ClassAct: Wake Forest

making dramatic literature come alive

ClassAct: Wake Forest is a dynamic page-to-stage program that can bring live theatre to your classroom. ClassAct: Wake Forest is cast with theatre students who will offer multiple interpretations of short scenes from any dramatic literature you may be using in your classroom. Emphasis is placed on multiple interpretations to highlight themes and ideas that might not be readily apparent on the page. Following the performance, the ClassAct troupe can work with you to facilitate a discussion about what your students have seen and how a live performance impacts the students’ encounter with dramatic literature.

The student troupe members will all be enrolled in a special topics course, taught be Leah Roy, in the Theatre and Dance Department here at Wake Forest University.

ClassAct is a program that started at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Conceived by Karen Ryker, Susanne Wofford and Jill Dolan, ClassAct started in 1993. The program is no longer running at UW-Madison, but has found new life here at WFU.

Are you interested in having ClassAct: Wake Forest visit your classroom? Read on to find information on scene selection, alternate playings, and a request form.

Scene selections:

Choose short scenes, no more than 5 minutes, from a text already in your curriculum, or one that explores ideas which are relevant to your course.

If you are unsure whether there is dramatic literature suitable for your subject

matter, please feel free to contact us- we’ll help brainstorm and come up

with possible titles.

If you are selecting a scene in a language other than English, please limit

the length to no more than three minutes. Also be advised that we will

ask for assistance with the language (possibly using a student mentor from

your classroom) so as to serve our students most efficiently.

ClassAct:Wake Forest reserves the right to edit text for time as needed.

However every effort will be made to work with the host instructor

toward mutually agreeable cuts.

Be aware that our troupes will consist of three or four actors, so avoid

scenes with a lot of characters. Also be aware that our troupe may not have

the diversity called for in the script. We are open to cross-racial casting,

when necessary and/or appropriate. Indeed, this can raise many issues

by itself and further classroom discussion.

Alternate interpretations/playings:

In order to best highlight themes and ideas, ClassAct requests that you

have two alternate interpretations of the scene. Since you know the

material best in the context of your course, give us some direction on

how you’d like the scenes to contrast.

For example, if your class is reading Hamlet and you are discussing the

inherent gender implications in the text, you might direct us to play the

famous “nunnery” scene with Ophelia as a victim (of Hamlet, of her

father), followed by a playing of the scene with Ophelia as a liberated,

savvy young woman. This will inevitably impact the role that Hamlet,

Claudius and Polonius play in the story.

Or if you are using Mother Courage and Her Children and your class is

exploring the techniques of alienation, you might request that we play

the scene once in a realistic style, followed by a more traditional

“Brechtian” interpretation. This can spark discussion on playing style

and genre.

If you are unsure which alternate playings would highlight further your

class’ understanding of key ideas, please feel free to contact Leah Roy for

suggestions. All we ask is that you have a clear idea which themes/topics

you’ll want to explore with the scene. We can brainstorm with you and

come up with something appropriate.

Information and request form:

Our criteria for selecting engagements will depend largely on the

scheduling flexibility of the student troupe members in ClassAct. Once

registration for Spring ‘o5 is complete), we will notify you

whether we’ll be able to visit your class. If we are able to present a

ClassAct performance in your classroom, we’ll ask you to send three

or four copies of your scene and possibly lend the troupe members

a copy of the play if it is not available in our campus or department

library.

Please keep in mind that we won’t be able to present any scenes during

the first 2 weeks of the spring term, as we’ll need rehearsal time before

any appearances.

Print and fill out the request form below. Send it, along with your

selected scene to: Leah Roy, Department of Theatre, Scales Fine Arts.

Please contact with questions or comments!

Leah Roy royle@wfu.edu x4334

ClassAct: Wake Forest classroom visit request form

Instructor: _________________________________________________

Phone and email: ____________________________________________

Name and number of course: ___________________________________

Day/Time your class meets: ____________________________________

Location: __________________________________________________

Describe the classroom space (including an estimated size, also noting any fixed desks/podiums, stage areas, raked audience areas, and other notable limitations of the playing space): ________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

How many students are in your class? _____________________________

Day/Time of requested ClassAct:Wake Forest performance (please give three alternatives, in order of preference):

1^st choice: __________________________________

2^nd choice: __________________________________

3^rd choice: __________________________________

Title of the play: ____________________________________________

Author of the play: __________________________________________

Specific translation/version: ___________________________________

Please fill out one form for each performance you wish the troupe to present. We may not be able to meet requests for multiple visits to your classroom.

**Please return this form, along with a copy of your selected scene to: Leah Roy, Department of Theatre and Dance, Scales Fine Arts Center.**