About SHAKESPEARE'S KIDS:
(This photo was taken on the endless bridge at the Guthrie, last Thursday.)
Shakespeare's Kids has existed since 1996. Karlajean Becvar has been the instructor since its inception. It is a drama class for 5th-7th graders, that features a different play every year. Because of this, students can take the class multiple times. This picture was taken on Friday, June 16th, during our first read-through of Act I, Scene I. Notice the intensity and seriousness of all the actors!!
Shakespeare's Kids has existed since 1996. Karlajean Becvar has been the instructor since its inception. It is a drama class for 5th-7th graders, that features a different play every year. Because of this, students can take the class multiple times. This picture was taken on Friday, June 16th, during our first read-through of Act I, Scene I. Notice the intensity and seriousness of all the actors!!
MONDAY, June 26th--- Today, Shakespeare's Kids worked really hard going over scenes. I was extremely impressed by how many students had their lines memorized! It was a tough practice, but we got so much done! For tomorrow they are to study their lines, especially in ACTS 2 & 3. They should also bring their costumes tomorrow.
FRIDAY, June 23rd--- Today, we extensively worked on our lines and blocking. We really focused on their projection, stage presence, and facial expressions.
THURSDAY, June 22nd--- Today, we went to the Guthrie Theater for our extended day. We had a lot of fun and learned about the history of the Guthrie.
WEDNESDAY, June 21st--- REMEMBER to bring your field trip money!!! There are still two of you who have not yet paid. Today was intense as we really worked through some kinks in the blocking. It was a tough and redundant practice, but the progress we made, was amazing! We are really excited to go on our field trip tomorrow. Remember to pack a bag lunch for tomorrow's field trip. After eating lunch tomorrow, we will visit a nearby ice cream store, so if your son/daughter would like to buy some ice cream, he or she should bring some extra money.
TUESDAY, June 20th--- Our field trip is this THURSDAY, June 22nd. On this extended day, we will be touring the backstage of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. EVERYONE MUST BRING A BAG LUNCH ON THURSDAY...Today we continued working on line delivery and blocking. Students received two scenes of Act II. Tomorrow, they should have the final scene of Act II and most of Act III.
MONDAY, June 19th---PLEASE make sure you send the extra $10.00 for class, with your son or daughter TOMORROW. This year's money goes towards our field trip: tickets and bus transportation, so please get that in ASAP. Today we learned acting games that help us focus on communicating non-verbally, paying attention, and getting to know each other. We played ZIP, ZAP, ZOP, LINE UP, and M & M Getting to Know You. We also played WEREWOLF which is a classic "fun" game. All of these activities help the actors sharpen their acting skills. After our warm-ups, we broke into groups to go over our lines. Then we came back to together as a large group to start blocking.
FRIDAY, June 16th-- On our second day of class, we finished auditions and call-backs. Everyone was AWESOME in accepting the part he/she got, especially if the desired part was not given. This year's group of Shakespeare's Kids is very professional! We also read through the first ACT of the play.
THURSDAY, June 15th--We spent the majority of our time on the first day of class, getting to know each other AND auditioning. Unfortunately, students were not able to find out their parts due to one student being absent.
FRIDAY, June 23rd--- Today, we extensively worked on our lines and blocking. We really focused on their projection, stage presence, and facial expressions.
THURSDAY, June 22nd--- Today, we went to the Guthrie Theater for our extended day. We had a lot of fun and learned about the history of the Guthrie.
WEDNESDAY, June 21st--- REMEMBER to bring your field trip money!!! There are still two of you who have not yet paid. Today was intense as we really worked through some kinks in the blocking. It was a tough and redundant practice, but the progress we made, was amazing! We are really excited to go on our field trip tomorrow. Remember to pack a bag lunch for tomorrow's field trip. After eating lunch tomorrow, we will visit a nearby ice cream store, so if your son/daughter would like to buy some ice cream, he or she should bring some extra money.
TUESDAY, June 20th--- Our field trip is this THURSDAY, June 22nd. On this extended day, we will be touring the backstage of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. EVERYONE MUST BRING A BAG LUNCH ON THURSDAY...Today we continued working on line delivery and blocking. Students received two scenes of Act II. Tomorrow, they should have the final scene of Act II and most of Act III.
MONDAY, June 19th---PLEASE make sure you send the extra $10.00 for class, with your son or daughter TOMORROW. This year's money goes towards our field trip: tickets and bus transportation, so please get that in ASAP. Today we learned acting games that help us focus on communicating non-verbally, paying attention, and getting to know each other. We played ZIP, ZAP, ZOP, LINE UP, and M & M Getting to Know You. We also played WEREWOLF which is a classic "fun" game. All of these activities help the actors sharpen their acting skills. After our warm-ups, we broke into groups to go over our lines. Then we came back to together as a large group to start blocking.
FRIDAY, June 16th-- On our second day of class, we finished auditions and call-backs. Everyone was AWESOME in accepting the part he/she got, especially if the desired part was not given. This year's group of Shakespeare's Kids is very professional! We also read through the first ACT of the play.
THURSDAY, June 15th--We spent the majority of our time on the first day of class, getting to know each other AND auditioning. Unfortunately, students were not able to find out their parts due to one student being absent.
Who We Are |
Shakespeare's Kids started as Creative Drama but then evolved into what it is today, for a few reasons:
1) Shakespeare was the father of all drama 2) Shakespeare was himself, an accomplished actor, as well as a playwright. However, before acting was situated in permanent housing such as in London's Globe Theatre, actors (most always men) had to travel to their audiences. Therefore, props, costumes, and stages had to be durable and easily transported. Due to this minimal approach to theater, the focus was on the acting, rather than on how wonderful and realistic the settings and props were. 3) The emphasis of Shakespeare's Kids also takes this minimal approach, making the focal point the acting. |
Shakespeare's Kids 2017 |
I'm often asked why, since we are known as Shakespeare's Kids, we don't perform Shakespeare's plays? Over the years, we have done some Shakespeare, but it comes down to student preference. I have adapted and/or written most of the plays since 1996. When given the choice, the students seem to always come back to the characters they love in the Weedy and Weeze series. This does not mean we will never do another Shakespeare play, because I'm sure someday we will. However, for now, the students are content with the characters they have come to know so well. Another reason is many of Shakespeare's plays are wrought with death, killing, and tragedy. It's hard for me to justify this kind of play involving elementary students. Even Shakespeare's comedies have vast innuendos that may be inappropriate for young audiences. And of course, there is the language. Shakespearian plays are very difficult to perform without lessons in Old English language understanding and delivery.
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