Educators and students alike are counting the days until the start of the next school year… or at least the cool kids, anyway! After all, a new semester and fresh curriculum ushers in so much excitement for what’s to come, with the promise of many creative pursuits!

As a theatre educator, you’re probably already in the midst of your curriculum planning—thinking about which productions to choose, what educational programming elements to focus on, and what pillars of education you should focus on. If you’re looking for guidance on creating the best possible curriculum for your students, On The Stage offers a few things to remember before the school year begins. 

Aligning Drama Curricula with State & National Standards 

Perhaps one of the most important elements when planning your theatre curriculum is ensuring it aligns with benchmarks set by your school, state department of education, and any national standards put in place. 

To begin, let’s explore the key elements that should be addressed in any theatre education: 

  • Storytelling—Students should learn how to tell compelling stories with words, body language, and microexpressions. 
  • Communication – Whether on stage or off, theatre relies on clear communication. 
  • Expression – Emoting with and without words is key to theatre’s success. Additionally, theatre can teach students how to understand and emote healthily. 
  • Interpretation – Taking words on a page and bringing them to life is a skill most subjects do not teach. Theatre, however, has it down pat.
  • Conflict Resolution – Creative disputes often happen in theatre, and as an educator, you can teach your students how to reach peaceful resolutions. 
  • Improvisation – Learning to ‘go with the flow,’ read others’ body language, and think on one’s feet is integral to theatre education. 
  • Research – Conducting in-depth character analysis can help students reach their characters’ core.

Next, what are the key skills that a theatre education should teach?   

  • Acting – Obviously, getting students comfortable on stage should be one of the main goals of your theatre education.
  • Designing – Whether this is the creation of props, backdrops, or costumes, ensure you’re incorporating design into your curriculum. 
  • Writing – What better way to flex a student’s creative muscles than by allowing them to write their own short story or play? 
  • Dramaturgy – Students should study and practice dramatic composition, including the aesthetic architecture of a play and the practical philosophy of theater within your classroom.
  • Producing – lights, sound, backstage organization, special effects, you name it. Students should learn the ins and outs of the entire theatre, not just acting onstage.
  • Directing – Leadership within the theatre comes to a head at the director’s chair. Your students can learn a lot from their brief time there.

Staying S.M.A.R.T.

When evaluating your curriculum for the 2024-2025 school year, it’s never a bad idea to think S.M.A.R.T. Are your ideas and goals:

  • Specific – Do you have clear goals or only murky, half-laid plans? 
  • Measurable – Do you have a way to record the successes and failures of your curriculum in a helpful way? 
  • Achievable – Are your goals realistic regarding your student’s time and skill level? Are they realistic in terms of your budget?
  • Relevant – Are you hitting the benchmarks required of your administration? 
  • Time-bound – Can these goals be accomplished in the quarter or semester you have with your students? 

If you take just a bit of time to review the S.M.A.R.T. method, you can hone in on solid curriculum tenets and set yourself and your students up for success. 

Incorporating Interdisciplinary Elements 

Creating well-rounded students is more important today than ever. Consider incorporating interdisciplinary elements into your classroom while planning your curriculum. This way, you enhance student learning across all subjects while entertaining and educating. But what do interdisciplinary elements look like in a theatre setting? 

Incorporating Math & Business

Consider setting aside some time in your lesson plans to discuss theatre financing. Whether the money’s real or imagined, have students create budgets for specific plays or musicals, from rehearsals to closing night and beyond. Ensure all elements of the budget are considered – from venue rentals to costumes, lighting and sound upgrades, marketing efforts, and everything in between

This can even be a competition! Split students into groups and see who can best utilize their budgets to create the highest quality show.

Incorporating Marketing 

Create a student marketing team to help with promotional efforts. These team members can be in charge of all social media marketing efforts, as well as writing newsletters, sending mailers, and creating merchandise. Have these students executive a multi-pronged marketing blitz for the showcase, detailing how they plan to get the most engagement possible. 

Incorporating Artistry 

While stripped-down performances are cool, why not take a little extra time with your backdrops and props by focusing on the artistry of it all? Commit time in your curriculum to planning, sketching, and painting backdrop designs and other hand-painted props. This will allow students to practice their art skills while relaxing in a peaceful, creative environment. 

Incorporating Design 

Sketch out and sew costumes for your production to incorporate the elements of fashion, design, and tailoring. Graphic design can also be used. Consider hosting a design contest, with the winner’s designs placed on your production’s merchandise and programs.

Incorporating History

If you’re doing a period piece, have your students research the time period of the show for their character’s development. This will help ensure that your costumes and props are era-appropriate and that your actors have the proper dialect for the time period.

Incorporating Fundraising

Raising funds is a major component of real-world theatre, so why not incorporate that thinking into your curriculum? Have students organize contests and fundraisers to help pad your production’s bottom line. They’ll learn the ins and outs of theatre production and how much money it takes to make a successful showcase. 

How On The Stage Can Help Educational Theatres

Whether you’re a seasoned educator needing extra support or a new teacher looking for a partner in your journey, On The Stage (OTS) offers educational theatre makers everything they need to succeed. It provides an all-in-one technology platform built for educational theatres, with the flexibility to support students uniquely at every level of education, from universities to high schools to elementary schools and everything in between.

By partnering with OTS, your school program can drive revenue with ticket sales, merchandise, and fundraising, save time and money with box office and production tools, and create a world-class experience with show sites that include professionally designed artwork, a walk-up app, ticket scanning, show programs, and more. Because OTS can help with all this, you can focus on what matters: teaching your students about the world of theatre and just how magical it can be.  

So what are you waiting for? Partner with OTS and book a personalized demo today.