The Play’s The Thing: Using Theater to Get Kids Excited About Reading and Writing

Erica S. Perl and Tasara Redekopp

“Look around, look around at how Lucky we are to be alive right now.”

- Eliza Schuyler, Hamilton

Relationship-building with students. Trying out new teaching styles and

methods. Making kids into content-creators.

What’s in it for librarians and educators?

A supportive community for kids with a variety of creative interests and talents.

What’s in it for students?

A chance to venture out of our comfort zones.

What’s in it for all of us?

Cooperative learning that doesn’t feel like learning.

What’s in it for all of us?

Step One: Warming Up.Okay, so how does it work?

Step Two: Learning How to Read a Play.

Step Three: Thinking Like a Thespian.

Step Four: Developing Dialogue.

Thanks! Please pick up a Capybara Conspiracy handout, which includes:

a sample scene, staging notes, and a bibliography of plays and theater-

oriented books