Grade 12's and Directing
"Mister Hedivan, when are we going to do something fun in Drama?"
This question met me as I entered my office yesterday, where my Grade 12's were starting to gather for class.
"What exactly were you expecting in Grade 12 Theatre Arts?" was my tempered response. Her question was an honest one, and so was my response. This student has hit a nail that I stuggle with when it comes to Grade 12 Theatre Arts. As part of the IB Theatre Arts Program, students need to understand several things about Directing - Director's Concept, how to analyze a script, the multi-faceted role of the Director, how to visualize a scene, a set, a character, and how to articulate all of these things to another person. As with all theatrical disciplines, the best way for students to learn about this stuff is to do it, right? So I have worked hard to structure my program so that the Grade 12's get a whole term to explore Directing.
The problem?
It gets really quite dry at some points. To the drama student accustomed to fun, games, and action, this unit can be a real drag. I try, oh do I try, to keep it interesting, punctuating the handouts about ANALYSIS with hands-on exploration in the Theatre, but I don't always convince them.
The thing is, one of the qualities I posses as a teacher is PASSION. My students have confirmed this about me, as have my colleagues, and I am proud of it. And believe me, I am PASSIONATE about directing. The cast of my show will tell you quite easily how passionate I am about directing. My Assistant Director and my Stage Manager will tell you about the glint in my eye as I speak about my concepts, my designs, my blocking, anything.
So why did I get that question? I shouldn't let it bother me so much, I suppose. I know that I am getting through to the Grade 12's. They are a wonderful class, and coming up with some great ideas. Even Celia, yes Celia, who is the first one to sigh and admit that she would rather be performing, has presented some really unique ideas for her Director's Concept of Waiting for Godot - and I think she may finally be getting a little bit excited about the Directing unit.
I think.
"All right Lisa," I said, "I suppose there will be some fun when we start rehearsing these scenes, and then in Term Two when YOU get to choose what you are doing in this class. In this class, at the Grade 12 level, the fun is what you make of it."
I guess that's what I think today.
This question met me as I entered my office yesterday, where my Grade 12's were starting to gather for class.
"What exactly were you expecting in Grade 12 Theatre Arts?" was my tempered response. Her question was an honest one, and so was my response. This student has hit a nail that I stuggle with when it comes to Grade 12 Theatre Arts. As part of the IB Theatre Arts Program, students need to understand several things about Directing - Director's Concept, how to analyze a script, the multi-faceted role of the Director, how to visualize a scene, a set, a character, and how to articulate all of these things to another person. As with all theatrical disciplines, the best way for students to learn about this stuff is to do it, right? So I have worked hard to structure my program so that the Grade 12's get a whole term to explore Directing.
The problem?
It gets really quite dry at some points. To the drama student accustomed to fun, games, and action, this unit can be a real drag. I try, oh do I try, to keep it interesting, punctuating the handouts about ANALYSIS with hands-on exploration in the Theatre, but I don't always convince them.
The thing is, one of the qualities I posses as a teacher is PASSION. My students have confirmed this about me, as have my colleagues, and I am proud of it. And believe me, I am PASSIONATE about directing. The cast of my show will tell you quite easily how passionate I am about directing. My Assistant Director and my Stage Manager will tell you about the glint in my eye as I speak about my concepts, my designs, my blocking, anything.
So why did I get that question? I shouldn't let it bother me so much, I suppose. I know that I am getting through to the Grade 12's. They are a wonderful class, and coming up with some great ideas. Even Celia, yes Celia, who is the first one to sigh and admit that she would rather be performing, has presented some really unique ideas for her Director's Concept of Waiting for Godot - and I think she may finally be getting a little bit excited about the Directing unit.
I think.
"All right Lisa," I said, "I suppose there will be some fun when we start rehearsing these scenes, and then in Term Two when YOU get to choose what you are doing in this class. In this class, at the Grade 12 level, the fun is what you make of it."
I guess that's what I think today.
posted by Hedivan at 11:12 PM
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