Comments on: Drama Teaching Tips

By: Khalil H.

Khalil H. — Sun, 16 May 2010 17:01:22 +0000

Comment concerning backstage noises and talking.

Try to involve your students in setting the guidelines and rules for the drama classes or activities. This must be implemented in early stages of the work / production / program… and must continuously referred to and reminded of. By involving your students in putting their own rules the chances to abide with these regulations are bigger. Assign the responsibility for backstage order / supervision to students who are usually known for their backstage noises.
Maybe it helps.

By: Luis Quintana

Luis Quintana — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:57:52 +0000

Thank you for presenting such great insight. I absolutely agree. We, teachers, have to stay updated with what’s new in our student’s life. Often we can relate such material with the material given in class. This helps them retain better and class goes more fun. My favorite part was on 90% perspiration, 10% inspiration. Like us, students must be in it to win it, no pain, no game and theater is definitely a hard working and never ending game.

By: Justin Cash

Justin Cash — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:54:00 +0000

Desiree,

Try some of the following:

- if possible, have another teacher help out supervising backstage during a performance, insisting on silence in this area
- press upon the students that talking backstage can easily distract the actors performing and is therefore unfair to others in the show (or class)
- remind your students that all people involved a production (including those backstage) have a responsibility to the audience to deliver a quality product and that this cannot be achieved while people are talking backstage

There aren’t any ‘trick’s’ I know of for students to be silent backstage during a performance. From my experience, it’s all about rules and guidelines that everybody agrees on and adheres to, and a culture where this valued and accepted.

By: Desiree Liebmann

Desiree Liebmann — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 01:32:54 +0000

Any tips on how to keep them quiet and focussed back stage during a performance. Especially in a difficult space where they want to talk and be silly?

By: Jeremie Cook

Jeremie Cook — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:29:50 +0000

If you have your class broken up into production teams that would be extremely helpful. I just completed a class project with my Drama 2 & 3 students that involved the use of production teams. The students were responsible for Direction, casting, publicity, props, set, lights, sound, costumes, make-up, etc… This ensures that all students are actively engaged and part of the process positively. Your actors can double up duty so when they are not engaged in rehearsal, they are writing e-mails to press for the production, working on props, sweeping, various house keeping chores, focusing lights, etc… I start the process out by discussing the different departments needed for a production and then the students sign up for which department they want to work with in addition to their acting. This helps create a well-rounded student with the awareness of all details involved in producing a production.

By: AndreaRobinson

AndreaRobinson — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:21:04 +0000

I am currently working on my major production that my drama class is putting on at the end of next month. There are 17 students in the cast, but obviously some have bigger parts than others.

Any suggestions for what I can get those with smaller parts to do while they are not on stage? They are really struggling with just watching the rehearsals (when not involved), and since it’s a class, I feel I should be making them do something, since they are also getting a credit for the course. I’m just not sure how to make the best use of these students.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!