The production of plays enables the students to associate themselves with the total matrix of the play--its social, political, economic, and cultural aspects; thus theater teaching should be ideally suited to learning cultural concepts about a specific country. This study tested a program of theater teaching against a more conventional teaching program (lectures and the discussion of plays, but no active participation) to see which would best promote knowledge gain and change in affective behavior among ninth graders. The experimental group produced and acted in plays about India. Results showed that students preferred to participate in the theater experience, but that there was no significant advantage in knowledge gained. (RB)