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When teaching classes via video conferencing, it’s good to think about what’s going on behind you. This doesn’t mean pets walking through your virtual classroom or visible piles of laundry in view of your camera, although those should probably be kept out of view as much as possible! Having an interesting and creative background can grab students’ attention, be a conversation starter, or make them laugh. It’s also fun to switch things up and create a fresh atmosphere for your virtual classroom.

Virtual productions are popping up everywhere now, specifically designed to be performed online, and they are a wonderful way to keep your students together and keep their love of theatre going – just in a different way. If you’re thinking about doing a virtual production, here are a few tips to help you on your way.

This resource takes common theatre games and adapts them for a social distanced classroom. You’ll find in many cases that the games are quite similar to their original counterparts. That’s intentional. We want to show how the games you know can be adjusted to fit your new circumstance. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, or create new material for your situation.

Lea Marshall kicks off the DTA Virtual Conference 2020 with a keynote: Accept, Respect, Trust. A PLC panel discussion follows.

Gai Jones leads this session on Distance Ensemble Experiences with ideas you can use for both students and educators.

An introductory video to using FlipGrid & EdPuzzle, followed by a panel discussion.

Lindsay Price leads a presentation on adapting an in-class lesson for distance learning, followed by a panel discussion.

Lindsay Price leads a presentation on alternative performances, including interviews with drama teachers and a panel discussion to help navigate the do's and don'ts of recording or streaming an online production.

You know how to run a traditional classroom. The virtual classroom is going to be a whole new learning experience. Theatres have been shut down many times over the centuries and have always returned. Theatre thrives with people who are flexible, excellent problem solvers, and creative thinkers. Theatre teachers, you will survive this! We hope this guide will help you adapt, observe, and engage with your students.

Masterclass is a series of one-on-one interviews with experts, creators and innovators in the world of Theatre that you can study in-depth, or share with your classes. Think of this series as ‘Inside the Actor’s Studio’ for Drama Teachers. This masterclass is with Jordan Hughes, a graduate with a BFA in Drama, from NYU Tisch Drama School. Matt Webster chats with her about finding a career in the arts after college.

In this video, Todd Espeland demonstrates how to use Mask in a social distance or virtual classroom setting. Breakdown of topics/timecodes 0:00 to 6:13: Introduction -When Todd started working with masks -Why masks? 6:14 - 15:59: Discussing Mask in the Classroom 16:00 - 25:59: Health and Safety 26:00 - 50:52: Social Distance Classroom 50:53 - 1:00:22: Virtual Classroom 1:00:23 - 1:08: Building a Mask

This spreadsheet provides plays, playwrights, cast sizes, descriptions and more for Latinx plays and playwrights. CAUTION: not all of these plays are going to be suitable for all classrooms. Anything to be aware of is marked and plays should be reviewed before sharing with students.

Masterclass is a series of one-on-one interviews with experts, creators and innovators in the world of Theatre that you can study in-depth, or share with your classes. Think of this series as ‘Inside the Actor’s Studio’ for Drama Teachers. This masterclass is with Vincent Terrell Durham, a playwright who first honed his storytelling skills as a standup comic in comedy clubs across the country. Matt Webster chats with him about his journey in becoming a playwright.

Use this fun bingo card to give yourself some love over the holidays, or whenever you need a break!

This resource is a of plays in the Public Domain by BIPOC writers, including links as to where you can find the texts. Any translations included are also in the Public Domain. Not all texts are available in an English translation but we have included them in their original language. We have included cautions, but as always, please make sure you read/review the scripts before sharing with your students.

This resource is a list of poems and short stories in the Public Domain by BIPOC writers including links as to where you can find the texts. Any translations included are also in the Public Domain. Not all texts are available in an English translation but we have included them in their original language. Please make sure you read/review the texts before sharing with your students.

The goal of this distance learning exercise is to help students become more aware of their body language in the virtual classroom (both conscious and unconscious) and how it makes others perceive them. Students have to turn their cameras on to participate, but it is fairly low-risk as they will complete the movement portion as a group, and they don’t need to have their microphones on.

A set of posters with quotes from Black voices. Use these to inspire your students in the drama classroom and beyond.

Every year we see top ten lists containing the most popular plays performed by students and studied in the drama classroom. Shakespeare makes the list every year. So does Arthur Miller. Some say that Our Town is performed every day of the year. What is decidedly lacking from these lists are Black and Latinx plays and playwrights. These playwrights are writing and have been writing plays for years tackling the same themes as those on these top ten lists. The Theatrefolk Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Panel has assembled suggestions to include on your list for production and classroom study.

Use this list as a discussion starter for your students, or as a point of reference for your next production.