The Topic: Skits, Plays, & Scripts Easier - A play is a story that is written to be acted on a stage or in a theater. A skit is a short play that is usually performed in a more informal setting like a club meeting or a classroom. Skits are often funny. Acting is to perform, to play a part, to pretend to be a character in a play for theater, a movie, television or radio. The written text for a skit or play is called the script.   Harder - Theater happens when an actor or actors perform on a stage while an audience is watching. These four essentials - - actors, audience, space (stage), and performance - - are theater. It is a live performance before an audience. The actors present a story about some aspect of human experience. The performance is usually a type of play - - a tragedy, comedy, or musical, where the actors follow or interpret a script. But theater performances can also be a circus, vaudeville, puppetry, pantomime, or other forms of entertainment.   Improvisational Theatre Structures by H. MacLeod http://www.staircase.org/structures/ This page explores all manner of improvisation structures including warm-ups, exercises, long-forms and ask-fors. These pages are aimed at those who practice the art of improvisational comedy theater. Other Improv Sites: 2) Improv Page http://www.improvcomedy.org/index.html 3) Improvisation Situations (Grouped for Grades K-4, Grades 5-8, and Grades 9-12) http://www.byu.edu/tma/arts-ed/home/improv.htm 4) Living Playbook from Unexpected Productions Framed version: http://www.accessone.com/~up/playbook/framed/index.html Unframed: http://www.accessone.com/~up/playbook/ 5) New Improv Page by F. Gerdes http://www.lowrent.net/improv/ 6) Three Words (Grade 7) by M. Buchanan http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/~mcoady/matless3.htm   Children's Creative Theatre (Gold Award, 1999 ThinkQuest Junior Project) http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/5291/ This site was designed to introduce the visitor to the world of children’s theater. Major areas of concentration are: theater history (brief), theater terms, theater games, resources, an original skit, and a tour of a real children’s theater. An original skit, written by the team, provides ideas for costumes and makeup (Note: This site was developed by kids for kids).   Readers Theatre from Gander Academy http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/langrt.htm This is a great site for both students and teachers interested in Readers Theatre, sample scripts, scriptwriting, and much, much more. Related Websites: 2) All-Of-Us Express Children's Theatre http://www.allofusexpress.org/crews.html 3) Classroom Theater from Fiction Teachers http://www.fictionteachers.com/classroomtheater/theater.html 4) Example of Script Formatting from Humboldt State University http://www.humboldt.edu/~jmf2/floss/323rt.script.example.html 5) Music for Readers Theater by R. DeVries http://www.uni.edu/coe/regentsctr/theater.html 6) Reader's Theatre http://www.acps.k12.va.us/hammond/readstrat/Page21ReadersTheatre.html 7) Reader's Theatre at Baie Comeau High School http://www.qesnrecit.qc.ca/schools/bchs/rtheatre/index.html 8) Reader's Theatre Concepts http://www.comm.unt.edu/histofperf/rt2.htm   Reader's Theatre Basics http://bms.westport.k12.ct.us/mccormick/rt/RTHOME.htm Reader’s Theater involves children in oral reading through reading parts in scripts. Unlike traditional theater, the emphasis is mainly on oral expression of the part. It involves children in understanding their world, creating their own scripts, reading aloud, performing with a purpose, and bringing enjoyment to both themselves and their audiences. Not-To-Be-Missed Sections: 2) Reader's Theatre Scripts http://bms.westport.k12.ct.us/mccormick/rt/rtscriphome.htm 3) Riddles in the Dark by J. R. R. Tolkien (Script adapted from The Hobbit, Houghton Mifflin, 1966) http://bms.westport.k12.ct.us/mccormick/rt/rtscripts/rtshobbit.htm   After visiting several of the websites, complete one or more of the following activities.   