TFP - The Theatrefolk Podcast

Episode 134: Being a Student Director Amelia Trimble directed her first play this year. She was thrown into it by her teacher and the experience has been a rewarding one. What’s it like to direct your peers? How do you direct when you’ve never done it before? Listen in to hear Amelia’s story. Show Notes Censorbleep Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP – The Theatrefolk Podcast – the place to be for Drama teachers, Drama students, and theatre educators everywhere. I am Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello! I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. This is Episode 134. You can find any links for this episode at the show notes – theatrefolk.com/episode134. Today, I am talking to a student director. I was invited and I went to see a run-through, a rehearsal, of a play of mine – Censorbleep – and the group was getting ready to take it to competition the next week. And, even though they were struggling a little, you know, trying to put everything together – the lines and the blocking

Episode 133: The Right Environment When you’re directing a show, it’s important to specify environment. Where does the play take place? How do the characters react to that environment? It’s also important to establish environment in your drama classroom. In this podcast teacher Chris Evans talks about about both worlds - the world of the play and the world of the drama classroom. What environment do you create? Show Notes Chicken Road Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP – The Theatrefolk Podcast – the place to be for Drama teachers, Drama students, and theatre educators everywhere. I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello! I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. Welcome to Episode 133! You can find any links for this episode at the show notes – theatrefolk.com/133. When you’re directing a show, it’s really important – as opposed to only sort of important – to specify environment. Where does the play take place? How do the characters react to their environment? It’s especially

Episode 132: Google Drive in the Drama Classroom Joshua Hatt was a frustrated drama teacher. He put together an extensive curriculum booklet for his students only to have them lose it time and time again. Joshua had a problem which he solved using Google Drive. Listen to him explain his process and how he went from technology hater to a full on convert. Show Notes Example of Electronic Process Journal (Google Doc) To use this file, Make a Copy and adapt to suit your needs! Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP – The Theatrefolk Podcast – the place to be for Drama teachers, Drama students, and theatre educators everywhere. I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello! I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. Welcome, welcome, welcome! Episode 132! You can find any links for this episode in the show notes at theatrefolk.com/episode132. Today, I am talking to a Drama teacher who may be just like you. Maybe you’re frustrated with your students’ organizational abilities. How many times do

Episode 131: Talking with an Adjudicator What is an adjudicator looking for? How do you handle an adjudication? How does an adjudicator approach their task? Lindsay talks to Matthew MacDermid who has been a high school and middle school adjudicator for 10 years in Florida. He’s seen it all and talks about his process. Show Notes Close Encounters of the Undead Kind Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP – The Theatrefolk Podcast – the place to be for Drama teachers, Drama students, and theatre educators everywhere. I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello! I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. This is Episode 131. You can find any links for this episode in the show notes which can be found at theatrefolk.com/episode131. Today, we’re talking adjudication. Adjudication! There are many school festivals and competitions out there at the school level with a judging component. I’ve got the Sears Drama Festival in my backyard which I’ve adjudicated three times. In the States, there a

Episode 130: Connecting to a Challenging Script Heather Meeks is a middle school teacher who did not shy away from a challenging script. What can you do to meet a challenge head on? How do you deal with parents or administrators who feel middle school students should not step outside their comfort zone? Listen in to hear Heather’s fabulous story.   Show Notes Shuddersome Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP – The Theatrefolk Podcast – the place to be for Drama teachers, Drama students, and theatre educators everywhere. I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello! I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. Welcome to Episode 130. You can find any links for this episode at the show notes at theatrefolk.com/episode130. Now, let me tell you, I love a good story and that’s kind of what, well, a lot of these podcasts, they come from somebody telling me a good story, right? They come from somebody simply sending an email and saying, “We did this and it was such a success!” or “Oh, I’m tryi

