Nursery Rhyme Fun

In an exercise to encourage our young cast members to create dialogue during improv and ad lib situations on stage. They broke into groups and were given a nursery rhyme. They were instructed not only to act out the rhyme, but to create dialogue by answering these questions about their story and characters.

What are they doing?

Where are they at?

When did it happen?

Why are they doing it?

In the end, the students put together several clever sketches containing some interesting twist to the original nursery rhymes. To put the exercise into practice we rehearsed our Homefront sketch and the cast practiced adding dialogue to their scene. They did such a good job, that we added some of their suggestions to the script. But as I stated at the beginning of the semester when describing a TEAM effort: "everyone is a genius!"

What Should I Wear?

Young Thespians are portraying a group of school age children in 1944, brought together to work on projects to support the war effort. In order to make this scene more realistic, students are asked to style their costume to suit that time period. This photograph form Blysthwood School, 1944 is a good illustration of how children dressed during World War II. Because of rationing clothing and various material, new clothing was hard to come by. Girls dresses were sometimes fashioned out of old clothing or household items (feed and potato sacks). Jumpers became very popular since the shoulder straps be "let out" as the child grew. Boys fashion stayed similar except for the disappearance of knickers (despite the picture), historians point out that by 1945, this clothing item had all but disappeared in America.

Therefore, as directors of the Young Thespians and Children's Choir we request that your student dress as a "child of the Home Front" to honor our Veterans and their families that still remember those days when America pulled together to support each other and win the war around the world!

Note: Girls dresses should fall below the knee when in a sitting position; Boys, no gym shoes or white socks! Thank you.

Making Faces

As part of an exercise in character development, students tried their hand a Making Faces, a drama game where the participants are given an emotion to portray. They were instructed to continue that emotion no matter how the improvised scene progresses. With our Assistant Director acting as the lead, these images captured in class may tell the rest of the story...

"Sad and Happy" friends at the Ice Cream Shop.
"Angry and Suspicious" brother and sister shopping for a Mother's Day present.

"Irritated and Excited children with Sympathetic Mother" at the Art Museum.

...so much for the sympathy!

"Tired, Aged, Fearful, Obsessive" characters waiting for the bus.

With "On the Space Shuttle," this director definitely needs the students to remind her of their chosen emotions because my memory of this improv is completely muddled with the memory of just laughing!

A stow-away!!! So funny!

Congratulations to all Young Thespians. You all made a team effort to create memorable and exciting characters. Lord Willing, these students will carry this energy into their performance and share their enthusiasm with all!

Learning About the Home Front

Information and well as imagination is a large part of developing believable characters in drama and on the stage. As part of our rehearsal, we are reading portions of Molly's World, a picture book with images of what life was like on the home front during World War II. This book was chosen because it's content is geared for children from ages 8-12. Most students had already studied this time period at one point in their history lessons, to some these stories were completely new. Whatever the case, this simple explanation of that time period was a boost to our rehearsal today as the pictures and descriptions opened up the room for discussion and these young thespians flooded the rehearsal with ideas and amazing interpretation. Since the lines are so short in this play, we were able to toss the scripts aside after just one rehearsal, good job class!

Below are a few book suggestions to read about World War II. Parents: please view all materials before allowing your students to read any form of printed media. MHFA believes it is up to the parent to choose enrichment materials for their children.

Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming

Inspired by actual events, this engaging story of post-WWII Holland provides a potent and merry lesson in generosity as a young Dutch girl writes to her new American frined in thanks for a care package and starts receiving larger and larger boxes.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

(from back cover)

Ten year old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think about life before the war. But it's now 1943 and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching in their town. The Nazis won't stop. The Jew of Denmark are being "relocated", so Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be part of the family.
Then Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission. Somehow she must find the strength and courage to save her best friend's life. There's no turning back now.

Other WWII Books for Children and Young Adults

Salute to Veterans

Across this state and country live many American Veterans; some may be relatives, some our church members or neighbors, but they are always with us. MHFA would like to pay tribute to these Veterans utilizing our students many talents in our drama and choir programs.
Today students were given a copy of our program, A Salute to Veterans. Many parts are included and also, very short semester. Our Young Thespians will perform a sketch about life for school children on the Home Front during WWII. With concentrating of techniques of character development and acting techniques students will be able to perform at their best and, God Willing, should produce a performance that will truly honor all of our Veterans.

Welcome Young Thespians!

Welcome to the Young Thespian 2009-2010 school year at Midwest Homeschool Fine Arts. Our goals are to learn basic acting techniques and character development and movement in a manner that honors and glorifies God. To accomplish these goals we focus on working together as a team. Today in class we discussed what it takes to work as a team, and it can be described as follows:

T = Together; everyone must work together to accomplish our goals!
E = Everyone is a genius; every idea is welcome!
A = Always listen to the Director!
M = Monologuing is not allowed; there are no solo acts in this class!

Due to a large interest in our drama class this year, enrollment is at it's max and is now closed. I don't believe this will cause a problem if the whole class determines to act as the type of team described above!

Around the World in 80 Days

The extraordinary adventures of a traveler in a hurry. For a bet, Phileas Fogg sets out with her servant Passepartout to achieve an incredible journey - from London to Paris, Suez, Bombay, Calcutta, Hong Kong, New York and back to London again, all in just eighty days! There were many alarms and surprises along the way - and as a last minute setback seemed to cause the end of our main character...a surprise ending saves the day and Mr. Fogg comes out triumphant!

Click on slide show to view images individually.

The Chorus sang appropriate music that helped take our cast around the world and added to the adventure. This was a mature story for such young actors, but they all stepped up to the challenge and gave an exceptional performance that delighted the audience.