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THEATRE 315 Theatre for Young Audiences
Margaret Larlham
Office # DA 208
Email: larlham@mail.sdsu.edu
Theatre expresses human perception, feeling, thought and idea in a symbolic form through sound,
movement and language. Experience of these elements through improvisation and games
integrated with discussion, analysis, research on acting, directing and performance presentation
will empower participants to employ and adapt theatre process in their future lives as leaders,
teachers, social activists and artists.
Objectives:
1. To alert sensory perception and express ideas and feelings through the elements of theatre;
play, improvisation, acting, directing and script-writing.
2. To become familiar with basic theatre training techniques.
3. To enable practice in leading a theatre class, devising or directing performances.
4. To gather a useful resources as preparation for future use as a teacher or artist/ educator.
5. To promote responsive leadership and participate fully in drama classes with enjoyment,
vitality and confidence.
Class Attendance and Participation
Full attendance and wholehearted participation is of the utmost importance. If you miss a class on
the day you are scheduled to lead an activity, you will receive an "F" for that assignment. If the
absence was due to an emergency and class time permits your activity may be rescheduled or an
alternative project may be assigned.
Grading will be determined by the total number of points you accumulate from your projects and
your participation and attendance.
Project #1 Play Attendance and Response 10%
#2 Beginning Creative Drama Lesson 10%
#3 Alice project
#4 Monologue
10%
#5 Page to stage
#6 Box
20%
10%
20%
An A grade recognizes outstanding work in preparation, concept, communication and
presentation. An A- recognizes superior work and a B+, B or B-, average work within these
categories while C and D grades reflect below average work which does not fulfill all the
requirements.
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PROJECTS and ASSIGNMENTS
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1. Attendance of Theatre Season Performances and Review of Productions.
All students in the School are required to purchase a season ticket for the season. You are
required to attend all three plays and submit a written description (1 or 2 pages) or create collage
response due in the week after the show closes.
Your Written Paper or Collage should note your observation of the CHARACTERS, PLOT and
THEME and PRODUCTION STYLE of the play.
(The Drowsy Chaparone, runs March 4 -13 The BFG runs April 22 – May 1 )
Purchase tickets online: http://ttf.sdsu.edu/index.php/buy_tickets/subscriptions
2. ( a+b) A Beginning Creative Drama Lesson – Group Project
Goal: This introductory project provides an opportunity to become familiar with drama activities
and expanding ones repertoire. In addition, this project provides students with practice leading
the class in creative drama activities and works with in the “project-based learning” concept being
adopted by California State “common core” method. This project allows you the chance to teamteach and support one another in shared teaching practices.
2a. Assignment: Working in small groups you will be responsible for creating a drama lesson on
one of the basic skills areas of creative drama. The group will be given 30 minutes of class to
present their lesson. Members of the group rotate leadership and support. A basic plan might be
as follows:
Warm-up / lead-in,
Activities 1,2,3,
Performance or realization, cool-down or conclusion.
The basic drama skills areas:
1. Sensitivity/trust 2. Imagination 3. Movement/pantomime/dance
4. Sound/speech/music 5. Characterization 6. Improvisation
There are many Creative Drama books in the library and online – but a packet of basic Creative
Drama Activities which you may Download from Course Documents/Blackboard will provide a
basis for your choice and development.
2b. A written lesson plan clearly describing each activity used in the group lesson should be
duplicated for each class member or emailed. (Download Lesson Plan Form In Course Documents)
A paper copy should be presented to the instructor at the beginning of the session.
3. Group Performance Project – Interpretation of a Poem
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Group devises a thoroughly rehearsed creative interpretation of a chosen poem. The emphasis is
on vocal clarity, group cohesion, inventive action and staging. ( To be discussed and developed in
class.)
4. Individual Performance Project - Monologue
Memorize, rehearse and perform a 2 minute monologue. Select monologue from either a great
speech of a famous historical person (e.g. Elizabeth I, JF Kennedy, Emily Pankhurst etc.) or from a
play script.
5. Page to Stage – Story Theatre Presentations (Group Project)
Goal: To develop fluency in script writing and expand performance skills.
Assignment: Students will select a written work from children’s literature and adapt it into a
script, rehearse and memorize to fully stage for the class.
How to proceed:
Each person in class selects and pitches an idea to the class.
Groups form around the most promising ideas.
As a group create and adapt the piece of literature chosen from storybook into a script. The script
should consist of 3-5 pages of dialogue. A copy of this script will be turned in, prior to performing.
In these groups you will select one of the adapted story scripts to stage and fully present in the
class. These presentations will require some outside rehearsal time and should include elements
of costume, set, sound and movement.
On your date: Each group will have 15 minutes to set up, present and hear feedback. Plan to have
your performance time last between 6-10 minutes.
6. Final BOX Project
Goal: Reflection and transformation of personal vision
Assignment: Look for empty boxes /containers and think how you might transform them as
either:
a) a creative drama game
b) a symbolic self-portrait, a biography, or selected piece of literature
c) a 2 -5 minute performance using the box as a central focus, symbol or set.
You may use paint, crayon, collage, colored paper, objects inside or out, cue cards etc.
Presentation of Box Project: During class you will be given time to demonstrate your box. The
class will evaluate the projects in terms of concept, artistic excellence and/or presentation. On the
day of your presentation you should submit an information page giving your name, the title of the
box and a brief outline of the concept.
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