Pre-Show Activity: Role Exploration

Part A: Seated in a circle, students introduce themselves one by one through an object they carry or wear, (including jewelry, shoes, hats, backpacks, etc.), that is somehow linked to their identity. Ask students to think of the different roles they play everyday:

• Why do we assume roles?
• What responsibilities are associated with those roles?
• What are some of the advantages/rewards?

Continuing in the large group, students create two individual still images (tableaux) depicting two opposite roles they regularly play. Students freeze in each position several times until all students are confident than they remember both images.

In pairs, students choose to be A or B. The leader calls "freeze": all the A's take one of the positions they have practiced. On "change", all the A's take the other position. Pairs switch, the leader calls "freeze" again and the sequence is repeated with the B partner. The A partner tells B what role they saw portrayed, and the B partner does the same for the A. Pairs discuss reasons for portraying these roles in daily life, and responsibilities and rewards associated with these specific roles.

Part B: With markers, posterboard and string, students create masks, symbolizing one of their roles created in the still images above. The teacher divides students into groups of 4 or 5.

Each group shares their masked roles and selects one positive and one negative role. Two tableaux are created to show these opposite roles in a daily activity. Share these frozen pictures with the entire group. The teacher may tap individual players on the shoulder and ask them to narrate their thoughts or feelings (thought tracking).

Whole group concludes by discussing:

• Why do we assume roles?
• How do you feel if you are prevented from playing a role?
• Did wearing a mask make it easier or more difficult to play a role? Why?

• Return to the Pre-Show Activities Menu

Material on this page written by Lyn Peticolas, John P. McEneny, and Jeff Kennedy; edited by Nancy Swortzell, 1997