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Dramaturgy

Unlocking the Script

How Actors, Directors and Designers Turn Words into Worlds

Contributing Educator: Karen Kidd

Obtaining a foundational understanding of a scripted work is the core of good acting and design technique. This unit focuses on helping students grasp the importance of diving deeply into script work with a critical idea to inform choices that are made by directors, designers, and actors to create a rich product that is true to author intent.

Lesson Plans Included: 8
Materials: Printable Resources and Activities are included to help guide your work and support student learning. One Act and Full Length Play from the Dramallama Catalogue for analysis work.
Grade Levels: High School

Lesson Plan Topics

  1. Plot Structure - Intentionally Reading the Script (TH:Cr3.1.II.b)
  2. Characters and Staging - Analyzing the role each character plays and exploring staging options (TH:Cr1.1.I.c, TH:Pr4.1.I.a)
  3. Identifying Themes - Create a consensus of the overarching theme and identify the supporting throughlines (TH:Cr3.1.I.c, TH:Pr4.1.I.a)
  4. Cutting from the Play - Plot structure analysis to identify sections for scene work (TH:Pr5.1.I.a, TH:Pr6.1.I.a)
  5. Reading and Analyzing a Full-Length Script - Read the Full-Length play So Long, Little Tokyo (TH:Cr3.1.II.a, TH: Re7.1.I.a)
  6. Beyond the Script - Understanding the Impact of Historical Context on the Story (TH:Cr1.1.II.a., TH:Cr2-I.a)
  7. Approaching a Script With Perspective - Explore the roles of dramaturg and designers (TH:Cr2.I.b, TH: Re7.1.I)
  8. Cutting and Preparing Scenes/Monologues for Performance - Acting technique and scene presentations (TH:Pr6.1.I, TH: Re7.1.I)

Why Teachers Love it

Builds script literacy

NCAS Standards Aligned

Dramallama Unit Design

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