Drama in the Schools

The Drama in the Schools program is a partnership between the school and Victory Gardens focusing on storytelling, character, and playwriting. In this program, experienced teaching artists partner with classroom teachers to lead students through sessions that encourage them to find and use their voices.

Storytelling

“I was able to tell a story that needed to be told and get my emotions out.” —Student, Lincoln Park HS

Students are taught to access their emotions and use their voices through first-person, spoken word stories. During this writing and performance unit, classmates share their experiences and find a commonality that helps them become more comfortable opening up in front of a group. Each student adapts their personal monologue into a slam poem.

Character

“My classroom would not be the same without the Victory Gardens residency.” —Teacher, Simeon Career Academy

While immersed in August Wilson’s 10-play century cycle, students learn to connect to and express honest emotions through the words of the playwright. In addition to exploring character in preparation for the annual August Wilson Monologue Competition, the unit includes a research component with students completing dramaturgical investigations to better understand the decade in which their monologue takes place.

Playwriting

“Not every student in the class will become a writer, but the playwriting unit allows them to reflect on what they want to share with the world.” —Teacher, Kenwood Academy High School

Victory Gardens is dedicated to the development of playwrights and new plays, making this component the flagship of our education work. Small groups create 5-10 minute plays by relying on their personal experiences and concerns to generate themes and plots for their pieces. The session culminates with either a staged reading by professional actors in the classroom or a shared showcase with other schools participating in the Drama in the Schools program.

[lgc_column grid=”50″ tablet_grid=”50″ mobile_grid=”100″ last=”false”]All three units can be adapted based on curriculum and time constraints. Experience has shown our program is most successful when the residency covers multiple units throughout the school year. This creates continuity for the students, and a solid partnership between the teacher and teaching artist.

Participation in Drama in the Schools includes limited tickets to the Scholarship Subscription Series student matinee performances.

Meet our Teaching Artists

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[lgc_column grid=”50″ tablet_grid=”50″ mobile_grid=”100″ last=”true”]Drama in the Schools Partners

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