how to read a play
Enduring Understanding: “The play’s the thing…” Says Hamlet in Shakespeare’s classic tragedy. Even plays have plays in them, so why do humans want to tell stories in this way? How long have we been doing it? We will explore the history of plays from some of the first written scripts in western theatre to today. In this unit, we will explore some of the many approaches to reading a play and how to digest the material.
Essential Questions: In your opinion, why do people write plays? What sorts of plays have you read/do you read? Why? Why do humans tell living stories?
Essential Skills:
Students will know:
Activity 1: Learn the history of Greek theatre playwrights and the launch of western playwriting. Then, research an era of western play history studying the genre from a particular section of history (assigned by instructor).
Activity 2: Write a journal entry in the Google classroom on the genre of theatre you were researching. Present the basic facts to your classmates in discussion.
Activity 3: Read two plays as a group and dissect what and why the author wrote what he/she did.
Activity 4: Read a modern monologue (assigned by the instructor). Then perform a cold read of said monologue. Read the play from which the monologue came and perform it again.
Activities for MOST students:
Will read all of the material and take notes during discussions.
Investigate the concepts highlighted in Dixon's How to Read a Play.
Enter research in brief to the Google Classroom.
Respond to others' research online.
Read aloud during classroom reads.
Perform a monologue.
Activities for SOME students:
Will do all of the above and participate well in discussions.
Enter research findings in a timely manner to the Google classroom citing more than two sources.
Respond to multiple individuals online and in classroom discussion.
Participate in classroom reads as an attentive audience member as well as a reader.
Perform a memorized monologue.
Content Standards:
TH:Cr2.1.HSI
a. Explore the function of history and culture in the development of a dramatic concept through a critical analysis of original ideas in a drama/theatre work.
b. Investigate the collaborative nature of the actor, director, playwright, and designers and explore their interdependent roles in a drama/theatre work.
TH:Re9.1.HSI
a. Examine a drama/ theatre work using supporting evidence and criteria, while considering art forms, history, culture, and other disciplines.
TH:Cn11.1.HSI
a. Explore how cultural, global, and historic belief systems affect creative choices in a drama/theatre work.
Resources:
Aristotle's Poetics
How to Read a Play - 30 ways to understand a script
Essential Questions: In your opinion, why do people write plays? What sorts of plays have you read/do you read? Why? Why do humans tell living stories?
Essential Skills:
Students will know:
- History of written Western Theatre
- Basic principles of script structure
- The concept of Author’s Intent
- How to interpret stage directions
- The importance of reading a play before performing it (or even a part of it).
- Understand the way a script is structured technically.
- How the author translates emotion and storytelling through character dialog
- Interpret stage directions
- choose a monologue
- History of play development journal entries/research
- Read through participation
- Written reasoning behind picking a certain monologue from a certain play.
- Class participation in critique
Activity 1: Learn the history of Greek theatre playwrights and the launch of western playwriting. Then, research an era of western play history studying the genre from a particular section of history (assigned by instructor).
Activity 2: Write a journal entry in the Google classroom on the genre of theatre you were researching. Present the basic facts to your classmates in discussion.
Activity 3: Read two plays as a group and dissect what and why the author wrote what he/she did.
Activity 4: Read a modern monologue (assigned by the instructor). Then perform a cold read of said monologue. Read the play from which the monologue came and perform it again.
Activities for MOST students:
Will read all of the material and take notes during discussions.
Investigate the concepts highlighted in Dixon's How to Read a Play.
Enter research in brief to the Google Classroom.
Respond to others' research online.
Read aloud during classroom reads.
Perform a monologue.
Activities for SOME students:
Will do all of the above and participate well in discussions.
Enter research findings in a timely manner to the Google classroom citing more than two sources.
Respond to multiple individuals online and in classroom discussion.
Participate in classroom reads as an attentive audience member as well as a reader.
Perform a memorized monologue.
Content Standards:
TH:Cr2.1.HSI
a. Explore the function of history and culture in the development of a dramatic concept through a critical analysis of original ideas in a drama/theatre work.
b. Investigate the collaborative nature of the actor, director, playwright, and designers and explore their interdependent roles in a drama/theatre work.
TH:Re9.1.HSI
a. Examine a drama/ theatre work using supporting evidence and criteria, while considering art forms, history, culture, and other disciplines.
TH:Cn11.1.HSI
a. Explore how cultural, global, and historic belief systems affect creative choices in a drama/theatre work.
Resources:
Aristotle's Poetics
How to Read a Play - 30 ways to understand a script
| how_to_read_a_play_dramatics.pdf |
