TAHSADI.6 Researching cultural and historical information to support artistic choices
a. Explores the relationship between research and theatrical production
b. Engages in meaningful cultural and historical research to support formal or informal
theatrical performance
c. Develops and executes a presentation or lobby display that summarizes the impact of cultural
and historical research on a theatrical production.
Explores the relationship between research and theatrical production
&
Engages in meaningful cultural and historical research to support formal or informal
theatrical performance
Students will select an area a theatre production to research (acting styles, theatre marketing,
producing a big budget show, lighting design and engineering, staging and blocking, etc…).
Students will then apply their research findings to create and “IMPACT REPORT” on how their
findings should affect the decisions in applying them to the theatrical production process/ area.
Finding can be reported in written form or a presentation to the class.
Demonstrate the intended result of applying the research to a production/ performance.
Develops and executes a presentation or lobby display that summarizes the impact of
cultural and historical research on a theatrical production.
Students will select five (5) eras of theatre (from Greek – Present) and create a visual aid/ guide
that illustrates and communicates the following:
1. From each era, select a play production that has/has a cultural impact on society, the era
itself, or history in general.
2. Using the play(s) selected, draw a visual parallel from the play to the impact it has/had on
society, the era itself, or history in general.
3. Present the findings and display the project for public consumption.
Example: Modern Era (2000s)
Play: “Bang Bang You’re Dead”
Author: William Mastrisimone
Play Synopsis: “Bang Bang You’re Dead” is a dark tragedy one-act play produced in
1999 in response to the Thurston High School shooting in Oregon. In the actual events of
the Thurston High School shooting, Kip Kinkle shot and killed his parents at his home
and then shot a 27 students (killing 2 of them) in Thurston High School. Kinkle was
detained by students, arrested, charged, found guilty, and is currently serving a 111 year
sentence without the possibility of parole.
Impact: The play spotlighted the upswing in school shooting incidence and also opened
a conversation about bullying among America’s youth. The play has been produced over
15,000 times and has been used in conjunction with anti-bullying organizations to
promote bullying awareness and to offer students an outlet to deal with this topic in a
non-violent fashion.
Visual Aid: Pictures of the production, timeline of school shooting in the US, pictures of
anti-bullying groups engaged with student to promote their non-bullying message.