Theatre Etiquette for Parents

Posted onDecember 17, 2012
Blog

This time of year there are lots of concerts, recitals and fun events to attend with your family and with that, plenty of chances to show your young ones the best way to behave as members of the audience. It’s a chance to dress up a bit, see something special and enjoy time together, but lets not leave our etiquette at home. Here’s a few tips….

If this is a first visit to a theatre, or if your visits are rare, tell your little ones a bit of what they can expect. The theatre will be dark, lots and lots of people will be there, we have seats waiting for us and we must look for those seats, exciting things will happen on the stage and such. Explain that it isn’t the same as television or DVDs – the people on the stage can actually hear you and they can be distracted by the audience, so we need to show some respect for their hard work. These people are more real (well, they are really right here in front of you), and you might even know some of them, so be sure to pay attention so you can see your friends on that stage!

As much as your little one might need a nibble every hour or so, the theatre (live theatre at least) is not a place for snacks. We might take popcorn into the movies, but generally live theatres leave the food outside. There are lots of reasons for this. Some are to limit distractions of people chewing beside you (generally, there’s no THX sound in a live show to drown out your munching), but many are to limit the mess left in the theatre. Consider that in many theatres the Front of House staff is staffed by volunteers. They are there to help you to your seats and keep you safe in the event of an emergency, they don’t really want to clean up after your meals in the space.

Memories are great, of course, but capturing them on film, (whether moving or still), during the show is pretty tacky. If you really must have some record of the event, then why not offer to be that parent who films it for everyone – make copies after the fact, or if you aren’t technically savvy, track down and hire someone who knows what they are doing to record it for you. Then, sit in your seat and enjoy the show. If you want a photo to commemorate the event, take it after – WITH your family in the shot. There’s nothing worse than a performance where the audience is as fully active with the flashes of cameras as the light show on the stage. Besides, unless you have a super high tech, low light, zoom lens camera with incredible stabilizing functions, you’ll never get as good a shot as the professional hired by the company. Never. It’s just not worth bothering your neighbours at the show. So, put the camera/cameraphone away.

Above all else, make the event fun. Enjoy the show. Ask your kids what they liked. See if they can tell you why. Help them to become critical audience members, so they enjoy the theatre and begin to develop a taste for it. And maybe next year, take them to more than one thing. Don’t save it up just for Christmas. The theatre is year round.

See you in the audience!

The positive effects of sharing things you love.

Posted onOctober 20, 2012October 20, 2012
Blog

So last week, I gave my students a new, quick, research assignment to find out about voice actors. It was simple and I hoped, fun. It turned out really great – and the best part was, we all enjoyed it and everyone learned something new, including me.

They were to work in pairs to find some basic information about performers who are famous for their voices. The list of names included, (but was not limited to) Nancy Cartwright (The Simpsons), Billy West (Futurama), Mel Blanc (Looney Tunes), John DiMaggio (Futurama), Dan Castellena (The Simpsons) and of course several Muppeteers, such as Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Steve Whitmire, Eric Jacobson, Kevin Clash, Caroll Spinney and Jerry Nelson.

Their presentations were simple and to the point and consisted of Name, Birth/Death (if applicable), where they live, career highlights, and major characters. Then they were asked to find two contrasting YouTube clips to share with the class. In some cases, I helped. In others, they had a myriad of examples. In all cases, the students were impressed with the variety and skill of these performers and their vocal abilities. It was a great week.

This week, we moved on to creating simple props. The Grade 9s were to create something with a basic shape – rectangle, square, round, cylinder – but to represent something realistic. Essentially a brick, stone or stepping stone. They went to town. I’ve now got on display some headstones, a paving stone, several versions of bricks, an oversized hunk of chocolate with a bite removed and a swiss roll. All made from cardboard, florist foam or styrofoam. Incredible.

Grade 9 Bricks — Simple Bricks and other Props on display.

The Grade 10s get their pick of props to make. It just has to be something that a character could use on stage in some manner. I’ve now got several weapons, including a couple of animation inspired swords, an overly large hammer – it’s hard to describe, it’s SO huge, Thor’s hammer, (complete with leather wrapped handle), Pooh’s Hunny Jar – complete with BumbleBees on it, a diary, a Marauder’s Map, a sorcerer’s collection of goodies, pumpkins made from dryer tubing and an amazing Mad Hatter’s Hat – so incredible and large that it won’t fit in the display case. Most of these creations were made with less than $5 and some with $0! That’s what I call creative prop making! These kids had a blast and were coming to class early to get to work on their creations. It was amazing to watch them work and collaborate and encourage one another. So thrilling.

