I just went back from an end-of-semester drama presentation at a nearby elementary school. In the event that you run a dilemma program, you're familiar with this specific opportunity for folks ahead and see what their kids have already been working on.
Parents are excited to see their kids, children are excited to possess their parents see them, and the drama teacher is nervous making sure things run smoothly and everyone walks away happy and appreciative.imlie Today Episode
Having led hundreds of the myself, I began thinking about what I feel are some helpful tips which will make your drama presentation as successful that you can:
1. Be Organized
This could appear to be common sense, but it's so important that it needs mentioning. Parents don't want to visit a fumbling teacher, and kids will get antsy when they don't have specific direction. Make sure you have thought through and written out the exact order of events, and simply how much time you anticipate each event to take. Within each event make sure you've written who is likely to be participating, the order of participation, etc. If you're playing drama games, plan ahead of time who you'll call up for every single one, and let them know in advance. If you're feeling more adventurous, put every student's name in a cap, and explain to the audience that you will be choosing students' at random from the hat for the different games until most of the names are called.imlie Today Episode
2. Keep it short
Keep your welcome greeting under a minute. Cover how excited you are to fairly share what you've been taking care of, the target that the class has been working toward, what they're going to see, and a quick personal tidbit concerning the program. Let the activities, games and scenes speak for themselves around possible. Keep the activity descriptions to a phrase or two, or even better if you have older kids question them to introduce each game (let them know ahead of time so they can practice).
3. Keep it positive.
Don't ever apologize for things not being as polished as they may be due to not enough time or resources. Instead mention how impressed you are with what the kids accomplished such little time. If you know a specific activity or scene will be described as a little rough, introduce it really as you would any other. Then jump in and give the kids support as they need it.
4. Make certain the kids know what to expect.
I highly recommend having a full dry run-through of the "sharing day" either one session ahead of time, or prior to the parents arrive. The youngsters ought to know the order of events and when it's their turn to participate. Consider printing a couple of copies of the "itinerary" and posting them stage right and left where the actors can easily see them nevertheless the audience can't.
5. Have clean transitions.
The moments following a high-energy activity are the absolute most crucial moments to keep up control of the environment. Simply telling your kids as their laughing and talking "please go back to your seats" does NOT cut it. Instantly regain their focus, then provide them with specific timed instructions. "Everyone have a breathe in, breathe out, silently head back again to your seats in 3 counts. 3... 2... 1. I'd now like to introduce... "
6. Harness the silly/Harness the talking
Along exactly the same lines, make sure the kids know it is not OK to talk during a game title or activity unless specifically instructed to do so. When parents come in the audience it is natural for children to desire to be little hams, cracking jokes with friends, going for easy laughs. It's the greatest challenge of the drama teacher to target this energy into creative character/acting choices. There's more leniency for this when the kids are very young (K-2nd grade). However as students grow during your program their acting should noticeably mature. These sharing presentation are an effective way to demonstrate that to the parents.
7. Make certain every kid has something special to do.
If you are doing scenes, and kids have individual lines, first thing a parent is going to do after hearing a couple of kids speak is anxiously await his/her kid to speak. It's completely acceptable to provide the older, more complex kids bigger roles in the presentation, but make sure every child has one or more moment to be in the spotlight.
8. Finish with a bang.
End the presentation with a game title, activity or song that you understand can have everyone leaving with a huge smile on the face. Even though perhaps you are in an informal environment, choreograph a clear simple bow by the ensemble at the end.
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