Episode 129A: The Drama Teacher Academy What is the Drama Teacher Academy? Who is DTA for? Why should you join? Plus! A sneak peek into one of our courses. Show Notes The Drama Teacher Academy Steven Stack Play Page Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP – The Theatrefolk Podcast – the place to be for Drama teachers, Drama students, and theatre educators everywhere. I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello! I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. Okay. We’ve got another bonus podcast for you. “It’s a bonus! It’s a bonus! It’s time to give you a bonus!” So, this is Episode 129A and you can find any links from this podcast in the show notes at theatrefolk.com/episode129a. Now, the reason for this bonus podcast is to let you know, the podcast listener, that [trumpet sound] we’ve opened the doors again to the Drama Teacher Academy. What is the Drama Teacher Academy? You might be asking. The DTA is a professional development membership site just for Drama teachers and Drama educat

Episode 129: Let’s Get Vocal! How do you incorporate vocal technique into the drama classroom? How do you succeed with choral work? We’ve got two teachers talking about the voice today. Elisabeth Oppelt wants you not only to teach your students how to use your voice, but also how to take care of your own voice. Keith White gives some great tips for getting the most out of students and choral work. Show Notes Stupid Is Just 4 2day Drama Teacher Academy Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP – The Theatrefolk Podcast – the place to be for Drama teachers, Drama students, and theatre educators everywhere. I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello! I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. Welcome to Episode 129. You can find any links for this episode in the show notes at theatrefolk.com/episode129. Okay. We’re talking voice! You know, I think about these things about half a second before I’m about to do them. And then, sometimes, I get in the middle of them and I’m like, “No, you sh

Episode 128: Educational Theatre is the Bridge Craig Branch is a Educational Programs Manager with the Educational Theatre Association. He started out with theatre in high school, pursued a professional career and found his passion with theatre education. Craig talks about his journey and his goal to use educational theatre as a bridge. Show Notes Educational Theatre Association Theatrefolk blog Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP – The Theatrefolk Podcast – the place to be for Drama teachers, Drama students, and theatre educators everywhere. I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello! I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. Welcome to Episode 128. You can find any links for this episode at the show notes at theatrefolk.com/episode128. So, today, a little arts education confab. Today, I’m talking to Craig Branch. He works for the Educational Theatre Association and my association with the Educational Theatre Association – ha ha ha! – it goes back a long, oh, a long time. He

Episode 127:  Small Budgets: Doing so Much with so Little For many drama teachers the dwindling production budget is an ongoing struggle. How do you put up a full production with limited funds? Beth Goodwin has the double whammy she works in a small school with a small budget. And yet her visuals are consistently stunning. Listen in to find out how she does it! Show Notes Alice The Absolutely Insidious and Utterly Terrifying Truth About Cat Hair Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP – The Theatrefolk Podcast – the place to be for Drama teachers, Drama students, and theatre educators everywhere. I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello! I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. Welcome to Episode 127. You can find any links for this episode in the show notes at theatrefolk.com/episode127. So, today, Beth Goodwin is who we’re going to talk to and she is a guidance secretary with a love of theatre. She’s been putting on plays for 16 years at her school and we’ve been lucky

Episode 126: Middle School Theatre in a Rural Community Patrick Derksen works in a school with 200 students. In total. He’s a grade eight classroom teacher and playwright who decided five years ago to make theatre with his students. Find out how he does it, why he thinks theatre is important in middle school and his advice for other rural teachers wanting to do the same. Show Notes A Lighter Shade of Noir   Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP – The Theatrefolk Podcast – the place to be for Drama teachers, Drama students, and theatre educators everywhere. I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello! I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. You have reached Episode 126 and you can find any links for this episode in the show notes at theatrefolk.com/episode126. Okay. So, Patrick Derksen, he works in a school – a rural school that has 200 total students. So, that’s it; that’s from kindergarten all the way up to Grade 8. He’s a Grade 8 classroom teacher and he’s also a playwright. We

