Want to fit drama into your homeschool? Here's an easy way... support your local community theater. There are multiple ways to enjoy the theater and fit drama into your homeschool.

Hi! My name is Danielle and I have homeschooled my kids for 20 years. When we started homeschooling, I was concerned my kids may not be able to participate in some of the fun activities like drama that I was able to do growing up, but I quickly found out that I had nothing to worry about and found there are a lot of ways to fit drama into your homeschool.

Community Theaters Need Your Support

My sister has been involved in community theater for many years. As with all theaters, the community theater suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic and many had to close because they couldn't bring any money in. Some got creative and did performances online using Zoom and other means to have the actors separated, but still appearing to perform together. Thankfully, the theaters are open again and we can go enjoy a show.

The theater that my sister performs at had to shut down during the pandemic and the owner sold all of the scenery, costumes and furniture he had at the theater not knowing he would have a chance to have a theater again. He recently found a new space and is starting from scratch with what he needs, so the scenery is limited, but the performances are still great.

There are Talented Actors in Community Theater

Many assume that the community theater doesn't have good actors because they would be professional or performing in a larger venue. Sometimes they just haven't had their chance to be discovered or they just enjoy regularly performing locally and entertaining the audiences that come to the community theater.

Having seen a few shows at this theater, it has reminded me why it is possible to keep it simple and still entertain the audience. This theater is a wide theater with only three rows. There is no curtain or real backstage, but they make it work and continue to put on shows week after week.

The actors are quite talented, so the shows are very dramatic because of their willingness to show emotions and put themselves out there during each performance. Some even do something a little different at each showing of the same play just to make it interesting. In fact, I prefer coming to a show after it has been performed at least a few times because actors tend to add in little bits to develop their characters even more or to add to the humor.

Mock Trials as Plays

This last show we saw is called The Trial of Santa Clause. In the play a little girl is unhappy that she did not receive what she asked for from Santa, so she and her mother decided to sue Santa. Now I've heard everything. 😄

Santa was represented by a very temperamental elf lawyer who didn't quite seem to have a plan at first, but then unleashed his attack on an unsuspecting witness in his attempt to prove Santa wasn't guilty.

The Plaintiff's attorney questioned a recently fired elf and the practices of making toys and what really happens in Santa's workshop, then cross examined Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer attempting to demonstrate he had been treated poorly.

It was anyone's guess as to who would win the case since Judge Trudy, played by my sister, did not seem to like either side and would often shut them up in the middle of their questioning. At one point she found some questioning quite entertaining and pulled out some popcorn to enjoy. Later other witnesses would steal some popcorn while at the stand which leant to even more humor as the trial continued.

There were strong emotions and plenty of antics from elves to the attorneys to Santa, but a fair decision was made in the end. We were thoroughly entertained and the audience laughed out loud on numerous occasions. It was a great way to spend our Saturday with family and friends.

How You Can Support Your Community Theater

1. Audition for a role
   
   Actors young and old are able to audition for many roles at the community theater. There are a lot of skills that are developed while going through the process of auditioning for a show.
   
   For this particular theater, the actor is given the script shortly before he or she auditions, so actors have to be quick thinking and be able to read well on the spot. There can be multiple auditions as the director makes his decisions, so patience is important. Many do not get a role, so while challenging perhaps for a younger actor to overcome, it makes her stronger in the end.
   
   Everyone has to start somewhere, so a young actor that is just starting out in their craft should still be encouraged to audition. These actors may get a role, but it may be a small role with a few lines or no lines at all. Getting experience performing in a play and learning from more experienced actors helps these actors grow to allow them to hopefully get bigger parts in the future.
   
   Actors also learn to take direction from someone and receive feedback. These are important skills a student can use while attending school and working.

   
   

2. Submit your original play
   
   Another thing I have learned is that many community theaters will use scripts from local playwrights. Being a playwright myself, this is quite intriguing. The theater my sister performs at usually announces a theme it plans to follow for a series of shows and asks playwrights to submit their work in hopes they will use it for their next series.
   
   They will also invite people to come in to direct shows, so the same gentleman who runs the theater isn't directing every show. It is wonderful to see all the people involved in putting on a show and that it really is a community event.

   
   

3. Attend the theater and show your support verbally and financially
   
   You can show your support by buying a ticket, encouraging the actors through your laughing and clapping and contributing to the actor fund.
   
   What you may not realize is that buying a ticket helps support the theater, but not always the actors. These talented actors are not always paid in community theater. The small theaters don't often bring in enough money to take care of expenses to run the theater plus pay the actors, so they take up a collection at the end of each show to compensate the actors a little bit. It's like giving a tip after a nice meal.
   
   These actors are committed, spending their evenings after work doing rehearsals and performing week in and week out. They love what they do even though they don't get paid to do it. I think that's one of the reasons the performances are so good, because they really love what they are doing.
   
   

You Can Support Your Community Theater

You can fit drama into your homeschool by supporting your community theater:

1. Audition for a role

2. Submit your original play

3. Attend the theater and show your verbal and financial support

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Want to learn how to write a play? Check out our drama curriculum, How to Write a Playscript, to get started. Or maybe you're interested in putting on a mock trial? Don't worry we've got you covered with our drama curriculum, Macbeth - The Mock Trial!

Thanks for joining us!

Danielle at homeschooldrama.com