After 20 years of homeschooling, we have found a lot of ways to fit drama into our homeschool. Whether your student is in Pre-K or high school, attending the theater can be a nice introduction to drama or a special event with friends and family.

Sometimes theaters perform plays at public events, so you can have the opportunity to enjoy the theater without paying to see it. I know as a homeschooler we were often on a very tight budget, so these opportunities were much appreciated. Other times we would get a good deal because we would attend as a group or look for discounts. If you are patient, then you can often find that really great deal to make it affordable for your family.

Here are 5 ways our family has found to attend the theater:

1. Attend a Marionette Theater

One year when my kids were younger, we got the neighborhood kids all dressed up and went to a marionette theater. There, they told the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, then afterward allowed the kids to play with some of the puppets and learn a little more about puppet theater.

Some cities have artists that perform in parks or on the street. In one city there was a talented artist who had a marionette puppet painting on a canvas. It was so cool to see how she combined two different arts she was passionate about. It also helped the kids to see there are no limits to what you can do with your creative mind.

2. Attend a School Play

Local schools perform plays all the time and are usually quite affordable to attend. Maybe you have a neighbor or a friend from church that is performing in one that you can go and support. My daughter leads a lot of teens who happen to be involved in drama. They are always performing in something.

3. Attend a Community Theater

Small community theaters are a great way to support actors who are passionate about their craft, but just aren’t making a lot of money at it. My sister has been a part of community theater for years and even had an opportunity to direct a play. It was so fun for the kids to see their aunt perform and for her to share all the behind-the-scenes stories that happened during the nights of performing. There are always glitches, but the actors know “the show must go on!” Oftentimes you never even know there was a mistake or something missing because they do such a great job with improvising.

With any performance it is good to check the ratings of the play. Some plays are not appropriate for younger ages or have a special school day matinee that cuts out some of the more mature content. You may have to wait until closer to the performance to see the actual details as they may not know until they start rehearsals.

4. Attend a Shakespeare Theater

One year I took my son’s junior class to see Macbeth. They performed in a really small theater and had limited actors, so they would often change roles right in front of our eyes. In small theater groups, they have to get really creative with props, costumes and scene changes, so it’s great to learn from them if you want to do something of your own.

Sometimes tickets are sold out months before a play even comes out. It is good to check with your local theater to see when tickets will be available to ensure you get the dates and seats you want. For our Shakespeare theater, I had to contact the theater in the spring for a performance we wanted to see in November. Thankfully someone gave me a heads up, so we didn’t miss the opportunity to see Macbeth. It was performed during the same weeks we were reading the play that year.

We did perform an abbreviated version of Macbeth as a class, so this experience was helpful for the students to know the story really well and get some ideas how it could be presented. They also had the freedom to make it their own, so they weren’t copying exactly what they had seen and their creative juices were flowing. The rest of our co-op benefited from a free play and my students’ experience as they watched the performance.

5. Attend a Broadway Show

Another more expensive option can be seeing a Broadway show. If you are near a large city that has these opportunities, it is amazing to see how elaborate the scenery and costumes can be and how incredible the acting and singing are. Maybe you save up for a special event or each year just take one child for a special night if you have a large family. My daughter was blessed by a neighbor who had an extra ticket one year, so she was able to go for free. That doesn’t usually happen, but when offered we definitely take advantage of it.

Attending the theater also opens an opportunity for your students to learn how to behave in a more formal setting. Sometimes we never really think about that skill or have the opportunity to teach it. Going to a nice dinner then attending the theater is a great way to learn some important etiquette. You never know who your child might meet or where they might go in the future.

You Can Fit Drama into Your Homeschool by Attending the Theater

You do have the time to fit drama into your homeschool by attending the theater. Whether it is a small play or a Broadway show, you can learn a lot from the artists performing and have a fun evening with friends and family. 

Here are 5 ways to attend the theater:

1. Attend a Marionette Theater

2. Attend a School Play

3. Attend the Community Theater

4. Attend a Shakespeare Theater

5. Attend a Broadway Show

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For those aspiring actors… before ever acting in a play, most actors have played drama games to help build their skills as an artist. We can help your aspiring actor get started today with Places Everyone! - drama game fun for the whole semester curriculum!

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Danielle at homeschooldrama.com