mainstream.
speakers suggested you should:
• Inspiring further work to right
• Establish a common goal.
wrongs in society.
• Develop agreements with your
• Providing great tools to support
ensemble in advance.
already published works.
• Have a verbal/visual contract to protect others and self in the creat-
Encouragement for all students
ing process.
In addition to citing the importance
• Set boundaries.
of bringing in more diverse students and
• Realize that an ensemble vibe is
giving them opportunities to tell their
high priority. • Address the situation, not the person. The presenters also noted that devising can achieve many goals, such as: • Amplifying underemphasized, historically excluded voices.
stories, Mitchell noted the important role teachers can play in providing encouragement for students to reach high in their endeavors. Mitchell noted that telling a student they have talent or pointing out something that they do well can open doors for that student, maybe even to Broadway.
• Encouraging experimentation and investigation of the ownership of
“How do you speak to a child’s future?” he asked. n
creativity. • Exposing students to less hierarchical modes of production. • Allowing themes to emerge from the ensemble creation process.
Elizabeth Watkins (she/her) is a middle school theatre teacher in Richland County, SC, and co-chair of SETC’s Teachers Institute.
• Asking audiences to think past the
THEATRE & DANCE in the Nation’s Capital STUDY ACTING, DANCE AND PRODUCTION DESIGN WITH A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN THEATRE OR DANCE 40 x Southern Theatre x Spring-Summer 2022
202.994.8072 WASHINGTON, DC ctad@gwu.edu
