I recently came back from an end-of-semester drama presentation at a local elementary school. In the event that you run a crisis program, you're familiar with this opportunity for folks in the future and see what their kids have now been working on.
Parents are excited to see their kids, students are excited to have their parents see them, and the drama teacher is nervous making sure things run smoothly and everyone walks away happy and appreciative.imlie Today Episode
Having led hundreds of the myself, I began contemplating what Personally i think are some helpful tips that may make your drama presentation as successful that you can:
1. Be Organized
This may appear to be common sense, but it's so important so it needs mentioning. Parents don't wish to see a fumbling teacher, and kids will get antsy should they don't have specific direction. Be sure you have thought through and written out the exact order of events, and just how much time you anticipate each event to take. Within each event make certain you've written who is going to be participating, the order of participation, etc. If you're playing drama games, plan ahead of time who you'll call up for every single one, and let them know in advance. If you're feeling more adventurous, put every student's name in a cap, and explain to the audience that you will be choosing students' at random from the hat for the different games until all of the names are called.imlie Today Episode
2. Keep it short
Keep your welcome greeting under a minute. Cover how excited you're to talk about what you've been working on, the goal that the class has been working toward, what they're about to see, and a quick personal tidbit in regards to the program. Allow activities, games and scenes speak for themselves as much as possible. Keep the experience descriptions to a sentence or two, or better yet when you have older kids inquire further to introduce each game (let them know ahead of time to allow them to practice).
3. Keep it positive.
Don't ever apologize for things not being as polished as they are often because of insufficient time or resources. Instead mention how impressed you're with what the children accomplished such little time. If you know a specific activity or scene will be considered a little rough, introduce it really as you'd any other. Then jump in and give the children support as they need it.
4. Make sure the children know what things to expect.
I suggest having the full dry run-through of the "sharing day" just one session beforehand, or prior to the parents arrive. The youngsters ought to know the order of events and when it's their turn to participate. Consider printing a few copies of the "itinerary" and posting them stage right and left where in fact the actors can easily see them but the audience can't.
5. Have clean transitions.
The moments after having a high-energy activity are the most crucial moments to keep control of the environment. Simply telling your kids as their laughing and talking "please get back to your seats" does NOT cut it. Instantly regain their focus, then let them have specific timed instructions. "Everyone have a breathe in, breathe out, silently head back to your seats in 3 counts. 3... 2... 1. I'd now prefer to introduce... "
6. Harness the silly/Harness the talking
Along the same lines, make certain the children know it's not OK to talk during a casino game or activity unless specifically instructed to accomplish so. When parents have been in the audience it's natural for kids to desire to be little hams, cracking jokes with friends, going for quick laughs. It's the greatest challenge of the drama teacher to focus this energy into creative character/acting choices. There's more leniency with this when the children are very young (K-2nd grade). However as students grow through your program their acting should noticeably mature. These sharing presentation are a great way to show that to the parents.
7. Make sure every kid has something special to do.
If you should be doing scenes, and kids have individual lines, the first thing a parent can do after hearing a few kids speak is anxiously watch for his/her kid to speak. It's completely acceptable to provide the older, more complex kids bigger roles in the presentation, but make certain every child has at least one moment to be in the spotlight.
8. Finish with a bang.
End the presentation with a casino game, activity or song that you understand can have everyone leaving with a giant smile on the face. Even though you may be in an informal environment, choreograph a clean simple bow by the ensemble at the end.
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