Intended for classroom teachers, parents, theater people, and the general public, this book is an account of teaching a fifth grade class to write, direct, and perform their own plays as staged readings, videotapes, radio plays, and full stage productions. It can be read as a story or it can be used as a step-by-step guide for teachers. Each chapter is divided into three parts: a classroom lesson; a discussion between the artist-in-residence, who conducts the lesson, and the classroom teacher; and the artist's reflections on how the lesson and discussion fit into a larger picture. Chapter titles are: (1) Theater Magic; (2) Setting the Tone; (3) Foundation; (4) Choice; (5) Using It; (6) Power; (7) Context; (8) Transformations; (9) Structure; (10) Technique; (11) Baffling Moments; (12) Focusing; (13) Action; (14) Dialogue; (15) Hearing It; (16) Protocol; (17) Being the Boss; (18) Listening; (19) Backstage; (20) Getting Ready; and (21) Doing It. Following the main text is a "brief lesson plan" which gives page references to particular exercises, and presents plans for teaching playmaking in a cycle of 20 weeks. A glossary of theater terms and a 21-item annotated bibliography are included. (MG)