I recently came ultimately back from an end-of-semester drama presentation at a local elementary school. In the event that you run a crisis program, you're familiar with this particular opportunity for folks in the future and see what their kids have already been working on.
Parents are excited to see their kids, children are excited to possess their parents see them, and the drama teacher is nervous making certain things run smoothly and everyone walks away happy and appreciative.imlie Today Episode
Having led hundreds of those myself, I started considering what Personally i think are some helpful tips which will make your drama presentation as successful that you can:
1. Be Organized
This might seem like wise practice, but it's so important so it needs mentioning. Parents don't wish to visit a fumbling teacher, and kids are certain to get antsy if they don't have specific direction. Be sure you have thought through and written out the actual order of events, and just how much time you anticipate each event to take. Within each event ensure you've written who is likely to be participating, the order of participation, etc. If you're playing drama games, plan ahead of time who you will call up for each one, and let them know in advance. If you're feeling more adventurous, put every student's name in a hat, and show the audience that you will be choosing students' randomly from the hat for the various games until all 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 talk about what you've been working on, the goal that the class has been working toward, what they're about to see, and a quick personal tidbit in regards to the program. Allow the activities, games and scenes speak for themselves as much as possible. Keep the activity descriptions to a word or two, or better yet when you have older kids ask them to introduce each game (let them know ahead of time to allow them to practice).
3. Keep it positive.
Don't ever apologize for things not being as polished as they are often due to lack of time or resources. Instead mention how impressed you are using what the children accomplished such little time. Knowing a specific activity or scene will probably be a little rough, introduce it just as you'd any other. Then jump in and give the children support as they need it.
4. Make certain the children know things to expect.
I suggest having the full dry run-through of the "sharing day" each 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 the actors could see them nevertheless the audience can't.
5. Have clean transitions.
The moments after a high-energy activity are probably the most crucial moments to steadfastly keep up control of the environment. Simply telling your children as their laughing and talking "please get back to your seats" does NOT cut it. Instantly regain their focus, then give them specific timed instructions. "Everyone take a breathe in, breathe out, silently head back to your seats in 3 counts. 3... 2... 1. I'd now want to introduce... "
6. Harness the silly/Harness the talking
Along exactly the same lines, ensure the children know it's not OK to talk during a casino game or activity unless specifically instructed to accomplish so. When parents have been in the audience it's natural for children to wish to be little hams, cracking jokes with friends, going for quick laughs. It's the largest challenge of the drama teacher to concentrate this energy into creative character/acting choices. There's more leniency for this when the children are very young (K-2nd grade). However as students grow through your program their acting should noticeably mature. These sharing presentation are an effective way to show that to the parents.
7. Make certain every kid has something special to do.
If you're doing scenes, and kids have individual lines, first thing a parent will do after hearing several kids speak is anxiously wait for his/her kid to speak. It's completely acceptable to give the older, more complex kids bigger roles in the presentation, but ensure every child has at least one moment to be in the spotlight.
8. Finish with a bang.
End the presentation with a casino game, activity or song that you realize could have everyone leaving with a huge smile on their face. Although you might be in an informal environment, choreograph a clean simple bow by the ensemble at the end.
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