How to Teach Theatre Without All the Drama

"Real-World Theatre Education"

The mentoring manual for managing divas, drama mamas, casting complaints, finances, field trips, principals, publishers, paperwork, and school politics and policies.

...let alone teaching classses and directing productions...!

Click to Purchase

Doing Theatre In A School Is So Much More Than Just Lesson Plans

From Drama Boosters to Teaching Kissing to "The Hygiene Talk" to Writing college Recommendations

We offer advice, "Real World Moments," What-if Scenarios and 26 Customizable Templates to Ease the Action

Plan

Preparing for Employment, for your New School, for the Classroom, for Productions

Prioritize

Identifying the Stakeholders, Training Student Leaders, Organizing your Program

Troubleshoot

Responding to Parents, Colleagues, Administrators, Vendors and the Community

How This Book Will Improve Your Life

It will show you how to move through the early years of theatre teaching and directing, and anticipate and manage all the moving parts of working in a department, a school and a school system with its own traditions, procedures, personalities and expectations far beyond what happens within the classroom walls.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Preparing for Employment

So Many Choices

Elementary, My Dear Director

Monkey In the Middle

Handling High School

The Theatre Educator’s Job Description

Changes from Student Teacher to Teacher/Director

PayYourself First

2. Preparing for the First Day of School

Driving into Your First Year

The Culture of Your Learning Community

Getting To Know You

Finding Your Personal Theatre Philosophy

That Other Teaching You Do

Diversity in the Classroom and on Stage

Building Use and YouEquipment

3. Preparing for the Classroom

Your Class Schedule

Mixing Theatre Classes

Acting Mixed with Technical Theatre

Teaching at Multiple Locations

Technical Theatre

Lesson Plans

Methods of Teaching Theatre

Exceptional Students in the Theatre Classroom

ESOL: A Distinct Opportunity

Doing Your Best: An ESOL Educational Journey

Classroom Management

RespectDisruptive Students

Drawing the Line on Touching

Communicating with Parents and Kids

Communicating with Colleagues

Communicating with the Community

4. Preparing for Production

Theatre Booster Support: the Good, the Great and the Ugly

Annual Booster Warning

Your Department Production Schedule

Selecting a Show

Acquiring a Show

Pre-Audition Workshop: Communicate the Process

Developing Leadership

Cleanup of Support Space

Establishing a Production Team/CrewChiefs

Auditions

Casting

Tips on Directing

The Hygiene Talk

Teaching Kissing

Injuries and Illness

Judging a Play’s Success

5. Enrichment Activities

School Events

Field trips.

CAPPIES

Travel

Field Trip Travel Tips

6. Paying Attention to Professionalism

College Recommendations

College Advice to Parents - a short play

Choices for College Theatre Education

Politics and You

Recertification Check

Evaluation

Staff Development

Substitute Teachers

Fixing Mistakes

7. Selling the Program, Smaller Productions

Enrollment...It’s Your Job!

Maintaining Momentum

Children’s Theatre

An Evening of One-Act Plays and Scenes

Fund Raising

8. The Show Must Go On 

Surviving Entitlement

Preparing for Next Year

Awards & Recognition

9. When the World is Bigger Than Theatre 

National crisis

Lock-down

Suicide watch

Westfield Wounded

Conclusion

10. Summer Stuff to Do 

Summer Drama Camps for Fun and Profit

Summer Enrichment Programs for Your Students

Travel With Students

11. Older and Wiser 

Recharging Your Batteries

The Voice of Experience

Final Thoughts

Kudos from a Student

Appendices - available to download and customize

A. Ideal Job Worksheet

B. Checklist for Newbies

C. Tech Help Request Form

D. Tech Booth Rules

E. Cultural Catch-Phrases

F. Theatre I Identity Assignment: Who Am I?

G. Organizing Labels for Mailboxes

H. Sample Syllabus

I. Sample Syllabus 2

J. Suggested Materials

K. Publishers of Musicals & Plays

L. Auditioning Using the ADDIE System

M. Audition Card

N. Production Contract

O. Production Packet

P. Crew Chief Explanations and Expectations

Q. Exercise in Leadership

R. Crew Chief Sign-Up Instructions and List

S. Crew Chief Task Calendar

T. Online Resources

U. Field Trip Prep Checklist

V. Field Trip Letter to Parents

W. Response to Patron Complaint About Show Content

X. Program Insert re: Use of Weapons On Stage

Y. Recommendation Request Form

Z. Playwriting Lesson Plan Templates

CLICK TO PURCHASE

About the Authors

Chip Rome

Chip has been a theatre educator for over 35 years, and has worked in the London, Boston, LA, NY and DC areas as an actor, director and educator. He has written theatre curricula, an auditorium safety manual and new teacher training pilot program.

Zoe Dillard

Zoe has taught theatre students from kindergarten through college age over the past thirty years, directing young people in stage productions large and small.

Testimonials

"This is a nuts and bolts handbook that will walk an educator through the academic year, preparing them for both curricular and extra-curricular demands. It's more than just a checklist. It is a reality check in the best possible way: an honest, thorough guide to growing a successful theatre education program."
Mary Lechter - Head of Theatre Education, George Mason University"

"The responsibilities of a first-year theatre teacher are vast and varied, and having the irreplaceable guidebook Real-World Theatre Education on hand is not just a way to preserve your sanity, it's a strategic career move."
Rebecca Phillips - Education Division, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C.

"Invaluable. Every theatre teacher, whether new or seasoned, should be furnished with this jam-packed compendium of the very best suggestions, solutions, and warnings for navigating life in the theatre classroom."
Judy Bowns - Theatre Arts and Dance Specialist, Fairfax County Public Schools

"Chip Rome and Zoe Dillard share their passion for theatre in this text that is packed with practical, relevant, and comprehensive advice for the next generation of theatre educators. Virtually every character, conflict and cause for applause in the career of a theatre educator appears within the pages of this book. Standing ovation for Real-World Theatre Education."
Dr. Rosalind M Flynn, Head of the M.A. in Theatre Education, The Catholic University of America

"Rome and Dillard have done something special here. Real-World details the broad and specific aspects of theatre education in equal measure, always with an eye to how both art and learning can happen while keeping the needs of students first."
James Palmarini - Director of Educational Policy, Educational Theatre Association and Editor, Teaching Theatre

Click to Purchase