OVERVIEW
Students investigate the multi-faceted world of the theater and the employment opportunities it provides.
BEFORE YOU GO
– Review relevant vocabulary and key terms: script, playwright, playbill, stage directions, act, scene
– Contact the theater company and inquire about backstage tours and/or meetings with the cast and crew after the performance.
– Before attending the performance, guide students through a performance of their own in the classroom. In groups, have them write and perform skits. Following their hard work and performances, encourage the students to reflect on the experience. What tasks were the most difficult? Was the task easier or harder than you expected? Why? Prompt students to remember their in class performances while they watch the professional performance in the theater.
WHAT TO WONDER
Ask: Who directs a play and ensures it runs smoothly? What occurs backstage? How are the stage and costumes changed so quickly?
Describe how you feel when the curtain rises. The music starts. The crowd applauds.
Observe the people working (orchestra, lighting, ushers, etc.). What are they doing? Notice the décor, the lighting, and the curtains.
Opinion: Which job do you think is the toughest? Why?
Compare the duties and responsibilities of the cast versus the duties and responsibilities of the crew.
Challenge: List all of the tasks and jobs you see being done throughout the performance. Predict and infer what jobs are being done behind the scenes.