Getting Ready to Direct Your First Virtual Play

I just wanted to write you and let you know how much we enjoyed working on "Stroke Static" this year. Several years ago I wanted to use this script for my competitive readers theatre, but the students I had at that time just didn't "get it". When I was at the STAM State convention this fall, I went to one of Lindsay Price's workshops. It brought back to memory that unique script. This year I have mature, amazing students and I again brought it out. And this year it clicked. We placed first at the Big 8 Readers Tournament, first at our MSHSAA District tournament, and this past weekend we place 2nd at the MO State Tournament. But winning was only the gravy. Every so often you find a script that challenges the actors, so much so that they are better performers for life. This is one of those scripts. And I know that many of the audience members will have a lasting memory of this lovely script. I just wanted to let you know that we had a wonderful time with the show!

Thanks for such a great script on such a tough issue. It left a really big impact on everyone who saw it; and especially on those who brought it so convincingly to life. Lots of positive comments on the "great writing" and the "amazing script"! Thanks for writing it. I have never gotten as much out of my 15-17 year olds as I have from their work on and dedication to this story and its characters. They want to do it again, and again...

I greatly enjoyed directing 'A Lighter Shade of Noir' last year with my middle school theater students. It had everything I was looking for in a script for 6th, 7th and 8th graders: lots of parts for girls or parts that could be changed to female roles, action without lots of fighting, multiple character scenes that had things to do while other people were talking, a main story line but also sub-plots, links to school subjects (like literature and history), and most importantly - dialogue that I could stand listening to over and over in rehearsal that gave the students motivation to look deeper and deeper into their character development. I hope you write more for theater, especially children's theater. We need more good writing for these young actors. Sharon Boski