Start A Reader's Theater Group. Visit several of the websites to insure that you understand the concepts and procedures that define Reader's Theater. Once you form a group of interested participants, you can find ready-made scripts at the following websites: 1) Reader's Theater Scripts and Plays http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Thebes/9893/readerstheater.htm 2) Free Sample Scripts from Storycart® Press http://www.storycart.com/SampleList.html 3) Reader's Theater Collection (Grades K-3) http://www.readerstheatre.ecsd.net/collection.htm 4) Reader's Theater Scripts (Download page for 'RT Script Pack') http://www.geocities.com/rtscripts/index.html 5) Reader's Theater Scripts http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/readersmine.htm 6) Readers Theatre Scripts of the Month by L. Blau http://www.lisablau.com/scriptomonth.html 7) Reader's Theater Titles by R. Swallow http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/rcswallow/ 8) Scripts & Tips for Reader's Theater by A. Shepard http://www.aaronshep.com/rt/index.html   Act Out! Try acting out some plays or skits. You can find scripts at the following websites. You might also search at your school or community library. 1) Orville and Wilbur Wright: First in the Air by T. Nolan http://www2.scholastic.com/teachers/authorsandbooks/teachingwithbooks/producthome.jh tml?productID=11980&collateralID=5613&displayName=Extension+Activity 2) Crazy Critters by L. Walker (Grades 4-5) http://loiswalker.com/catalog/freert2.html 3) Grasshopper and the Ant by L. Walker (Grades 4-5) http://www.loiswalker.com/choralgh.html 4) Plays by M. Buchanan http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Alley/3765/Myplays.html 5) Theatre Script of Great Expectations adapted by K. Rickman, The Dickens Project http://humwww.ucsc.edu/dickens/DEA/GEresources/Readers.Theatre.Script.GE.html 6) Zoom Playhouse Scripts from PBS http://pbskids.org/zoom/playhouse/index.html   Write Your Own Script. Decide if you want to write a monologue or dialogue for a skit or play. Tell a favorite story or make up your own. Or you could use the approach found at Acting Out. Decide if you want to have costumes for your skit. Do you need scenery? Sometimes a few props are all that are necessary. Perform your skit at your school and for families and friends.   Write A Play, Enter A Playwriting Contest. First write an original play. Use the play writing websites to help with the process. Then enter the annual National Playwriting Competition at Young Playwrights Inc. The deadline is December 1st and entrants must be under 18 years in age.   Write And Perform A Radio Script. You might want to start with a radio program. You can get ideas and find help with writing at sites like (1) How To Write A Radio Play from BBC World Service and (2) How to Write a Radio Play by M. Klingensmith. You might also want to visit the 42eXplore project titled (3) Listen To The Radio.   Form A Drama Group. Explore different types of drama such as improvisation, monologue, dialogue, plays, and skits. Once you have identified your membership, find out who is interested in writing, performing, designing sets, costumes, etc. Have fun, learn, and stretch your talents and abilities.   Complete A Dramatic WebQuest. Follow or adapt the procedures found at one of the following webQuest sites: 1) Medieval Morality Play: A WebQuest by C. Irby and J. Murphy http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/webmoralityca.html 2) On the Costume History Catwalk (Grades 9-12) by B. and D. Fleming http://www.esc20.net/etprojects/formats/webquests/summer99/northside/costume1/default.html 3) Origins of Greek Drama (Grades 9-12) by K. Reno http://auden.webster.edu/~renoren/index.html 4) Retelling the Classic Tales http://www.mtbaker.wednet.edu/mbjh/somera/fairytale/ 5) Retelling the Classic Tales: A Drama Webquest (Grades 5-8) http://www.beechwood.k12.ky.us/webquests/jgasser/default.htm 6) Theatre History 101 (Grades 10 and Above) http://www.ga.unc.edu/NCTA/NCTA/WebQuests2001/SouthPoint/theahistory/Introduction.html 7) Theatrical Webquest http://www.u46.k12.il.us/tms/proctordaniel/295.htm 8) Which Way Is Up? (Grades 9-12) by B. and D. Fleming http://www.esc20.net/etprojects/formats/webquests/summer99/northside/physical_plant/default.html   Websites By Kids For Kids Art and Science of Theater (1998 ThinkQuest Internet Challenge) http://library.thinkquest.org/21722/ Study the history of western theater from the time of ancient Greece to the twentieth century. Learn how to stage a theatrical production. You'll need to find a script, audition actors, build a set, and design the lighting. .  