Re:ACT—Residency
RE:ACT In School and Out of School residencies use theatre
techniques to actively engage students in an exploration of Shakespeare, Language
and Arts and the Humanities. While analyzing classical texts and exploring
how to utilize their bodies, voices and imaginations, your students will develop
confidence, learn to collaborate as an ensemble and strengthen communication
skills. All
residencies are designed collaboratively to provide students an experience
that deepens curriculum goals, explores Shakespeare texts, and provides students
an opportunity to learn about the process of creating theatre.
All residencies
are taught by experienced teaching artists, many of whom are professional actors
at the Shakespeare Theatre Company and other theatres around the D.C.-metro
area. Re:ACT residencies are fee-based and can range in length from a one-day
workshop to a semester, or year long residency, depending on your needs.
While working collaboratively to address the specific needs of
each classroom, we have created excellent models over the past 20 years that
you can take advantage of. Here is a list of possible residencies that can
be adapted
for your in school or out-of school program.
Shakespeare’s Stories (K-3) During this 8 – 12
week residency students explore the art of theatre. They examine the characters
and plots of up to 3 Shakespeare plays. Shakespeare’s stories are used
to boost students’ vocabulary. The residency culminates with student
created scenes based on the plot of Shakespeare’s plays and class written
story book.
Shakespeare’s Themes (Grades 3 – 5) These 8 – 12
week residencies introduce students to the art of theatre and the plots and
language of Shakespeare’s plays. Students will examine the difference
between plot and theme and gain a deeper understanding of major themes throughout
the cannon of Shakespeare’s work. The residency will culminate with students
performing scenes with a common theme. Past themes have included Shakespeare’s
Magic, Shakespeare’s Clowns, Shakespeare’s Forest, Shakespeare’s
Villains and Shakespeare’s Family Feuds.
Exploring Poetry (Grades 4-6) During this 4-8 week residency
students will explore the art of theatre and the elements of poetry, including
imagery, metaphor, meter and onomatopoeia. Students will kinesthetically explore
Shakespeare Sonnets, the poetry of Langston Hughes, E.E. Cummings, Edgar Allan
Poe and Maya Angelou and pen their own poems.
Playing Shakespeare (Grades 7-9) These 3-6 week residencies
focus on a specific play and introduce students to the plot, themes and language
of William Shakespeare. By viewing the work through the lens that it
is a play that is meant to be performed, students actively engage in a fun
and deep exploration of the text and story.
Shakespeare’s Language (Grades 7-9) This 4 week residency
leads students through an in depth analysis of Shakespeare’s text. Students
will explore language physically and vocally, and learn a process for analyzing
classical texts. They will understand the difference between verse and prose,
be able to identify iambic pentameter and understand how Shakespeare uses language
to communicate character in the text.
Text
Alive! Abridged (Grades 8-12) Adapted from our national recognized
Text Alive! program, this 5 week residency provides high school students an
in depth study of a Shakespeare play. Over the course of 5 weeks, students
will examine a play’s structure by analyzing and interpreting Shakespeare’s
text, investigate the history pertaining to Shakespeare’s text, explore
the theatrical process of bringing a play to the stage as designers, directors
and actors and create characters through physical and vocal choices. This residency
includes 4 professional development workshops for the classroom teacher
and subsidized tickets to the SHAKESPEARIENCE student matinee. This spring’s
Text Alive! Abridged residency will focus on Henry V.
Sample
One Time Workshops:
Shakespeare’s
World
Shakespeare’s
Text
Big
Bad Shakespeare
Stage
Combat
Blood
and Guts
Annual Re:Act Partnerships Include:
DC Prep Public Charter School’s year long
out of school residency introduces elementary school students to the craft
of theatre.
Holy Trinity School’s semester long out of school residency
culminates with a performance of a Shakespeare’s play
The following Montgomery County students participate in 7th grade residencies
on A Midsummer Night’s Dream and 8th grade residencies on As
You Like It at:
Herbert Hoover Middle School
North Bethesda Middle School
Silver Spring International Middle School
Thomas Pyle Middle School
Ann Arundel County partners with us to
provide 4 week residencies to theatre classes in 11 high schools.
For more information about Re:ACT or to book a residency, please contact Vanessa
Buono, School Programs Manager at STCSchoolPrograms@ShakespeareTheatre.org or
call 202.547.5688
In order to provide the optimum experience for your students, please
book residencies at least four weeks in advance of your anticipated start
date. Fees are based on the residency length, degree of customization and
number of students impacted. Mileage may be accessed for programs beyond
the metro area.
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