Theater Electives for Schools

For Middle School Students

With a focused study for middle school grades, Child’s Play NY can push into the school day to provide elective enrichment for students interested in a more immersive performing arts experience.

Playwriting

Students will use their creativity, compassion and confidence to build a story they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. Individually, each student will craft a play, and together they will workshop their scenes, exercising their acting, directing, and most importantly, imagination skills. Students will learn the basics of playwriting and be able to present any and all parts of their theatrical story. All classes will include individual assignments and collaborative opportunities. Each day will be structured so that all participants have the chance to learn and study other writers’ work, write for 10-15 minutes and share their words with each other. By being creative with each other and actively supporting each other’s work, students will emerge with meaningful connections and a strong sense of their writing and collaborative abilities. Class can culminate in a staged reading and manuscript of students’ original work.

Shakespeare & Devised Scene Study

Students jump into the worlds of Shakespeare in this robust mash-up of improvisation and classic text scene study class. After learning the plot and characters from several plays, they rehearse and memorize scenes from the original text. New material, devised by the cast, adds a contemporary through-line to their show and highlights the universality of Shakespeare’s themes. Young actors develop a rigorous and rewarding way of working to find the emotional truth of their characters and connect it back to their personal voice. They are empowered to create their own material, make strong and specific choices, develop back stories and apply vocal/physical techniques they learn. The class culminates in a showcase of their scenes.

Learn more about the benefits of our residencies and contact us to bring this residency to your school.