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Students will take their script analysis work with beats and action words and apply it to their scene. Students will also start to think about how they will have to adapt staging to a virtual environment.

The rehearsal period is coming to a close, and it’s almost time to present. In this rehearsal, students will share their scene with another group with the specific focus of examining it for actor-driven movement rather than character-driven movement: shuffling your weight back and forth between your feet, playing with your hair, vaguely gesturing with your hands, etc.

We will look at Sanskrit drama over two class periods, starting with a background introduction and then exploring elements of the sanskrit drama how-to manual, the Nāṭya Śāstra, and applying knowledge through scene work.

In this lesson, students will be introduced to the Ancient Greek era. They will demonstrate their mythical knowledge through a mythology-specific game of Jeopardy! Finally, students will complete a research project on the sociopolitical and cultural background of the era.

In this lesson, we will move on to the Roman theatre, which mainly shows how Greek theatre was adapted by the Romans.

In this lesson, students will be introduced to the conventions of Ancient Greek theatre and then complete a compare and contrast activity.

In this lesson, students will be introduced to the commedia dell’arte form and start their exploration of stock characters.

Students will work through a process to create a commedia character.

In this lesson, students will be introduced to the sociopolitical and cultural background to set the stage for Chinese opera. Students will then complete a research project and present on a specific Chinese topic. It’s important, especially with a type of theatre that may be unknown to students, to first research the background.

In this lesson, students are introduced to the origins of Medieval theatre, create a feast of fools’ moment, and put together their own version of The Second Shepherd’s Play.

In this lesson, students will be introduced to Ancient Greek theatre festivals and then apply what they’ve learned by creating their own City Dionysia Festival.

In this lesson, students will be introduced to Chinese opera and apply their knowledge through a choice board of activities.

In this lesson, students will be introduced to the sociopolitical and cultural background to set the stage for Japanese theatre. Students will then do research and present on a specific topic. It’s important, especially with a type of theatre that may be unknown to students, to first research the background.

In this lesson, students will be introduced to Noh drama, the design, the character types, and plays. They will explore walking and gesturing like a Noh actor and apply their knowledge by creating a scene of opposites.

In this lesson, students will be introduced to the elements of Bunraku and, if you choose, discuss the theatre of the unit and complete a unit reflection.

In this lesson, students will be introduced to the socioeconomic background to set the stage for Medieval theatre. As a response to what they’ve learned, students will create original theatrical moments and read a modern version of one of The Canterbury Tales stories.

In this lesson, students will be introduced to Kabuki, the staging, the plays, the acting style, makeup, and the all-important climatic pose—the mie. They will apply their knowledge by creating their own mie and walking like a Kabuki actor. Finally, they’ll create a mini modern-Kabuki scene.

In this lesson, students will be introduced to three lasting influences of Italian Renaissance theatre: the proscenium theatre, pastoral plays, and opera. Students will create a modern pastoral scene and do a scene sing through.

In this lesson, students will do a research project on the sociopolitical and cultural background of France. They will then learn about neoclassicism as well as the plays and playwrights of the era. Students will create a neoclassicism scene and then “break the rules” by rewriting it in the style of Molière.

In this lesson, students will be introduced to Renaissance theatre. They will complete a research project on the sociopolitical and cultural background for the birthplace of the Renaissance: Italy.