Stacey Said:

I am directing a musical for high school kids, and I was looking for a game to help develop characterization.?

We Answered:

I used to direct high school theatre productions. After a brief lesson about the period, setting, etc. to give them some perspective, I gave each cast member (especially chorus members, who often mistakenly think they don't have a character, since lines haven't been written for them) a questionnaire (to be completed at home) that asked about the character - things that typically aren't covered or answered by the actions in the play. This allows them to create a personal history for the character to draw from, instead of basing their motivations on themselves as teenagers. I initially thought that this would be seen as boring busywork, but it was received very well and made a huge difference.

There is an example (although from a writer's perspective) that will give you ideas here:
http://www.ifvchicago.com/process/wr_cha…

For a fun, low-pressure, GROUP get-to-know-your-fellow-cast-members activity, we often just played CHARADES, using only the characters in the script, but NONE of the action from it. The person who is "it" can pick ANY character and the rest have to figure out WHO they are portraying and WHAT the character is doing. To keep large casts focused, I usually put the character names (multiples of each) on slips of paper in one bucket and lots of possible actions in another bucket so they couldn't come up with anything too crazy (or inappropriate) that others would have a hard time guessing. You could limit everyone to the character they are portraying and just guess activities, but the exercise forces them all to imagine the possible (and necessary) physical DIFFERENCES in the characters, plus may give the actors cast in those roles ideas from which to choose. It also gave the "chorus" members a chance to practice their acting skills, and be an equal part of the group before rehearsals got divided between principals and chorus.

When we did "Oklahoma!" years ago, one of the most fascinating charade portrayals of Jud was by someone in the chorus who had never seen the movie. He portrayed Jud as a quiet, shy, geeky, obsessed stalker type instead of the more typical seething, angry brute. It made "Jud" seem even more unpredictable and dangerous, and I found myself wishing that I could figure out a diplomatic way to get him to act out some scenes from the show.

Teaching them to just copy the movie, as someone suggested, might be easier for you, but it is a bad, bad, bad way to teach students how to develop characters and learn how to act - especially since the movie versions of plays and musicals are often totally inaccurate and bad. But I bet you already feel the same way about that. ;)

Scott Said:

Xbox 360 and PS2 USB microphones? American Idol, High School Musical?

We Answered:

Actually, yes they do! The PS2 also has USB ports for the microphones so the ones you use with your Xbox 360 will definitely work with your Playstation 2 as well. Happy gaming!

Julian Said:

What is it about the Hannah Montana/High School Musical Craze?

We Answered:

Honestly I don't care for Hannah Montana.(That blonde wig irks me)

But I will tell you I love High School Musical.
In my high school from freshman to seniors, people love HSM.

I've seen people with HSM notebooks and folders.
My sister actually said HSM is a cult.lol.

I honestly don't know why it's amazing, it just is.
My 23 year old teacher said she saw HSM for the first time this past summer (the first one) and that she couldn't stop watching it. It's addicting like that.lol.

Gilbert Said:

games to play at a kids party?

We Answered:

get a water slide?

musical chair?

pinatas?

dance off?

well?

what is the age range?

Constance Said:

Picking a musical for a middle school to high school musical theater group?

We Answered:

Here are a few suggestions having done theater growing up:
"The Music Man"
"Bye Bye Birdie"
"Oklahoma"
"The Sound of Music"
"You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"
"Annie"


Hope this helps!