Step into Creativity

Explore drama, performance, and expression

Section 1: Drama Videos

In 50 videos, Mike Rugnetta teaches you theater and drama! This course is based on an introductory college level course in Theater and explores the history, theory, and technology that contributes to the art form most like life. By the end of this course, you will be able to:

* Describe the leading theories of the origins of theater

* Understand how theater was produced and what it meant to audiences around the world

* Analyze the historical and cultural contexts that lead to the creation of different movements in theater history

* Argue for the importance of producing and understanding theater

Staging Historical Drama: As It Is In Heaven | PBS LearningMediaThis segment offers a behind-the-scenes look as the University of Kentucky Theatre Department prepares for a production of As It Is in Heaven, a play by Arlene Hutton about Shaker women at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, in the 1830s. In the segment, actors rehearse, and director Rhoda Gail Pollock and others discuss the challenges of portraying history onstage, how they work with others in the production, and how theater connects an audience with the past.

The Rehearsal Process: Heartbreak House | PBS LearningMediaProducing Director Jon Jory and Dramaturg Michael Dixon, formerly of Actors Theatre of Louisville, open the segment with a discussion of playwright George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) and his play Heartbreak House. Then, actors in the Actors Theatre production of the play read a scene, rehearse it, discuss character development and motivation, and perform the scene in costume and on the set.

Section 2: Creative suggestions

Practice a monologue in the mirror

Create a character with only your hands and voice

Record a short skit with friends

Section 3: Recommended Reads

Acting for young actors: the ultimate teen guide

By Mary Lou Belli and Dinah Lenney
Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications

This book was selected because it gives middle school learners a practical introduction to acting, from building characters to preparing monologues. The writing is straightforward and never talks down to students. According to Back Stage West, the authors explain key Stanislavsky-based techniques while also including fun exercises and tips for young performers (Schiffman, 2006).

Reference:
Schiffman, J. (2006, October 12). Acting for young actors: The ultimate teen guide [Book review]. Back Stage West, 13(41), 10.

Voice and the young actor

By Rena Cook

Publisher: Methuen Drama

This book was chosen because it focuses on one of the actor’s most important tools. The voice! With diagrams, exercises, and a companion DVD, it helps students practice breathing, articulation, and resonance. New England Theatre Journal noted that Cook “demystifies the speaking voice for the high-school drama student” and provides a clear, engaging outline of vocal progression (Bercovici, 2012).

Reference:
Bercovici, T. V. (2015). Voice and the young actor: A workbook and DVD [Review]. New England Theatre Journal, 23, 152–154.

Section 5: Media Literacy Corner

Media Literacy Corner

This section was created to help students think critically about the videos and media they encounter on a daily basis.

With so much content coming from TikTok, YouTube, and streaming sites, it is important to ask:

Who made this?
Why did they make it?
Can I trust it?

By practicing media literacy, students can enjoy creative videos while also learning how to spot reliable information and avoid misinformation. This skill supports their growth as thoughtful artists and informed citizens.

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