Episode 125: Costuming with a Vision Does the thought of costuming a show fill you with dread? Are you always resorting to colourful t-shirts and jeans because that’s all you have time for? Holly Beardsley will lead you through costuming with a vision. The way you costume your show is an important part of the directing process. Show Notes The Pauper Princess Pinterest Theatrefolk Pinterest Page The Drama Teacher Academy Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP – The Theatrefolk Podcast – the place to be for Drama teachers, Drama students, and theatre educators everywhere. I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello! I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. And we have arrived at Episode 125! I’m a poet and I don’t even know it. Wooh! You can find any links for this episode in the show notes at theatrefolk.com/episode125. Today, we are talking costumes and not just putting clothes on actors but actually costuming with a vision. I will fully admit – full disclosure here – when I

Episode 124: Using Theatre in China   Nick Cala is a high school teacher in China. He’s putting up a play for the first time with Chinese students who are studying to attend American universities and fully believes in the importance of drama as part of their process. Show Notes Alice Drum Taps Shuddersome: Tales of Poe Hamlette Drop Dead Juliet Other 'Classical Adaptations' at Theatrefolk Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP – The Theatrefolk Podcast – the place to be for Drama teachers, Drama students, and theatre educators everywhere. I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello! I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. Welcome to Episode 124! You can find any links for this episode at the show notes at theatrefolk.com/124. All righty! So, today, I am talking to a high school teacher in China, Nick Cala. He is in China right now and he is putting up a play for the first time – not at an international school but with Chinese students who are studying to attend American unive

Episode 123: Teaching Life Skills Through Drama Has anyone ever said to you “It’s just drama. It’s just theatre. It’s not important.” All drama teachers know the importance of their program. The drama classroom is one of the few places where real world  life skills are still taught: communication, self-confidence,  self-evaluation, creative thinking. These are skills all teens beyond the classroom, beyond school, and Shandra Gallant, Artistic Director of the Langdon Theatre Association thinks so too. Show Notes Rainbows vs Bunnies: Annihilation Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP – The Theatrefolk Podcast – the place to be for Drama teachers, Drama students, and theatre educators everywhere. I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello, I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. Welcome to Episode 123! You can find the links for this episode at the show notes at theatrefolk.com/episode123. Has anyone ever said to you about your program, “It’s just drama – drama. It’s just drama. It’

Episode 121: Middle School Play Mania: multiple plays with multiple classes Middle School Teacher Jessica Stafford isn’t just doing one play. She’s doing a play with multiple classes. And she’s not doing the same play, each class gets their own play. How do you produce multiple plays with multiple classes and not go crazy? Listen in and learn! Show Notes Hamlet Zombie Killer of Denmark Hairball Oddball School Daze The Absolutely Insidious and Utterly Terrifying Truth about Cat Hair   Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP – The Theatrefolk Podcast – the place to be for Drama teachers, Drama students, and theatre educators everywhere. I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello, I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. Welcome to Episode 121 – one two one! You can find any links for this episode at the show notes at – you guessed it – theatrefolk.com/episode121. So, today, we are talking Middle School Play Mania, specifically the type of mania that would make a middle school te

Episode 89: Make a Mission Statement for Your Drama Classroom Discover drama teacher Amy Patel’s process for creating a mission statement with her students. Show Notes The Golden Circle Ted Talk James Clemens Theatre Mission Statement Drama Teacher Academy Drama Teacher Executive Summary Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP, The Theatrefolk Podcast. I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello, I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. As we look toward ringing in a brand new year in yet a couple of days, I thought it was appropriate to replay Episode 89:  make a mission statement for your classroom with teacher Amy Pugh Patel. Start the brand new year off to a great start with this fantastic project.  You can catch the links for this episode at theatrefolk.com/episode89. And if you like what Amy has to say here she has a more in-depth version of the project inside our Drama Teacher Academy. I’ll tell you more at the end of the podcast. Let’s get to it. Lindsay: Hello everybo

