NEW VOICES: PLAYWRITING IN THE SCHOOLS

Sponsored by The Sutherland Foundation and


Playwriting in the Schools
The program, taught in the classroom by Program Coordinator Lee Look, covers the fundamentals of playwriting and character development and helps each student in the class develop their own play.

The program is designed to emphasize the creation and revision process of playwriting, rather than the performance.

In addition, students are mentored by in-residence playwrights and participate in the Young Playwrights Festival, where select student works are performed on stage during the Humana Festival of New American Plays.


Read Stories From Particpating Educators


TEN-MINUTE PLAY CONTEST FOR STUDENTS
Students grades 1-12 are invited to participate in Actors Theatre's new, regional playwriting contest, held in conjunction with the Humana Festival of New American Plays. More Information About New Voices Playwright Festival April 3 & 4, 2008

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS

Jefferson County Public Schools:
Jeffersontown High School - 30 students
Butler Traditional School - 31 students
Male Traditional High School - 170 students (20 Fall and150 Spring)
Waggener High School - 21 students
Westport Middle - 60 students
Meyzeek Middle School - 60 students


Jefferson County Alternative Schools:
Liberty High School - 20 students

Jefferson County Private Schools:
Trinity High School - 34 students (17 Fall and 17 Spring)

Bullitt County Public Schools:

North Bullitt High School - 17 students

CORE CONTENT CONNECTIONS
High School:
AH-HS 4.3.1—Students will create and perform using elements of drama
WR -HS-1.1.02—Personal Expressive Writing
WR-HS- 1.2.02—Personal Expressive Writing/Literary Writing (ex. creation of characters; develop plot, setting, mood).
WR-HS -3.6.00—Correctness
WR HS-4.8.00 and 4.9.00—Prewriting and Drafting
WR-HS- 4.10.00 and 4.11.00—Revising and Editing

Middle School:
WR-06-8 1.1.02—Personal Expressive Writing
WR-06-8 1.2.02—Personal Expressive Writing/Literary Writing (ex. creation of characters; develop setting, mood).
WR-06-8 3.5.02—Personal Expressive Writing/Literary Writing- (develop ideas through descriptive or figurative language).
WR-M 4.10.00 and 4.11.00—Revising and Editing
AH-06-8 4.3.1—Students will create and perform using elements of drama (Literary, Technical, Production)

SPECIFIC QUANTIFIABLE OUTCOMES

  • All participating students will write a ten-minute play, develop characters and go through the revision process.

  • Students can demonstrate increased knowledge of theatre terminology and careers, which is tested but not always taught in the classroom.

  • Students show improved reading and writing skills, especially in spelling and reading comprehension.


  • PROGRAM STAFF
    Lee Look, Playwriting in the Schools Coordinator
    Jacob Stoebel, Education Coordinator