ERIC ED378625: Interactive Theater: Performance Based Awareness and Education.

7 Pages·1994·0.13 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
CS 508 801
ED 378 625
Dowling, Kevin J.
AUTHOR
Interactive Theater: Performance Based Awareness and
TITLE
Education.
Maine Center for Educational Services.
INSTITUTION
PUB DATE
[94]
7p.; A product of Project SEED.
NOTE
Teaching Guides (For
Classroom Use
PUB TYPE
Guides
Teacher) (052)
MFO1 /PCO1 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
Class Activities; *Controversial Issues (Course
DESCRIPTORS
Content); Discussion; Elementary Secondary Education;
*Interpersonal Communication; Production Techniques;
*Theater Arts
*Drama in Education; *Interactive Theater
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
Interactive theater is a performance based medium
which utilizes drama to present and provide a forum for the
discussion of socially sensitive issues which impact youth and
adults. A scene is presented to an audience up to a crisis point, at
which time the audience asks cast members questions while the cast
stays in character. Interactive theater can be the catalyst to begin
discussions of issues which are not always talked about in public.
Scripts, sets, and costumes are not used, and performance
environments are not a major concern. Workshops are available to
train cast members in basic theater skills. Audiences have grown in
personal awareness levels, and they have had the opportunity to hear
what their peers think about the issues presented and discussed. Cast
members have grown in many ways, from performance skills to
interpersonal relationships. (RS)
***********************************************************************
*
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
***********************************************************************
es
INTERACTIVE THEATER
Performance Based Awareness and Education
Kevin J. Dowling
Lincoln Academy
P.O. Box 382
Newcastle, ME 04553
(207)
563-3596
1-31)jeci:
,
, 4.
.,,
sir
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sr
'PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS
MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
CENTER (ERIC)
This document has been reproduced as
eceived from the person or organi7ahon
originating it
0 Minor changes have been made to
Writer
improve
oproduchon quality
1
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
INFORMATION CENTER (ERICI
Points of view or opinions staled in this
document do net necessarily represent
Maine Center for Educational Services
official OEM position or policy
GENERAL PHILOSOPHY:
Interactive Theater is a performance based medium
utilizes
which
drama
present
to
provide
and
a
for
forum
the
discussion
of
socially
sensitive
issues
which
impact
youth
and
adults
all
in
communities.
Participants
learn
facts
both
the
surrounding a topic area and the performance skills
needed to effectively present the topic
in dramatic
form.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
After
a scene has
been
selected
the
by
cast
members
directors
and
presented
it
is
the
to
audience. The scene
only presented up
is
the
to
crisis or conflict point, at which time the audience
brought
the performance. The audience
is
into
is
given
the
opportunity
to
ask
the
cast
members
questions
while
they
stay
"in
character".
No
scripts,
props
or
special
costuming
is
required.
Interactive
Theater
which
is medium
a
can
be
presented anywhere, a stage is
not a requirement.
This medium is as effective in the classroom
as it
on stage
is
or
any
other
in
environment.
is
It
1
presenting
cast
that
the
important
remember
to
audience
so
the
heard
by
be
must
members
must be made
Presentations
that.
for
provisions
groups and
are
as
for
age
appropriate
all
are
effective for students as well as community groups
adult
two
minimum
of
A
organizations.
and
implementation and on-
directors are
for
required
going activities and performances.
PROJECT GOALS:
Interactive Theater are to present to
The goals of
sensitive
possible
people
number
of
largest
the
to
communities
and
impact
all
which
issues
those
of
issues.
for
discussion
forum
provide
a
Interactive Theater performances do
claim
to
not
for
the "answers"
offer
or
to
therapeutic
be
Theater
Interactive
can
be
problems.
community
the catalyst to begin the discussion of these issues
not always talked
public
which are
the
about
in
Many times
raise
takes
to
this
is all
light.
it
for
possible
brainstorm
educate
and
awareness,
A cast,
once
issues.
identified
the
solutions
to
theatre
basic
trained
in
needs
to
selected,
be
skills. Workshops are offered for this purpose a.id
are very cost effective. Workbooks are provided at
2
about the
these workshops and participants
learn
Theater.
Time
various
is
Interactive
areas
in
always a concern, but in order to present the best
important
rehearsal
performance
possible
an
is
consideration. Audition time, rehearsal time, travel
time, performance time and cast maintenance time
has not been unusual for
need to be considered.
It
the developer to invest five or more hours per week
the medium of
Interactive Theater. That
is
not
in
in time however, most casts
what all
casts invest
look at a considerably smaller iavestment.
RESOURCES:
previously
costumes
scripts,
mentioned sets,
As
and the like are not utilized
Interactive Theater.
in
Performance environments are not a major concern.
casts
involved have
who
with
been
have
I
small
auditoriums
large
performed
and
in in
classrooms. Performances have been held
Elk's
in
Halls and restaurants, gymnasiums and offices. The
has been
discussed
commitment
but
time
it
is
will
highlight
that individual casts
important
to
their
own
decisions
the
many
of
as
make
to
they
get
involvement.
notice,
Casts
will once
started, that many of the decisions they make will
3
5
their
determine
goals
and
objectives
for
their
period
of
involvement.
made to
decision
is
If
a
participate
the
Interactive Theater Workshops
in
I
provide, the cost breakdown is
as follows:
1 Day Workshop
$150.00 plus round trip travel
2 Day Workshop
$250.00 plus round trip travel,
lodging and meals
One day workshops certainly
provide
basic
skills
for
implementing
Interactive
Theater
school
in
a
are
and
recommended.
Sometimes
of
a
group
schools wish to share the cost and have
a two day
workshop.
trip
Round
travel
is
computed
from
Rockland, Maine to
the workshop site and return.
aspects of
All
Interactive Theater are covered
in
the workshops and they
are
performance/activity
Pallicipants
based.
not
sit
do
through
hours
of
lecture, they do receive
a brief overview and are
then encouraged to put what they have
learned into
practice. This has been well received and
proven to
be
a
highly
successful
program
for
dozens
of
schools throughout the State of Maine. Schools
have
benefitted from the workshops
even though
they
have not been able to form
a cast, they were able to
get closer together as individuals.
4
CONCLUSION:
of
Interactive
hundreds
involved
in
Having
been
has been
Theater performances over the years,
it
interesting to watch the reactions of the audiences
involved.
members
cast
the
well
served
as
as
personal awareness
grown
in
have
Audiences
received
have
they
education
through
levels,
the
have
they
had
information,
factual
and
peers think
about
their
opportunity
to hear
Nhat
the issues presented and discussed. Cast members
have grown in many ways, from performance skills
Interactive Theater
relationships.
inter-personal
to
has proven to be a powerful medium and I have been
most fortunate to have been involved. The rewards
are many,
will
recognition
Theater
Interactive
of
be received from
other
audiences,
administration,
Seeing people make positive
schools and classes.
the
presented
changes due
information
in
the
to
Interactive Theater
performance based medium of
recognition
greatest
and
all
of
the
provide
will
that you
awards, the
realizing
of
reward
intrinsic
have made a
someone's
What
difference
life.
in
greater accolade.
5