Episode 90: The Monologue Everything Program    In this podcast Lindsay talks about her love of monologues and the process of writing The Monologue Everything Program. Show Notes The Monologue Everything Program Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP, The Theatrefolk Podcast. Whoop whoop! I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello, I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. This is Episode 90. You can catch the links for this episode in the show notes at theatrefolk.com/episode90. So, it’s been a while since I’ve done a “me” only podcast. (Hello, me. How are you? I’m doing awesome! Thanks for asking!) And the reason I’m doing it is because this is a very special week for me. It’s the launch of the Monologue Everything Program that I wrote. It is a two-ebook set that has taken me, I guess, a year and a half – over a year and a half – to go from idea to fruition. It’s been a long process. So, it’s a step-by-step teacher’s guide to writing monologues and I couldn’t be happier to have:

Episode 96: How to Succeed with a Class Production   Have you tried to put together a class production and it just didn’t work out? Teacher Rassika Risko shares the successes and challenges of getting 28 grade nines in front of 300 middle school students. Show Notes The Happiness Project Promo Video http://vimeo.com/97140116 The Happiness Project Poster The Happiness Shop Teacher's Guide Set the Stage for Student-Written Monologues   Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP – The Theatrefolk Podcast – the place to be for drama teachers, drama students, theatre educators everywhere. I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello, I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. This is a replay of Episode 96 and you can catch the links for this episode in the show notes at theatrefolk.com/episode96. One thing that many classes do in a semester is put together a play and perform it for a feeder school. Some classes devise the play or in this case they have a playwright in the area (me) who com

Episode 107: Cross-Curricular in the Drama Classroom   Teacher Jeff Pinsky will embark on a new cross-curricular journey with his drama curriculum this year. He’ll be incorporating the holocaust into drama exercises, reflections, projects, and more. How do you include such an intense subject into today’s classroom? How do you get students to connect to cross-curricular? What if the exercises fail? Show Notes Jeff’s Theatre Department website Canadian Society for Yad Vashem (Educational Seminar Page) Teaching of the Holocaust for Educators (the scholarship program to which Jeff applied) Yad Vashem world center - educational resources Writing Your Research Verbatim Theatre Speeches From History Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP – The Theatrefolk Podcast – the place to be for Drama teachers, Drama students, and theatre educators everywhere. I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello, I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. So during the month of December we’re looking bac

Episode 93: Directing the Non-Traditional Play    High school director Ray Palasz talks about directing Drum Taps, a theatrical adaptation of Walt Whitman’s poetry. Why is struggle an important tool in his directing process? Show Notes Shout - An A Cappella Musical Drum Taps Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP The Theatrefolk podcast, the place to be for drama teachers, drama students and theatre educators everywhere. I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello, I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. We are now heading into the Christmas season! It’s December, so it’s now officially all right to listen to Christmas carols, hang your lights and put up decorations. What that stuff happens in in November, just weirds me out. Worse - when you go into a store before Halloween and there are Christmas decorations out? Why? Why? But I digress. Everyone gets a little, or maybe a lot busy this time of year and here at Theatrefolk Global headquarters, we do too. So we’re re-visiting some

Episode 120: Writing the Reflective Review Do you tear your hair out when students write play reviews? “It was good...it was ok….it sucked.” Writing an objective and reflective review is tricky because going to the theatre is a subjective experience. If you hate a play, how can you write about it objectively? Craig and Lindsay discuss a method to do just that - writing the reflective review. Use it in your classroom! Show Notes Tempest - La Mama Review Reflection Handout   Episode Transcript Welcome to TFP – The Theatrefolk Podcast – the place to be for Drama teachers, Drama students, and theatre educators everywhere. I’m Lindsay Price, resident playwright for Theatrefolk. Hello, I hope you're well. Thanks for listening. Welcome to Episode 120! You can find any links for this episode at the show notes at theatrefolk.com/episode120. Okay. So, some of my favorite podcasts are the ones where Craig and I get to discuss theatre – we get to talk shop – and sometimes we agree and sometimes we disagre