Theatre can be an effective mean of teaching and addressing language, literature, history, social studies, and music. Just reading a play develops reading skills; reading aloud develops public speaking; and working on a script develops writing skills. Unfortunately, many of the public schools with high Latino enrollment do not offer arts-in-education curricula, much less theatre oriented classes. Additionally, many teachers do not have the experience of incorporating theatre into their class work.
To address these issues, Repertorio Español launched - with the assistance of a NYSCA AIE Planning Grant - a mentoring initiative that aims to introduce students to Spanish-language theatre. It also gets the students to write and read their own plays, develop groups of students to perform scenes, and most importantly, work with Title VII teachers on how to use theatre in their class work.
Each season, Repertorio Español offers several "Teacher Training Sessions" for different schools, boards or districts. At these sessions, the teachers perform short scenes; the scene is analyzed; and then; and then, the teachers are asked to write dialogue of a humorous skit. The writers are then directed by an actor, in which the scenes come alive. Amidst all the fun, the teachers realize that theatre in the classroom helps achieve the goals of improving literacy and stimulating creative thinking.
Currently, the Company has mentoring programs in five NYC high schools: Theodore Roosevelt and Columbus in the Bronx, Arts & Business in Queens, Edward R. Murrow in Brooklyn and Norman Thomas in Manhattan.
Our Mentoring Program includes:
- 6-10 in-class sessions with actors, directors and writers from Repertorio Español
- In-class reading of scenes of major plays
- Analysis of play scenes
- Playwriting exercises with students
- Attendance of a Repertorio Español production
- Working with our playwrights to develop collective or individual scenes, and
- The program culminates with a rehearsal and mounting of a student-directed and performed play on a Saturday afternoon at Repertorio Español.
Through our Mentorship Program, Repertorio also believes that students can be introduced to careers in the arts besides acting; such as playwrights, designers, technicians, and "behind-the-scenes" administrators. Although opportunities in the arts grow exponentially, many minority public-school children are not fully introduced to all these possibilities.
Vea una entrevista en video con el director colombiano Jorge Alí Triana acerca de la labor de un director de teatro.
¿Quiere asegurar que una producción es apropiada para su clase? Usted y
un invitado pueden ver una de nuestras obras gratis con "Teacher Tryout Tickets."
Por favor llame al 212.889.2850 para la selección de obras disponibles.
Theatre can be an effective mean of teaching and addressing language, literature, history, social studies, and music. Just reading a play develops reading skills; reading aloud develops public speaking; and working on a script develops writing skills. Unfortunately, many of the public schools with high Latino enrollment do not offer arts-in-education curricula, much less theatre oriented classes. Additionally, many teachers do not have the experience of incorporating theatre into their class work.
