I just came back from an end-of-semester drama presentation at a local elementary school. If you run an episode program, you're familiar with this specific opportunity for folks to come and see what their kids have already been working on.
Parents are excited to see their kids, kids are excited to possess their parents see them, and the drama teacher is nervous ensuring things run smoothly and everyone walks away happy and appreciative.imlie Today Episode
Having led hundreds of the myself, I started contemplating what Personally i think are some helpful tips which will make your drama presentation as successful as possible:
1. Be Organized
This might seem like wise practice, but it's so important that it needs mentioning. Parents don't desire to visit a fumbling teacher, and kids are certain to get antsy if they don't have specific direction. Make sure you have thought through and written out the precise order of events, and simply how much time you expect 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 beforehand who you will 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 you will be choosing students' at random from the hat for the various games until most of the names are called.imlie Today Episode
2. Keep it short
Keep your welcome greeting under a minute. Cover how excited you are to share what you've been focusing on, the target that the class has been working toward, what they're planning to see, and a brief personal tidbit in regards to the program. Allow the activities, games and scenes speak for themselves around possible. Keep the game descriptions to a sentence or two, or even better when you yourself have older kids question them to introduce each game (let them know beforehand so they can practice).
3. Keep it positive.
Don't ever apologize for things not being as polished as they could be due to not enough time or resources. Instead mention how impressed you are using what the kids accomplished in such little time. If you know a particular activity or scene will probably be described as a little rough, introduce it just as you'd any other. Then jump in and give the kids support as they want it.
4. Ensure the kids know things to expect.
I highly recommend having the full dry run-through of the "sharing day" just one session ahead of time, or ahead of the parents arrive. The youngsters should know the order of events and when it's their turn to participate. Consider printing a couple of copies of the "itinerary" and posting them stage right and left where in fact the actors could see them nevertheless the audience can't.
5. Have clean transitions.
The moments after having a high-energy activity are probably the most crucial moments to maintain control of the environment. Simply telling the kids as their laughing and talking "please return to your seats" does NOT cut it. Instantly regain their focus, then provide them with specific timed instructions. "Everyone have a breathe in, breathe out, silently head back once again to your seats in 3 counts. 3... 2... 1. I'd now want to introduce... "
6. Harness the silly/Harness the talking
Along the same lines, make certain the kids know it's not OK to talk during a game title or activity unless specifically instructed to do so. When parents have been in the audience it's natural for kids to wish to be little hams, cracking jokes with friends, going for quick laughs. It's the biggest challenge of the drama teacher to focus this energy into creative character/acting choices. There's more leniency with this when the kids are extremely young (K-2nd grade). However as students grow throughout your program their acting should noticeably mature. These sharing presentation are a great way to show that to the parents.
7. Ensure every kid has something special to do.
If you are doing scenes, and kids have individual lines, the very first thing a parent is going to do after hearing a couple of kids speak is anxiously await his/her kid to speak. It's completely acceptable to provide the older, heightened kids bigger roles in the presentation, but make certain every child has one or more moment to be in the spotlight.
8. Finish with a bang.
End the presentation with a game title, activity or song that you know could have everyone leaving with a huge smile on the face. Even though you may be within an informal environment, choreograph a clear simple bow by the ensemble at the end.
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