Want a fun project that has your students collaborating and creating? In this unit by Annie Dragoo, students in groups will write and perform an original musical by adding modern songs to a traditional fairy tale story.
The six lessons take students from writing their script, to choreography and planned movement, to rehearsing, performing and evaluation.
The Rubric will focus on student performance. That means vocal delivery, emotional delivery, blocking/choreography, energy, focus, and characters.
The overview outlines the lessons, time management, and guidelines for the unit.
Students will write a musical by adding modern songs to a traditional fairy tale story.
Students will choreograph their original musicals by planning and rehearsing the movement for each song.
Students will block/stage their original musicals by planning and rehearsing the movement for the dialogue.
Students will rehearse their original musicals, putting finishing touches and memorizing lines, blocking, and movement.
Students will apply everything they have worked on throughout this unit: writing, choreography, blocking, and rehearsing.
Students will evaluate their performances in their original musicals.
TH:Cr1.1.6.a - Identify possible solutions to staging challenges in a drama/theatre work.
TH:Re7.1.6.a - Describe and record personal reactions to artistic choices in a drama/theatre work.
TH:Pr4.1.7.a - Consider various staging choices to enhance the story in a drama/theatre work.
TH:Re7.1.8.a - Apply criteria to the evaluation of artistic choices in a drama/theatre work.
TH:Pr5.1.6.a - Recognize how acting exercises and techniques can be applied to a drama/theatre work.
TH:Cr3.1.6.a - Articulate and examine choices to refine a devised or scripted drama/theatre work.
TH:Pr6.1.6.a - Adapt a drama/theatre work and present it informally for an audience.
TH:Pr6.1.8.a - Perform a rehearsed drama/theatre work for an audience.
6.TH:Cr1.a - Identify possible solutions to staging challenges in a drama/theatre work.
6.TH:Re7 - Describe and record personal reactions to artistic choices in a drama/theatre work.
7.TH:Pr4.a - Consider various staging choices to enhance the story in a drama/theatre work.
8.TH:Re7 - Apply appropriate criteria to the evaluation of artistic choices in a drama/theatre work.
6.TH:Pr5.a - Recognize how acting exercises and techniques can be applied to a drama/theatre work.
Acc.TH:Cr2.b - Cooperate as a creative team to make interpretive choices for a drama/theatre work.
6.TH:Pr6 - Adapt a piece of literature and present it for an audience.
67TH:Pr6 - Create through improvisation a drama/theatre work that will be shared with an audience.
8.TH:Pr6 - Perform a rehearsed, scripted scene from a drama/theatre work for an audience.
B.C.1.2 - Apply vocal elements of volume, pitch, rate, tone, articulation, and vocal expression.
B.C.1.3 - Understand how to read and write scripts that communicate conflict, plot, and character.
I.C.1.3 - Produce scripts based on literature texts.
I.C.2.2 - Interpret scenes through formal and informal presentations.
A.C.1.3 - Use constructive criticism to improve original works both written and read orally.
A.C.2.2 - Interpret scripts through formal and informal presentations.
Tennessee Theatre standards (2018) standards were built using the framework of the NCAS which is built on four key domains: Creating, Performing/Presenting/Producing, Connecting, and Responding. Within each of these domains are foundations and standards to support the development of curriculum, programs, and learning.
(source: Tennessee Department of Education, Tennessee Academic Standards for Fine Arts, Summer 2018)
Please refer to National Core Arts Standards to determine the standard that best suits your needs.
C.1.C - respond to sounds, music, images, and the written word, incorporating movement.
C.1.E - identify theatrical vocabulary and terminology, including basic anatomy of theatre spaces.
B.2.C - select movements and dialogue to portray a character appropriately.
B.1.B - explore preparation and warm-up techniques.
B.1.E - apply knowledge of theatrical vocabulary and terminology.
B.2.B - portray characters through familiar movements and dialogue.
C.1.J - identify the principles of improvisation.
C.1.K - identify and recognize the importance of safe theatre practices.
C.2.C - employ effective voice and diction to express thoughts and feelings.
C.5.C - offer and receive constructive criticism of peer performances.
C.1.A - apply theatre preparation and warm-up techniques effectively.
C.2.B - demonstrate creativity as it relates to self and ensemble and its effect on audience.
1 - demonstrate understanding of the basic structure of a play
33 - critique the work of self and others through observation of specific details
communicate through use of voice and body
demonstrate a willingness to take calculated and reasonable risks
focus concentration on one task at a time
generate imaginative and creative solutions to problems
meet deadlines and follow through on individual and group commitments
offer and accept constructive criticism, given specific guidelines, with a desire to improve
recognize the purposes of and participate in warmup activities
share ideas confidently with others
show awareness of story sequence
speak, move, and generate ideas spontaneously
develop a sense of responsibility and commitment
develop the ability to initiate, organize and present a project within a given set of guidelines
develop the ability to interact effectively and constructively in a group process
develop the ability to offer and accept constructive criticism
develop the willingness to make a decision, act upon it and accept the results
explore and develop physical and vocal capabilities
extend the ability to explore, control and express emotions
1 - demonstrate understanding of the need for analysis of the work of self and others
11 - demonstrate understanding of plot structure
12 - analyze a script to identify character, setting and plot
apply imaginative and creative thought to problem-solving situations
demonstrate a sense of inquiry and commitment, individually and to the group
demonstrate a sense of responsibility and commitment, individually and to the group
demonstrate the ability to considered decisions, act upon them and accept the results
demonstrate the ability to contribute effectively and constructively to the group process
demonstrate the ability to initiate, organize and present a project within a given set of guidelines
demonstrate the ability to offer, accept, and reflect upon, constructive criticism
develop a sense of inquiry and commitment to learning
extend physical and vocal capabilities
be capable of creating and expressing a believable character from scripted and non-scripted material
Express, feelings, ideas, and experiences through the arts
Take creative risks to express feelings, ideas, and experiences
Express, feelings, ideas, and experiences through the arts
Take creative risks to express feelings, ideas, and experiences
Develop and refine ideas and technical skills to improve the quality of performance pieces
Demonstrate respect for themselves, others, and the audience
Develop and refine performance skills in a variety of contexts
Improvise and take creative risks using imagination, exploration, and inquiry
Demonstrate awareness of self, others, and audience
Receive and apply constructive feedback to develop and refine ideas
Receive, provide, and apply constructive feedback to refine dramatic works
Use self-reflection and awareness of audience to refine ideas