Theatre Fun: Let's Put on a Little Show!
What's included
3 live meetings
1 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
This class will use the storybook "Small Brown Dog's Bad Remembering Day" to practice the lessons they learn in class to develop a character. I've been teaching theatre since 1996 and have produced countless shows with cast after cast. There are a few basic lessons that every new actor must learn before they are ready to audition for a play and receive a script. This class will cover those basic lessons. In this class students will learn the basics of creating a character for stage. They will experiment with finding character voices, body movements and consider stories and emotions behind character movitations. It is a first step to performing on a stage. Class #1: Variety in Voice This class is all about using the voice to find a character. Experimenting with high/slow, fast/slow and accent is a good way to start. All exercises are with teacher modeling and mimic so students will feel comfortable (basically, I'm so silly that no one worries about looking silly themselves!). Students will be assigned "parts" from "Small Brown Dog's Bad Remembering Day." Their assignment will be to find a voice for the character. Class #2: Body Consciousness Mostly this class will be learning to use one's body to convey a character. How does this person walk? What do they do with their hands? How would they stand/sit/move, etc? I also will talk some about body consciousness on stage and basic stage manners like cheating out, not upstaging and how to always be seen. The assignment will be to choose body movements and a walk for their character Class #3: Emotion and Story in a Character By this class most students are ready to experiment a bit with creating a character. We'll talk about how we FEEL when we're a particular character and we will add a story to explain who the character is. We will perform "Small Brown Dog's Bad Remembering Day" together and students will demonstrate their ability to show off their characters with voice and body.
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Small Brown Dog'd Bad Remembering Day by Mike Gibbe:
Narrator: Small Brown Dog’s Bad Remembering Day by Mike Gibbie. Small Brown Dog was having a really bad remembering day. He couldn’t remember which side to get out of bed. He couldn’t remember what he liked for breakfast. Worst of all, he couldn’t remember his name!
SBD: If only I could find my collar, that would tell me my name!
Narrator: But he couldn’t remember where he had left it. He looked high and low. But he couldn’t find it anywhere in his doghouse. So he ran outside. And very nearly ran into Tess the Terrier delivering the mail.
SBD: Help, Tess! I’ve lost my collar and I don’t know who I am!
Tess: You are a small brown dog with a pink nose, but I don’t remember your name.
SBD: Can’t you remember anything else?
Tess: You like splashing in puddles!
SBD: You’re right! I’m going to go find some!
Narrator: He was splashing down the street when he saw Dan the Dalmation.
SBD: Help, Dan! I’ve lost my collar and I don’t know who I am!
Dan: You are a small brown dog with a pink nose who likes splashing in puddles but I don’t remember your name.
SBD: Don’t you remember anything else?
Dan: You’re always chasing squirrels!
SBD: You’re right! I’m going to the park!
Narrator: At the park he ran into Bobby the Bulldog.
SBD: Help, Bobby! I’ve lost my collar and I don’t know who I am!
Bobby: You are a small brown dog with a pink nose who likes splashing in puddles and is always chasing squirrels but I don’t remember your name.
SBD: Can’t you remember anything else?
Bobby: You’ve got a bad case of the fleas!
SBD: You’re right! (scratching)
Narrator: he went across the road and into the hairdresser’s where he saw Peaches the Poodle.
SBD: Help, Peaches, I’ve lost my collar and I don’t know who I am!
Peaches: You are a small brown dog with a pink nose who likes splashing in puddles, is always chasing squirrels and has a bad case of the fleas, but I don’t remember your name.
SBD: Can’t you remember anything else?
Peaches: You can’t resist hot dogs!
SBD: You’re right! And I’m hungry!
Narrator: He turned the corner into the square, where he saw Sid the Sausage Dog.
SBD: Help, Sid! I’ve lost my collar and I don’t know who I am!
Sid: You are a small brown dog with a pink nose who likes splashing in puddles, is always chasing squirrels, has a bad case of the fleas, can’t resist hot dogs, but I don’t remember your name.
SBD: Can’t you remember anything else?
Sid: You bury bones in the sand.
SBD: You’re right! I’m going to go dig one up!
Narrator: He went across the square into the building site where he saw Ralph the Rottweiler.
SBD: Help, Ralph! I’ve lost my collar and I don’t know who I am!
Ralph: You are a small brown dog with a pink nose who likes splashing in puddles, is always chasing squirrels, has a bad case of the fleas, can’t resist hot dogs, and buries bones in the sand but I don’t remember your name.
SBD: Can’t you remember anything else?
Ralph: You blow a big shiny trumpet.
SBD: You’re right! I’m going to go join my band!
Narrator: he went ovr the hill and into the park where he saw Charlie the Chihuahua.
SBD: Help, Charlie! I’ve lost my collar and I don’t know who I am!
Charlie: You are a small brown dog with a pink nose who likes splashing in puddles, is always chasing squirrels, has a bad case of the fleas, can’t resist hot dogs, and buries bones in the sand and blows a big shiny trumpet but I don’t remember your name.
SBD: Can’t you remember anything else?
Charlie: You’re always losing your collar!
SBD: I know that! But where can I find it?
Charlie: You can try the police station.
SBD: You’re right! I’ll go there!
Narrator: He ran back through the park, across the road, up the street and into the police station where Alf was standing behind the desk.
SBD: Help, Alf! I’ve lost my collar and….
Alf: Here it is! Roger the Retriever brought it in this morning.
SBD: At last I remember! I am
Everyone: a small brown dog with a pink nose who likes splashing in puddles, is always chasing squirrels, has a bad case of the fleas, can’t resist hot dogs, and buries bones in the sand, blows a big shiny trumpet and is always losing (his) my collar!
SBD: And my name is….SMALL BROWN DOG!
Teacher expertise and credentials
Texas Teaching Certificate in Music/Theater/Arts
Bachelor's Degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Teaching, performing for children as “Queen of Theatre,” or directing “Ms. Jackson’s Theatre!,” Kirsten Jackson facilitates imagination and confidence using silliness and laughter to create a safe place where students shine.
A widow who raised three 2E children on an acreage surrounded by animals, she believes creativity is key to authentic self-awareness. Jackson has 27 years teaching experience and 15 years directing experience. She currently teaches theatre and writing for Outschool and Young Scholars Academy.
Sydney Clemens says, "Art has the role in education of helping children become like themselves instead of more like everyone else." Ms. Jackson's goal is to allow students a safe place to explore and shine and comfortably be themselves.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$30
for 3 classes1x per week, 3 weeks
30 min
Completed by 31 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-11
1-7 learners per class