More Websites for Plays, Skits, and Scripts ABWAG to Learn Acting http://www.abwag.com/ Learn acting subjects from the late drama coach, Don Richardson. The site design is a bit overwhelming, but it really has some great resources. Other Similar Websites: 2) Acting Workshop On-Line (AWOL) http://www.redbirdstudio.com/AWOL/acting2.html 3) Dramatic Education http://www.angelfire.com/nm/marston6/ 4) History and Science of Acting http://www.linksnorth.com/acting/ 5) Method Acting Procedures from TheatrGROUP http://www.theatrgroup.com/Method/   Children's Theatre History and Background from Northwestern Univ. Dept. of Theater http://faculty-web.at.nwu.edu/theater/tya/history.html This site provides a brief history of Children's Theatre in the United States.   Copyright Law for Theater People by L.E. Catron http://faculty.wm.edu/lecatr/copy.htm This webpage attempts to clarify the copyright law for theater folk, most especially aspects of copyright that relate to producing play scripts---copyright laws for Playwrights, Directors, and Sound Designers.   Costume Site http://www.milieux.com/costume/ This site has online resources for historical, science fiction, and fantasy costumers. Related Websites: 2) Costume Gallery http://www.costumegallery.com/ 3) Costume History from The Costume Page http://members.aol.com/nebula5/tcpinfo2.html#history 4) International Theatre Design Archive from United States Institute for Theatre Technology and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville http://www.siue.edu/ITDA/ 5) Museum of Costume http://www.museumofcostume.co.uk/ 6) Shan's Costume History and Theatre History http://members.aol.com/msj1140/index.html 7) Timeline of Costume History http://www.costumes.org/pages/timelinepages/timeline.htm   Creative Drama http://www.susancanthony.com/Resources/creativedrama.html Here is some background with easy ideas and activities to get started in informal dramatic interpretation. Related Websites: 2) Children's Theatre / Creative Drama by M. Buchanan http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Alley/3765/mainframe.html 3) Drama Guide http://expage.com/page/dgone 4) Drama in Education http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/~mcoady/index.htm   Dialogue, a Few Sins and a Sinner by A. Keegan from Writers Write http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/jan98/keegan4.htm Good dialogue represents, but does not mimic real speech. Get some ideas about how it is done at this website. Other Sites For Ideas On Writing Dialogue: 2) Dialogue: Writing What People Say http://www.visualwriter.com/HowTo/Dialogue.htm 3) How to Write A Dialogue http://www.carolgreene.com/education/vent/dialogue.html 4) Writing A Scene http://www.learner.org/exhibits/cinema/screenwriting/   Drama in Medieval through 19th Century Japan: Kyogen, Noh, Kabuki, and Puppets (Bunraku) http://www.sfusd.k12.ca.us/schwww/sch618/japan/DanceDrama/Japanese_Drama_Noh.html Learn about the history of drama in Japan. Related Websites: 2) Kabuki for Everyone http://www.fix.co.jp/kabuki/kabuki.html 3) Theatre of Japan http://www.theatrehistory.com/asian/japanese.html   How Can my Students Create RT Scripts? from Baie Comeau High School http://www.qesnrecit.qc.ca/schools/bchs/rtheatre/teach2.htm Here are guidelines for students creating scripts for Reader's Theater. Related Websites: 2) Example of Script Formatting http://www.humboldt.edu/~jmf2/floss/323rt.script.example.html 3) Scripting for Reader's Theatre http://www.humboldt.edu/~jmf2/floss/rt-notes.html   How To Write A Play Review from The Goodman Theatre http://www.goodman-theatre.org/review.html This site contains a brief outline for writing a play review. Related Websites: 2) How To Write A Play Review from Mission Viejo High School Drama http://www.mvhsdrama.com/play_review.htm 3) Writing A Play Summary from Mission Viejo High School Drama http://www.mvhsdrama.com/play%20summary.htm   Makeup Effects by L. Carsson, Gothenburg, Sweden http://www.makeup-fx.com/Indexeng.html This site provides an introduction to the makeup artist's work.   