Provides six classroom exercises to stimulate student awareness of the principles of Readers Theater. Emphasizes the use of scripts and space, flexibility of voice and body, staging, pantomime, and characterization. (PD)

Traces the Stanislavski system for realism in acting from its origin within Moscow Art Theater, through its modification by Lee Strasberg and Elia Kazan in the Actor's Studio, to its use in modern American films. (JMF)

Recounts that the Dickinson Theatre Project has been active not only in the advocacy of drama in the elementary classroom, but also in the support and development of weekly one-act productions, the creation of student-produced plays, and the development of full-length productions with casts and crews as small as 25 and as large as 250. (PA)

Discusses mask building as a theatrical exercise. Provides a simple method for building masks. Outlines a format for the classes that follow mask construction, in which a character is gradually built to suit the finished mask, including the birthing process, physical character and voice development, getting to know the character, and what happens…

Describes working out an exercise in creating a character using objects bought at a rummage sale. States that the high school students used the objects creatively as a final class project. (PA)

Describes a project to help student actors "get into character" thoroughly and empathetically. Notes that 10th, 11th, and 12th graders interviewed many people in a conflict-ridden school community, recorded and transcribed the interviews, took notes on interviewees' gestures and characteristics, and represented those people as faithfully…

Suggests ways to create appropriate, well-fitting, economical costumes. (PD)

Relates experiences as a recruiter for college theater programs in Florida. Provides tips for students in finding an appropriate monologue, developing the audition, and performing the audition. (PA)

Presents criteria for selecting plays for secondary school theater programs to be presented to the public as well as to be studied or produced within the curriculum. Includes consideration of student needs and abilities, appropriateness, budget, and community standards. (JMF)

An American press history teacher develops student interest in his topic by masquerading as major personalities in the history of journalism. (RL)

Recalls how theater in the United States celebrated the Bicentennial by offering "Yankee Doodle" by Aurand Harris. Explains that although the characters were considered to be quite progressive, the absence of a larger female and minority contingent means that the target audience remains the white male. Concludes that it is important to…

Presents an outline of six basic preparation activities for student actors, including reading the play, doing historical research, elemental exercises, learning the part, creating the character, and exercises in movement and voice. (JMF)

This paper focuses on historic portrayal of black males in service and support roles in the media and their relation to social reality. Both television and films use glamorous sophisticated trappings seemingly to enhance the image of black males, but the personalities of the characters they play remain stereotypic. (VM)

Describes the drama program at Wykeham Rise School, Washington, Connecticut, which provides three hours of class time each day. The instructor describes her use of improvisation in preparing the students and developing the characters in the productions. Comments by two students are included. (JMF)

Examines the representation of gender and ethnicity in two female protagonists, Maria in "Simply Maria" and Alicia in "Alicia in Wonder Tierra." Demonstrates the cultural politics that direct how the protagonists negotiate gender identity within Mexican-American cultures. (SG)