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practical, on-your-feet, face to face, brain to brain, applications of cognitive
scientific research are for drama and theatre education. Xan and Peter will
demonstrate how social cognitive theory, empathy, embodiment and cognitive
linguistics are not only accessible through drama, but are, in fact, at the
heart of learning through drama. Cognitive engagement is not only possible
through drama, but is, by definition, the embodied practice of drama. Come
prepared to get your brain moving.
Be Yourself: Fighting Gender Conformity with Theatre for Young
Audiences
Chair: Samantha Gambaccini, Little Dinos Productions
Presenters: Brit Hawkins Christopher, Little Dinos Productions
Location: Denver 2nd-Crestone Peak
As society advances, so does our advocacy for basic human rights. Since
dramatic literature is so often a reflection of the time period in which it was
written, it makes sense to explore society’s most contemporary issues through
theatre. TYA is no exception. This workshop will focus on bringing the subject
of gender nonconformity to young audiences through subtlety, humor, and
heart. We will use group input and discussion, script excerpts, and student
responses to formulate and practice some possible theatre education methods
for studying gender nonconformity with our students. How do we respectfully
and appropriately start this conversation with youth? What theatrical devices
are best suited to this sensitive subject? How do we encourage in them the
belief that it’s okay to be yourself?
Catalyst for New Work: Storycircles as a Playwriting Strategy
Chair: Sarah Sullivan
Presenters: Xanthia Walker, Rising Youth Theatre; Ashley Hare, Rising Youth
Theatre
Location: Denver 3rd – Mt. Oxford
This workshop-style session will give participants the opportunity to train in
the technique of storycircle-- a mode of story sharing used for the purposes
of hearing community stories in order to develop theatre. Rising Youth
Theatre uses story circles as a core technique in creating new works of theatre
through a community-engaged process. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, RYT has
developed a specific methodology for creating new works of theatre based on
young people’s true stories. While our model draws from many strategies and
predecessors, our specific methodology is unique to RYT. Session participants
will hear an overview of RYT’s programming and model for developing work
and then participate in a storycircle workshop, which is our catalyst point for
beginning a new works process with youth and community participants. Using
the participants in the room and their own personal stories, we will model
strategies for how to develop and facilitate a storycircle, and then how that
storycircle becomes a play.
Conquering the Common Core through Critical Literacy & Theatre Arts
Chair: Tessa Flynn, Children’s Theatre Company, Neighborhood Bridges
Program
Presenters: Danielle Bryant, Adventure Stage Chicago; Andrea Derreberry,
YMCA of Charlotte, NC
Location: Denver 3rd – Mt. Harvard
Global becomes local as Neighborhood Bridges students build empathy
through Critical Literacy strategies-- including exploring multiple perspectives
and transforming text through theatre as a way for classrooms to wrestle
with complicated questions in today’s diverse and changing global society.
Workshop participants will experience core Bridges strategies first-hand by
hearing a tale, questioning and wrestling with its themes, and ultimately
transforming the tale in small group performances, representing their own
interpretation of the globally-known canonical tale. Participants will also
explore and reflect on the new Common Core skills overlap tool developed
collaboratively between five national Neighborhood Bridges sites. Participants
will receive a lesson plan, a standards overlap tool, and will explore ways to
actively engage learners in critical work, while meeting and going beyond the
Common Core in their classrooms.
Taiwan: The Blooming Era of Theatre Education and Applied Theatre Panel
Chair: Yi-Ren Tsai
Presenter: Jen Yin Lin, Falcon Creek Middle School
Location: Denver 2nd – Blanca Peak
Taiwan is prolific and famous in producing a wide variety of high quality
TYA, theatre education, and community works in Southeast Asia. Heavily
influenced by England, Australia and the USA’s theories and practices,
Taiwanese practitioners have developed a unique theatre scene. Taiwanese
artists, educators and scholars also work closely with practitioners in other
Southeast Asian countries, especially Hong Kong and Singapore. So far, Taiwan
has published the most theatre education and community related literature
in Chinese speaking countries, providing a wealth of resources. The goal
of this panel is to introduce an overall view of the field of Taiwanese theatre
education through selected practices in Taiwan, including: children’s theatre,
theatre education in school, and community theatre.
Thursday July 31st
9:30pm
Playwrights Slam
Chair: Sandra Asher
Location: Imperial Ballroom
The Playwrights Slam is an ann Յ