HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
There are a number of ways to use this curriculum guide depending upon your class curriculum. Below are Questions and Projects to be used for preparation before your students have read or seen the play, and later in the guide you will find questions and projects to assign to the students after having read or viewed the play.
Midway through the guide are Supplementary Materials that will enhance your students’ experience of the play before or after reading or seeing it, and provide them with extra information on which to base their responses to it.
At the end is a section called Mastery Assessment with more detailed questions on the play, as well as a Quotations section to inspire class discussion or to be used as writing prompts, a Vocabulary section, and multiple suggestions for lesson plans designed for 1-, 4- and 7- day units. Please feel free to mix and match questions and exercises from different sections, and use the curriculum guide in whatever way suits the needs of your class.
AUDIENCE ETIQUETTE
Because many students have not had the opportunity to view live theatre, we are including an audience etiquette section with each literary/curriculum guide. Teachers, please spend time on this subject since it will greatly enhance your students’ experience at the theatre.
- How does one respond to a live performance of a play, as opposed to when seeing a film at a local cinema? What is the best way to approach viewing a live performance of a play? What things should you look and listen for?
- What is the audience’s role during a live performance? How do you think audience behavior can affect an actor’s performance?
- What do you know about the theatrical rehearsal process? Have you ever participated in one as an actor, singer, director, or technical person?
- How do costumes, set, lights, sound, and props enhance a theatre production?
This Teacher Literary and Curriculum Guide was prepared for the Huntington Theatre Company by Marisa Jones, with contributions by:
- Donna Glick, Director of Education
- Danny Bryck,Professional Education Intern
- Gerry Dunn, Education Department Intern
- Jenna Stelmok, Education Department Intern
- Thom Dunn, Layout