When asked, ‘what did you do this past summer?’ a child responds with great enthusiasm about a particular camping trip, or a trip to another country. My favorite response came from a former student of mine. He had spent countless hours creating an entire city equipped with housing, a plumbing system made of plastic cups, a tiny mirror to intensify the sun’s rays in case it got too cold, and an army whose only purpose was to protect the city from insects and other dangerous monsters. That kind of creativity is the reason I look forward to the first days of teaching drama class.

For years, I’ve been lucky enough to teach a 10-week course called Creative Theatre. This year the New Conservatory Theater and SFDS have decided to raise the class to another level……let’s put on a play!

Previously, the premise of the class involved the cultivation of improvisational skills. The goal for each student was to focus on body awareness through space, instinctual first responses within a set boundary or situation, character development, and validating the individual’s imagination. Encouraging each child’s uniqueness is the key to a child’s creativity in performance as well as in everyday life interactions. While the goals of the class remain the same, we will incorporate the element of storytelling into the mix. Students will be introduced to the structure of storytelling and will learn how characters can act as an engine that drives a story through to the end.

During the first week of class, we will decide which story we will mold into a production. As of now, I am leaning toward using stories with heightened text. Dr. Seuss stories are one possibility as I appreciate the whimsical nature of his work. The choice will depend heavily on the number of students, and the creativity and imagination that they bring to the table. I will encourage them to look at normal objects differently. Can a blue blanket turn into a vast ocean with the power of imagination? How can we transform an empty space into a thriving forest using nothing but our voices? I will challenge them to inhabit and explore a character with a focused mindfulness.

As a teaching artist, I am excited to get this project on its feet. In the end it’s all about having fun! It’s nice to see that Day School students are willing to step up to this new challenge. I look forward to guiding them create a world from the ground up. I am excited for them to share a story that is not only entertaining, but relevant to an audience. The first step in this journey is clear. It starts with a simple act……….PLAY!