AVENUES
The Crossroads of Theatre and Education

Storytelling to Playwrighting Program

"...It builds academic skills, as well as self esteem. This workshop was one of the most creative and worthwhile activities for students that I have ever seen."

“The class was structured so cleverly that the students seemed oblivious as to where the acting ended and the writing began."

- Testimonials taken from teachers observing pilot program at Van Buren Middle School

The Program

Storytelling to Playwrighting, a literacy-based theatre arts program, integrates state standards and theatrical teaching through the process of playwrighting.  Using theatre games, improvisation, creative writing exercises and theatrical structure, students craft individual short plays about their own lives, family histories or cultural backgrounds.  The program culminates in a reading of their plays for family, friends, and faculty.  During the program the students experience the collaboration necessary in creating a theatrical work, while absorbing important language arts standards. Storytelling to Playwriting speaks to all kinds of learners.  The student who acts up in class and who won't sit still will behave with focus and discipline for an audience in a play of his or her own creation.

AT RISE:  As the audience enters they find themselves in the sunny, hot and dry desert just outside the Marvel Palace.  Suddenly, out of nowhere, they hear arguments in one of the houses.  Inside the house it is mysteriously gloomy.
-Written by 6th grader P.T. Mai.

"That solid writing strategies, (and literary elements), could be taught through acting, seemed nothing short of miraculous considering that the acting workshop included English as a Second Language Students, as well as, Special Education Students."

Elisa:  Orlin...I sometimes wonder if you are getting dumber or smarter. (She looks at orlin with a weird face)

-Excerpt from AT THE MALL by 6th grader Orlin Solis

Standards Met

• Students learned the difference between a story and a play.
• Students learned structure of a good story, play, or paper.
• Students wrote a story.
• Students understood the basic elements of structure a playwright uses to write a play.
• Students understood how a playwright uses those elements of structure to tell a story.
• Students demonstrated and utilized the basic elements of structure.
• Students understood the difference between a narrative and a dialogue.
• Students understood how a playwright adapts a story into a scene or monologue using improvisation.
• Students were able to demonstrate, using their own stories, how to adapt narrative into a dialogue or monologue.
• Students learned the form of a script.
• Students learned about time, place (setting) and at rise.
• Students learned about stage directions and what they are used for.
• Students learned about rewriting.
• Students learned about their characters.
• Students learned about cooperation.
• Students learned about listening.
• Students learned about positive analyzing and critiquing.
• Students learned about communicating ideas and suggestions.

"What was especially impressive to me was observing two Special Education Students... one ordinarily very awkward and very reserved...enjoying herself immensely and actually seemed like a different young woman. My other special ed. Student, (who is also an English as a Second Language Student), was writing away. I was amazed that he did not display any of his usual writer’s block!"

Other Programs

Playwrighting to Performance
This residency takes the Storytelling to Playwrighting residency one step further exposing the students to the combined crafts of playwrighting and performance.  We explore the actors' process leading to performance, how to analyze and interpret a text, and how to visualize and direct a scene. Students take their own plays from page to stage, culminating in a final performance.

Individualized Workshops and Residencies
Using APS standards and a teacher's curriculum, a specific, individualized workshop or residency can be created, implemented and adapted to any age group or school subject. Avenues experienced teaching artists can spend one class period with the students or arrange a one-week to several month residency.

Professional Development
We offer a variety of workshops created and customized to meet different learning objectives and enhance each educator's ability to use theatre as an effective teaching tool.  Workshops provide opportunities for teachers to stimulate their creative impulses and ideas while practicing theatre activities in the context of educational learning standards.

Upcoming for Avenues
Hopefully accompanied with independent research, conducted by UNM, The pilot for Producing Partners will begin in the school year 2007-08 at Van Buren Middle School. Working with a team of teachers, Mother Road Avenues will develop a cross-curricular thematic unit on mythology, symbolism and the ancient world. The effort will culminate in a production created by the students themselves.

Avenues will continue with Storytelling to Playwrighting at Truman Middle School this Fall.

For more information:
Please contact David Sinkus, Director of Education or
Michael Dolce, Educational Outreach Coordinator