Monologues (Grades 6-8) by M. Buchanan http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Alley/3765/mono.html Visit this site to see a few monologues written for middle school students. Related Websites: 2) Dramatic Monologues http://www.gretchen.and.brett.com/monologues.html   TheatrePedia from East Los Angeles College Theatre Arts http://www.perspicacity.com/elactheatre/library/library.htm This mega-theatre site provides information and resources including biographies, play sources, and much more. They also have an ask-the-theatre expert. Related Websites: 2) Theatre Central http://www1.playbill.com/cgi-bin/plb/central?cmd=start 3) Theatre History on the Web by J. Wolcott http://www.videoccasions-nw.com/history/jack.html 4) Theatre Resources (Links-site) http://www.newschool.edu/library/theatre.htm 5) Theatre Through the Ages by E.R. Mergenthal, Jr. http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Balcony/7634/ 6) Virtual Library for Theatre and Drama http://vl-theatre.com/ 7) Virtual Theatre (On-line lesson) http://www.esc20.net/etprojects/formats/scrapbook/misc99/Vtheatre/default.htm   Writers' Block? Try This from Young Playwrights, Inc. http://www.youngplaywrights.org/page10.html This brief page outlines a process to help in writing plays. Another Helpful Resource at Young Playwrights, Inc.: 2) Format Play http://www.youngplaywrights.org/page11.html Other Websites for Playwriting: 3) Playwriting Resources at ELAC http://www.perspicacity.com/elactheatre/library/writing.htm   Websites For Teachers Acting Out Historical Events by M. Sparks (Grades 4-5) http://www.lessonplanspage.com/SSHistoricalEventsActing45.htm It is somewhat difficult to remember all the happenings of certain events from throughout history, but it can be made much easier if you act out what you have learned about some of them.   All the World's a Stage (Grades 9-12) http://205.146.39.13/success/lessons/Lesson10/HFAe3_L.HTM In this lesson students review theatrical techniques and discuss the effect they have on the audience. Then students research and report on a present-day theater form.   Acting Up across the Curriculum: Using Creative Dramatics To Explore Adolescent Literature by J. Kaplan from The Alan Review, Spring 1997 http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/spring97/s97-42-Kaplan.html This biographical article remind of the importance of teaching creative dramatics and speaking, acting, improvising.   'Cap o' Rushes' Lesson Plan (Readers' Theater) by J.D. Rusting (Grades 4-8) http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/caprush.html Students will read and/or listen to the English folk tale, perform as a Readers Theater piece,respond to writing prompts, identify basic drama literary terms, compare/contrast with another Cinderella variant, and create a graphic response to the story.   Creating Plays From Children's Stories (Grades 9-12) http://artswork.asu.edu/AAERC/Teaching_the_Arts/children.html Students are to write and perform an original one-act play with developed characters, specific setting, conflict, and resolution.   Creative Drama and Theatre Education (Pre-school to grade 4) http://www.creativedrama.com/ Creative drama can include dramatic play, story enactment, imagination journeys, theater games, music, and dance. 'Let's pretend' is the norm. Related Websites: 2) Art of Creative Dramatics Through the Eyes of a Young Child by G. Martin from Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute http://130.132.143.21/ynhti/curriculum/units/1993/3/93.03.01.x.html 3) Creative Drama Guidelines http://www.kmrscripts.com/cdguide.html 4) Creative Drama Activities: Grades Preschool - 1 http://ohia.com/ohia/roadshows/ocean/activities/creativedramaP.htm 5) Creative Drama Activities: Grade 2 - 3 http://ohia.com/ohia/roadshows/ocean/activities/creativedrama2.htm 6) Creative Drama Lesson Plans by M.Buchanan http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Alley/3765/lessons.html 7) Creative Dramatics Cookbook: Recipes for Playmaking by