I just came ultimately back from an end-of-semester drama presentation at an area elementary school. In the event that you run a drama program, you're familiar with this particular opportunity for folks ahead and see what their kids have been working on.
Parents are excited to see their kids, kids are excited to possess their parents see them, and the drama teacher is nervous ensuring things run smoothly and everyone walks away happy and appreciative.imlie Today Episode
Having led hundreds of these myself, I began considering what Personally i think are some helpful tips that will make your drama presentation as successful as you are able to:
1. Be Organized
This may appear to be good sense, but it's so important so it needs mentioning. Parents don't want to view a fumbling teacher, and kids can get antsy if they don't have specific direction. Make sure you have thought through and written out the precise order of events, and how much time you anticipate each event to take. Within each event make certain you've written who will soon be participating, the order of participation, etc. If you're playing drama games, plan in advance who you will call up for every one, and let them know in advance. If you're feeling more adventurous, put every student's name in a hat, and reveal to the audience you will be choosing students' at random from the hat for different games until most of the names are called.imlie Today Episode
2. Keep it short
Keep your welcome greeting under a minute. Cover how excited you are to share what you've been taking care of, the target that the class has been working toward, what they're going to see, and a quick personal tidbit in regards to the program. Allow activities, games and scenes speak for themselves around possible. Keep the game descriptions to a word or two, or better yet if you have older kids ask them to introduce each game (let them know in advance so they can practice).
3. Keep it positive.
Don't ever apologize for things not being as polished as they could be due to insufficient time or resources. Instead mention how impressed you are with what the children accomplished such little time. If you know a specific activity or scene will be considered a little rough, introduce it just as you would any other. Then jump in and give the children support as they want it.
4. Ensure the children know what to expect.
I recommend having the full dry run-through of the "sharing day" just one session in advance, or ahead of the parents arrive. The kids ought to know the order of events and when it's their turn to participate. Consider printing several copies of the "itinerary" and posting them stage right and left where in fact the actors can see them nevertheless the audience can't.
5. Have clean transitions.
The moments after having a high-energy activity are probably the most crucial moments to maintain control of the environment. Simply telling your children as their laughing and talking "please go back to your seats" does NOT cut it. Instantly regain their focus, then give them specific timed instructions. "Everyone have a breathe in, breathe out, silently head back to your seats in 3 counts. 3... 2... 1. I'd now like to introduce... "
6. Harness the silly/Harness the talking
Along the same lines, make certain the children know it is not OK to talk during a casino game or activity unless specifically instructed to complete so. When parents are in the audience it is natural for kids to desire to be little hams, cracking jokes with friends, going for easy laughs. It's the biggest challenge of the drama teacher to concentrate this energy into creative character/acting choices. There's more leniency with this when the children are extremely young (K-2nd grade). However as students grow during your program their acting should noticeably mature. These sharing presentation are a great way to demonstrate that to the parents.
7. Ensure every kid has something special to do.
If you should be doing scenes, and kids have individual lines, the very first thing a parent is going to do after hearing several kids speak is anxiously await his/her kid to speak. It's completely acceptable to offer the older, more advanced kids bigger roles in the presentation, but make certain every child has at least one moment to stay the spotlight.
8. Finish with a bang.
End the presentation with a casino game, activity or song that you understand could have everyone leaving with a huge smile on their face. Although you may well be in a informal environment, choreograph a clear simple bow by the ensemble at the end.
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