I just returned from an end-of-semester drama presentation at an area elementary school. In the event that you run a drama program, you're familiar with this opportunity for parents to come and see what their kids have already been working on.
Parents are excited to see their kids, students are excited to own their parents see them, and the drama teacher is nervous ensuring things run smoothly and everyone walks away happy and appreciative.imlie Today Episode
Having led hundreds of the myself, I began considering what I feel are some helpful tips that'll make your drama presentation as successful that you can:
1. Be Organized
This may sound like wise practice, but it's so important so it needs mentioning. Parents don't desire to visit a fumbling teacher, and kids will get antsy if they don't have specific direction. Be sure you have thought through and written out the exact order of events, and how much time you expect each event to take. Within each event make certain you've written who is likely to be participating, the order of participation, etc. If you're playing drama games, plan in advance who you'll call up for each one, and let them know in advance. If you're feeling more adventurous, put every student's name in a hat, and reveal to the audience that you will be choosing students' at random from the hat for the various games until all 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 in regards to the program. Allow activities, games and scenes speak for themselves as much as possible. Keep the experience descriptions to a sentence or two, or even better when you have older kids question them to introduce each game (let them know in advance so they can practice).
3. Keep it positive.
Don't ever apologize for things not being as polished as they could be as a result of insufficient time or resources. Instead mention how impressed you are in what the kids accomplished in such little time. If you know a particular activity or scene is going to be considered a little rough, introduce it just as you would any other. Then jump in and give the kids support as they need it.
4. Ensure the kids know what to expect.
I recommend having a full dry run-through of the "sharing day" just one session beforehand, or before the parents arrive. The youngsters should know the order of events and when it's their turn to participate. Consider printing a few copies of the "itinerary" and posting them stage right and left where the actors could see them nevertheless the audience can't.
5. Have clean transitions.
The moments after a high-energy activity are the most crucial moments to keep control of the environment. Simply telling the kids as their laughing and talking "please return to your seats" does NOT cut it. Instantly regain their focus, then provide them with specific timed instructions. "Everyone take a breathe in, breathe out, silently head back once 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 certain the kids know it is not OK to talk during a game or activity unless specifically instructed to accomplish so. When parents come in the audience it is natural for children to wish to be little hams, cracking jokes with friends, going for quick laughs. It's the biggest challenge of the drama teacher to target this energy into creative character/acting choices. There's more leniency with this when the kids are very young (K-2nd grade). However as students grow through your program their acting should noticeably mature. These sharing presentation are a good way to demonstrate that to the parents.
7. Ensure every kid has something special to do.
If you are doing scenes, and kids have individual lines, first thing a parent will do after hearing a few kids speak is anxiously await his/her kid to speak. It's completely acceptable to give the older, more advanced kids bigger roles in the presentation, but make certain every child has at least one moment to be in the spotlight.
8. Finish with a bang.
End the presentation with a game, activity or song that you know will have everyone leaving with a huge smile on the face. Although perhaps you are within an informal environment, choreograph a clear simple bow by the ensemble at the end.
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