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Theatrefolk’s Top 10: Cross-Curricular Plays
Time for a Tfolk Top Ten Plays For….
Cross-curricular. Cross-curricular is a magic word for many admins and quite frankly there’s a good reason for that. Here in the 21st century we no longer live in an isolated world and students shouldn’t be taught in isolation. What we do in the drama classroom has always had implications outside of the drama classroom and it’s time to showcase that connection.
If you want students to increase their critical thinking skills, their communication skills, and their collaboration skills, reach out across department lines! You can do plays that will interest your history department, english department, social studies, technology and more.
Click the link and you’ll be taken to the webpage for each play. There you’ll get the details and read sample pages. Hand this list over to your student directors and see what they think.
All the best with your search!
The Myths at the Edge of the World
Four campers are not only lost in the wood, they are lost at the edge of the world with no land, water, stars or sun. Stories are the only way to bring life back and these stories come from all over: China, Africa, Native lore, and the Aztecs. Do you know the Myth of the Water Dragons? Or The Girl who Scattered the Stars
Social studies connection: How do stories of other cultures strengthen our knowledge of that culture?
Almost History: that whole space time continuum thing
Through a space-time continuum thing middle school students livestream great moments in American history! Until things go wrong and the course of history changes. Learn in a fun way how the past affects the present.
Math connection: What is a space time continuum?
Ariadne’s Thread, The Adventures of Theseus and the Minotaur
Bring Greek mythology to life! A fantastic modern version of the Theseus and the Minotaur myth complete with an active chorus. Choral speaking, a twist on the traditional story and a lot of humour.
Music connection: Compare and contrast choral speaking to choral singing.
The Canterbury Tales
Chaucer’s classic collection of tales comes to life in a full-length adaptation. Great characters, lots of humour, and strong ensemble work. Text uses modern English.
History connection: What was life like for a pilgrim going to Canterbury? Who were the pilgrims?
Drum Taps
The poems in Drum Taps represent Walt Whitman’s first hand account of the Civil War. See the words, the emotion, the blood come to life in this theatrical adaptation. This is not your typical poetry reading. This is war.
Multiple connections: the history of the civil war, the math of what war costs, the science of medicine during the time period, the music of the time, the poetry of Whitman and more!
Mmmbeth
Let’s not forget Shakespeare. This adaptation is a great doorway to Shakespeare’s language and the story of the Scottish king. Our Shakespeare adaptations don’t stop there. We also have Drop Dead, Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), and Much Ado High School (Much Ado About Nothing).
English connection: Find out what Shakespeare plays your English department studies and coordinate a performance of that same play.
Frankenstein vs the Horrendous Goo
This play is a delight. Three dimensional characters, fabulous dialogue, and creative staging of a horrendous mutant polymer. Students, administrators and parents get “goo-ed” by a green slime with a mind of its own. Why is Frankenstein called into save the day?
Science connection: Task science classes to make the goo the characters have to fight in the play.
Virtual Family
In the Virtual Family, you don’t need to go outside, or do chores, or even have a real family. When technology takes away all your ills, conflicts, and concerns, you become a happier human being. Right?
Technology connections: The easy access that technology brings provides great questions across the curriculum – does technology make you a happier person? Why or why not?
The Gift
In this play the main character goes through a transformation after she sees what happens to her family once her father loses his business. A wonderful holiday play inspired by The Gift of the Magi.
Economic connections: What are the economics of a business going bankrupt? What is the state of the economy for small businesses right now? Where will the economy be in the next five years?
Split
Teenagers navigate the winding road of divorce in this honest and theatrical look at the day to day reality of growing up in a family that’s been torn apart.
Guidance connections: Issue plays have a lot of cross-curricular opportunities because students are dealing with a multitude of those same issues every day. Issue plays offer an opportunity for discussion, discovery, and growth beyond the walls of the classroom
Products Referenced
The Canterbury Tales
adapted by Lindsay Price from Chaucer
Chaucer's classic collection of tales comes to life in a lively adaptation. Great characters, lots of humour, strong ensemble work. Text uses modern English.
Mmmbeth
by Allison Williams
An hilarious gender-bending take on the Scottish play! Updated Version.
Much Ado High School
by Lindsay Price
What if Much Ado About Nothing took place at a high school dance? An enjoyable introduction to Shakespeare with lightning-fast pace and snappy dialogue.
Drop Dead, Juliet!
by Allison Williams
Juliet has had enough! No more poison, stabbing, or dying. Romeo and Juliet will never be the same - or will it? Not everyone's so keen on the changes.
Virtual Family
by Christian Kiley
A look at a soothing world where complete dependency on technology takes away all ills. But is everything really perfect?
Drum Taps
adapted by Lindsay Price from Walt Whitman
A theatrical adaptation of a selection of Walt Whitman's civil war poems. See the words, the war, the blood come to life.
Split
by Bradley Hayward
Children of divorce are united through humor in this honest and theatrical look at the day to day reality of growing up in a family that's been torn apart.
The Gift
by Lindsay Price inspired by O. Henry
A teen transforms from shallow and selfish to giving and selfless. How did it happen? A wonderful holiday play inspired by The Gift of the Magi.
The Myths at the Edge of the World
by Matthew Webster
Four campers are not only lost in the wood, they are lost at the edge of the world with no land, water, stars or sun. The only way to bring life back is to ask the right questions that will release stories from the wind.
Ariadne's Thread, The Adventures of Theseus and the Minotaur
by Judith White
Theseus is a young man on an adventure. As he makes his way to Athens to meet his father he must fight bandits, carnivorous pigs, and travel the underworld.
Almost History: that whole space time continuum thing
by Treanor Baring
A Reporter and a Sidekick livestream from great moments in American history.
Frankenstein vs the Horrendous Goo
by Treanor Baring
A mix-up in the chemistry club creates a horrendous goo that takes over John Dalton School.
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