Lesson: Careers in Theater
Brainstorming: Besides teaching theater, what other jobs are there in
theater? Right down the
students jobs on the board. Add the ones they miss.
Actor- portray a character, body and voice and tool, ensemble, script
analysis
Director- script analysis, production concept, schedule rehearsals,
auditions, blocking,
knowledge of theater history, production meetings
Playwright- write plays, capture audience, entertain, challenge, message
Producer- financing, management, publicity, hiring, space
Stage Manager- technical liaison, give cues, solve problems, assist
director, direct crew
Stage Crew- props, lights, costumes, makeup (during run of show)
Business Manager- fundraising, publicity, programs, ticket sales, paying
bills
Artistic Director- hiring director, cast, and designers
Lighting Designer- script analysis, production team meetings, fulfill
production concept,
create mood
Sound Designer- script analysis, production team meetings, fulfill production
concept,
create mood
Scenic Designer- script analysis, production team meetings, fulfill
production concept,
create mood, research, historical perspective, build set, build models
Costume Designer- script analysis, production team meetings, fulfill
production concept,
research, historical perspective, make costumes, draw designs
Choreographer, Pit Orchestra, Music director- for musicals
Warm up: Zip Zap Zoom- this is a warm up that actors may do before a
rehearsal
directions: stand in a circle. The point of the game is to stay focused
and quickly pass the "zip, zap, and zoom." Students slide
their hands passed each other and point at another students while saying
"zip", the students they pointed at does the same thing with
their hands but says "zap" instead, then the next person says
"zoom." The game continues very fast keeping the words in
that order. Students need to keep eye contact and pay attention. If
they say the wrong word or wait to long to pass it they are out.
Focus Exercise: Tell students that many of the jobs in theater have
to do with focus. Ask the
students if they know what focus means. Focus is where we look. Artists
direct our focus. Ask for about five students volunteers. Tell the students
that we are going to have a slide show. Tell the volunteers that when
the audience closes their eyes, they have to go into a pose very quickly,
and when you say eyes open they should freeze. Ask for another volunteer
to be the slide show host. Have the audience close their eyes and the
volunteers get in a position. Call eyes open, and have the host describe
the picture. After they have described the picture, have the audience
give directions on how they can make the picture tell the story even
better. Suggest having other characters look at someone else, tilt their
head, turn their back. Tell them you want them to suggest slight movements,
that make a big difference. After changes have been made, discuss how
our focus was directed through these changes. Do the activity one more
time with different people, so that they people in the picture can see
what we were talking about. Have the students brainstorm what theater
careers are concerned with focus. (actor, director, designers)
Questions: Students can ask any questions they have about careers in
theater
