Here is a list of programs dealing with particular plays. Working with a play not listed? Contact us about creating a program for your curriculum needs.

Our programs, which all involve some student participation, come in a variety of formats. Most are designed to be performed within a regular class period, but can be expanded to 90 minutes.

Hamlet
"Hamlet: The Method in the Madness"—a lecture/demonstration in which we show how an actor discovers when and where Hamlet is "mad," when he is "playing" at it and when it's for real. Includes performances of "O that this too too solid flesh would melt" and "To be or not to be..."

"Hamlet: The Method in the Madness (with fight)"—a lecture/demonstration which includes soliloquies and the scene between Laertes and Hamlet at Ophelia's grave (Vi). Includes material on fight choreography, both how it develops out of the text and the way moves are developed safely.

Julius Caesar
"Julius Caesar: Constructing Conflict"—a lecture/demonstration of Brutus' and Cassius' argument prior to the Battle at Phillippi (IViii). Students try some of the rehearsal techniques themselves, and are included in the final performance at the end of the presentation.

Macbeth
"Actions to Words/Words to Actions in Macbeth"—a workshop in which participants create a performance of text from the witches' encounter with Macbeth (IVi).

"The Macbeths: Characters Moving to Murder"—a lecture/demonstration of three scenes between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, showing how Shakespeare first creates their strong connection to one another (Iv, Ivii) and then de-constructs their relationship with Duncan's murder (IIii).

A Midsummer Night's Dream
"Actions to Words/Words to Actions in Midsummer"—a workshop in which participants create a performance of the Fairies' Lullaby/Roundel (IIii).

"Midsummer in Motion"—a lecture/demonstration showing how Shakespeare's text appeals to actors' sense of sound and movement, including the Fairies' Roundel (IIii) and the fight between Demetrius and Hermia (IIIii).

"The Comical Tragedy of Pyramus and Thisbie"—a performance of "the play within the play", adapted to include audience participation. This program, "hilarious and cool" in the words of one 6th grader, is less instructional than other programs and is suitable for larger assemblies.

Romeo & Juliet
"Romeo & Juliet: Three Scenes"—a lecture/demonstration using the three main scenes between the young lovers (Iv, IIii, IIIv) to introduce students to performance-oriented techniques of studying the text.

"Romeo & Juliet: Four Scenes"—a lecture/demonstration which includes the same material as the program above, plus the scene between Romeo and Paris at Juliet's tomb (Viii). Includes material on fight choreography, both how it develops out of the text and the way moves are staged safely.

"Dancing the Words"—a workshop in which participants stage the scene when Romeo and Juliet first meet (Iv). Actors coach participants' analysis of text and creation of an Elizabethean dance.

Back to index