors would come to class prepared.  Dorothy has done an amazing job at memorizing her lines and I know that in the next week everyone else can also!  The other thing that everyone needs to practice is projecting their voices.  Work hard this week and we will have a fun play to share with our school next week.

-Teacher Leiloni

Costume Call

We have had our first read through of the play and I will be emailing each of you the full script to print out at home.

During the Thanksgiving break, each actor needs to memorize their lines.

Also, each person is responsible for their own costumes.

Kaela - Lion - do you have brown pants and a matching(ish) top?
Jonathan - gray sweats

Zoe - please bring in dress

Fischer - tux

Scarecrow - old clothes

Molly - tan or brown clothes

Raina - look for something that Dorothy might wear (it does not have to be the traditional Dorothy costume)

Thanks!
Work hard on those lines and have a happy Thanksgiving!

Another Play Opportunity

... and this one is FREE!

. . . and it is performed by homeschoolers!

December 2nd at 4:00pm at the Tacoma Musical Playhouse at 7116 6th Avenue.

My family will be there.