Show and Tell Instructions -- Senior Drama and Drama 9

 Choose an item about which you can tell an interesting story.  It doesn't matter what the item is because this is a public speaking exercise.  If your item is not available to bring to school (a pet, a weapon, a person, something very valuable), you can bring a picture of it -- a photo or a drawing is fine.

Develop a two minute speech inspired by the item.  Your speech should not focus on describing the item -- we can see it.  It should be a story INSPIRED by the item.  When you are practising your speech, say it out loud and time it.  You should speak for two minutes!  Longer is not better.  Shorter means you won't have time to engage your audience.

You will present your speech to the class (the schedule is on the bulletin board in the theatre).  You must speak clearly and project your voice.  You must make eye contact with the audience and speak in an expressive voice to engage their attention.  Your story should follow the plot line, introducing the setting and people involved, telling about how the item impacted you and why you chose it.  End with something like, "this is what I learned from the hike in the woods" or "in conclusion, my grandmother was the most important influence in my life".  It is fine if the story is emotional, but make sure you can get through it without being overwhelmed.  DO NOT START YOUR SPEECH WITH "SO" OR END IT WITH "YEAH".  

First Journal of the LAST TERM OF THE YEAR

 Drama 8:  What should Ms. Kosar know about you?  Include your pronouns (yes, you have them!).  Have you had any experience in Drama before (in elementary school, in an out-of-school program, in a class)?  Do you have stage fright?  (You won't be the only one.) You can share anything you like with me to help me teach you and understand you better!

Senior Drama:  Write a brief scene in which two characters (at least) share a joke.  It should be something you could include in "A Silent Laugh".  Try to make it original!

What are you thinking of talking about for your show and tell speech?  Run it by me!

Drama 9:  What is the most dramatic scene in your heritage presentation?  Explain why.  What is the most shocking scene? Explain why.  What is the saddest scene?  Explain why.  What is the funniest scene?  Explain why.

What are you thinking of talking about for your show and tell speech?  Run it by me!

Journal for April 12

 Senior Drama:  Write an "elevator pitch" (30 seconds to say, so NO MORE THAN 1/2 PAGE) about a concept you have for a commedia scene.  You can describe the plot, characters, social or political commentary, jokes or anything that will inspire Lynette to include your idea in her scenario.  THIS JOURNAL WILL BE HANDED IN TO LYNETTE!

Drama 9:  Create an outline of what you have so far in your heritage performance.  (Include framework, a sentence describing each story, and then a sentence about the stories you haven't presented yet.) You can do this in a group, but please include the names of everyone in the group at the top.

Drama 8:  Which Aesop story moral applies to you?  Explain why.

Journal for April 5

 This journal is for everyone.  It's about subtext (what's going on underneath what you're saying) and emotional memory (a technique actors use to bring real emotion on stage, not just pretense).

For each circumstance, explain how you would feel, what you might want to do and what you actually would do.

1. You invite a friend to your house to play cards.  You have fun and play for several hours.  It is getting late.  The game is over.  You can't help yawing, because you're so sleepy.  Your friend says, "what should we do now?"

2.  You walk into a room you've never been in before (like a classroom, or a meeting room).  You are starting a new class or activity and are supposed to be there. There are a lot of people there and many of them seem to know each other and are laughing and talking.

3.  You are waiting at a bus stop.  A rather menacing person comes and waits as well.  They glance at you a couple of times and then say, "I should have worn a jacket.  It's colder than I thought."  They seem to look pointedly at your jacket.

4.  Alex is your friend.  You have a lot of fun when you hang out.  Maja tells you that Alex has mentioned that you have changed and you aren't as fun as you used to be. 

Commedia del'arte characters