Grade 10 Props — Assorted Props on Display!

How to be a teacher and a student at the same time…

Posted onOctober 7, 2012
Blog

A few weeks ago I traveled to Chicago to attend another Puppet School workshop. It was great to get to review what I’d learned in the summer and reinforce the good stuff I’d kept in my cranium and reprogram some of the errors I’d built in with flawed memory. I was also very pleased that my practicing had paid off. It was noticeable and I was proud of that.

It’s always good for teachers to be students again. In general, we like that. It is part of the reason we were drawn to teaching in the first place. We are people who like to continually grow and discover new things. But it’s also good for teachers to be students again because we can analyse our own learning and relate it to the students we have in front of us. This really only works though when the classes are based in things we have chosen to learn. If we’ve been sent, (volun-told I like to call it), to a particular session because someone else thought we’d benefit, it is often a sad disappointment – not always, but we definitely will get more out of a session we’ve chosen ourselves. And that makes sense, doesn’t it? It’s the same for our kids. They will do better and put in more effort when the class or subject area is something that piques their interest and when it isn’t, that teacher has to work all that much harder to get them engaged.

Well, there was little effort needed to engage me. I’d already traveled several hours, (and got lost in Detroit at 5 a.m.), in order to attend this workshop. I was already engaged. I merrily made my 4th puppet in 2 months and reviewed some techniques and refined some skills in that process. And during the manipulation class, I was rehearsing and practicing to keep my skills progressing and perfect what I’d started to develop over the summer. It was great. And, I made some new friends in the bargain.

So then, I pack up and get ready to fly home – just a little bit sad that I won’t get to work with Michael again for awhile, but extremely happy that I’d gone to the effort of attending this second workshop. I make it to the airport – whew! And discover that my flight is delayed. Ah well, not by much. As I’m sitting there a trio of ladies comes to sit near me. Grandma, Aunt and little girl.

I’m sitting and listening to my Muppet selections, surreptitiously practicing lip sync as I do, when I notice the little girl next to me is listening to Disney tunes. She’s adorable with her American Girl backpack and doll and her Strawberry Shortcake suitcase. So I say to her, “Disney, eh? I’m listening to Muppets.” And she replies, “I’ve got Muppets!” and to prove it she goes through her MP3 player and sure enough pulls up John Denver and the Muppets. She tells me it’s her favourite. So, I can’t resist. I say, “I’ve got something to show you…” and I pull out my new puppet – Rosie, and put her on so they can meet.

For the next twenty minutes or so, Rosie and Samantha talk and become friends. There is no one else in the room for Samantha and she doesn’t even seem to remember that I’m right beside her, talking and that she watched me put her on. There’s even whispers around me, and I’m sure, people pointing in the airport as we have our conversation – but I’m only focused on Samantha. At some point in our discussion, Grandma decides to “sneak” a photo of her granddaughter talking to this puppet. I am amused. I’m thinking, “Is this what it’s like for a Muppeteer? If so, I’ll take that.” And I’m thinking, why is she trying to sneak a photo? Why don’t we just pose? So I have Rosie suggest that to Grandma and we do. Rosie puts her arm around Samantha and Grandma takes the pic. It was great. We talked about movies and Muppets and music and American Girl and her vacation with Grandma, etc. etc. And when it was time to get on the plane, Samantha gave me a wave and I felt like I’d made some new friends. I didn’t get anyone else’s name though. Who cares? They were smiling and so was I and we barely noticed having to wait longer for the plane.

All that time, I was being a student and a teacher. I’m planning ahead to how I’ll use this experience with my kids at school and I’m learning as I watch Samantha react to my puppet. I’m thinking about how Samantha is at a cognitive level to have a conversation with a puppet, but completely willing to personify that puppet and ignore the manipulation that makes it come alive. I’m practicing my skills that I’ve been developing as a student and I’m wondering what my teacher would say to this whole event. It’s amazing how all of that can happen in the same instant. But it does. And it’s thrilling. So, I hope that all my teacher learning this year is that fulfilling and worthwhile.