PRE-SHOW ACTIVITIES


(Common Core Code: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.2) HOW DOES A DIRECTOR MAKE DECISIONS USING STAGE DIRECTIONS?


Before seeing Bobbie Clearly students will analyze stage directions that playwright Alex Lubischer writes and will make decisions about how to stage a scene utilizing both the stage directions given and their own creativity or vision.


PREPARE DISCUSS Read the excerpt of Bobbie Clearly, (available HERE) out loud in groups.


Talk about the context of the scene, the relationships between characters (both on and off stage), and the stage directions given by the playwright. Think about why the stage directions given are so specific, but do not assign a particular song.


ASSIGN SHARE DISCUSS


Pick a song that you, as a director, would choose that fulfills both your vision for this scene and the playwright’s intentions.


Students act out the scene with chosen song cued by the stage manager in the group.


Talk about the song choice you made with the class, backing up the choice with your vision and the playwright’s intentions outlined in the scene’s stage directions.


(Common Core Code: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.7) HOW DO ARTISTS CREATE MAPS AND CHARACTER SKETCHES TO UNDERSTAND A SMALL TOWN?


Bobbie Clearly focuses on a small, rural community in Nebraska. Students will explore aspects of small town life by creating their own maps and descriptions of key community members in their town, and analyze small town living,


PREPARE


Read “Life In Small Town Nebraska” (page 6) and analyze the Infographic on page 7. Brianstorm the differences between small towns and their own communities. You may also wish to show some pictures of small, rural towns in Nebraska.


DESIGN


Provide students with the template HERE or allow them to draw their own map. Based on their understanding of what businesses and services a small town might have, students design their own town center on the map. Use the Infographic as a guideline for the quantity and types of organizations, and help students understand what is NOT likely to be found in a small town (i.e. big box stores, non-Christian denominations, etc.) Next, have students create 5 community members who might live in this town, using the character sketches on the template.


SHARE REFLECT Post the maps up and create a gallery walk for students to consider each other’s town maps and characters.


Would they want to live in this town? Why or why not? What do large cities have that are missing from small towns? What do small towns have that large cities are missing?


20 ROUNDABOUT THEATRE COMPANY


FOR EDUCATORS


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