"Launched in 1981, Great Lakes Theater's in-school residency program is now one of the most successful artist-in-residence programs in the country. Using an interactive, hands on approach, a team of two specially trained actor-teachers visit schools for five consecutive days. The actors bring scripts, props, costumes...swords, daggers, and stage blood to turn the students into an acting troupe, exploring classic literature from an actor's point of view."
This year, The Great Lakes Theatre Company will work with St. Edward students at every grade level helping them explore
Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Hamlet,
and
King Lear
in a variety of exciting and experiential ways. Each day of each lesson plan includes acting, discussion, and theater exercises. Certain days, students do all of the acting and the teachers serve as their directors; other days the actors perform for the students. Mr. Mark Urban's freshmen are currently studying
Romeo and Juliet
and he feels that the experience with The Great Lakes Theatre company helps students to contextualize the play and gets them out of their comfort zones, priming the pump to explore a style of writing and text that can intimidate some students.
Providing students with the experience to go back to The Globe Theatre and immerse themselves in Shakespeare's prose makes this interactive learning experience the lesson of the week.
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