K. O’Rourke from Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1990/2/90.02.01.x.html 8) Creative Dramatics in the Language Arts Classroom (ERIC Digest Number 7) http://www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed297402.html 9) Creative Drama in the Second Language Classroom by D. Dodge http://educ.queensu.ca/projects/action_research/11drama.htm 10) Drama Workshop: Ideas For Teaching Drama by A. McCann http://www.dramateachers.co.uk/ 11) Introduction to Directing http://www.byu.edu/tma/arts-ed/units/1dirunit.htm 12) Theatre Education Literature Review (Links-site) http://www.aaae.org/theater/thfront.html 13) Theatrix Web Centre http://theatrix.freeyellow.com/   Drama Teacher's Resource Room (Grades 4-12) http://www3.sk.sympatico.ca/erachi/index.html This is a place where you can kick back and find some ideas for your classroom or production. Related Websites: 2) Drama Fillers http://www.angelfire.com/pe/MakeLearningFun/drama.html 3) Drama Library from Teachit http://www.teachit.co.uk/teachit/drama.htm 4) Dramania! by J. Smith http://www.public.asu.edu/~atbrl/dramania.html 5) Unit Lesson Plans http://www.byu.edu/tma/arts-ed/units/unithome.htm   Dramatic Play and Creative Movement Skills Activities from PBS http://pbskids.org/arthur/grownups/activities/dramatic.html Marc Brown offers this short list of activities teachers can use with their students to promote creative expression and movement in conjunction with the Arthur series of books; includes Flea, Fly, Flamingo, Pencil Power and The Beat Goes On. Related Websites: 2) Musical Freeze Improvisations by M. Buchanan http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/~mcoady/matless4.htm 3) No, You Can't Take Me! by M. Buchanan http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/~mcoady/matless2.htm 4) Theater Games http://www.byu.edu/tma/arts-ed/home/games.htm 5) Warmup Activities from Kids 4 Broadway http://www.pacificsites.com/~kidsplay/free.htm 6) Yes, But Dialogue Game (Grades 3-6) http://www.track0.com/canteach/elementary/drama1.html   Internet Resources for Conducting Readers Theatre by L. Carrick http://www.readingonline.org/electronic/elec_index.asp?HREF=carrick/index.html This article provides a brief description of Readers Theatre and its many benefits for literacy learning, and goes on to describe Internet sources for scripts and for information on implementation, additional classroom applications, and assessment. Related Websites: 2) Readers Theatre: A Reading Resource, a Teaching Tool, a Performance Vehicle, and a Chance to Play With Language! by L. Walker http://loiswalker.com/catalog/teach.html 3) Dramatic Storytelling in the English Classroom by D. Pizarro and R. Buchanan http://www.aspa.asn.au/Projects/english/rtheatre.htm 4) Readers Theatre by P. Johnson http://pajps.haltonbe.on.ca/grass/homeroom.htm 5) Readers Theatre by S. Sebesta from Teachervision http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-6526.html 6) Readers' Theatre http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/ela/ela_thea.html 7) Readers Theatre Evaluation (Form) http://www.humboldt.edu/~jmf2/floss/rt-eval.html   Teacher Tips for Readers Theater http://www.scriptsforschools.com/ALL_SCRIPTS/FREE_TEACHER_AIDES_/Teacher Tips_for_Readers_Theat/index.html Here you find tips for primary, intermediate, and teen and adult readers. Related Websites: 2) Readers Theatre from Ideas for Teachers http://www.mts.net/~ftp001jd/lessons/readers/ 3) Using Readers Theatre with K-2 Students http://www.owu.edu/~mggrote/pp/child_lit/c_readers.html   play skit script scriptwriting poetry drama puppetry makeup storytelling blocking acoustics sound effect backstage cue dresser house lights footlights company spotlight dress rehearsal debate prop technical rehearsal proscenium arch stage right dance pantomime stage manager role stage left cast audition set Kabuki costume sound check Globe Theatre dialogue house character stage direction theater theater monologue ad-lib antagonist actor mask 'break a leg' scene choreographer protagonist radio soliloquy acting improvisation Broadway entertainment tragedy writing        Created by Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson, 1\02.