Art Near Your Center: Inspirations from the Familiar: Drama
Whispers from My Neighborhood—Engage Your Students through Drama
Session 3 & 4: Grades 3–6
In this session, Penny will share sample projects from the seeds of inspiration to the final presentation. You will learn simple techniques borrowed from spoken word and choral reading along with ideas for gesture and movement that combine to create original drama performance pieces. Using these sample scripts and lesson plans, we will create an original theatrical piece during the session, and you will learn how you and your students can develop a drama performance that builds bridges between your students and their community.
Penny Caywood
Penny Caywood is the artistic director of University of Utah’s Youth Theatre program. Through her Kennedy Center Partners in Education collaboration with the Salt Lake City School District (SLCSD) and Utah Presents, she has created a unique theatre-arts program at three elementary schools (SLCSD) in which she demonstrates drama strategies in the classroom, presents scaffolded workshops to teachers, and assists in the implementation of drama as a teaching method. As this program has grown, Penny has presented at numerous arts integration and teacher training workshops throughout Utah and other parts of the country. Because of her unique position at the University of Utah, Penny also teaches two courses for pre-service teachers; Materials and Methods of Creative Drama and Integrating the Arts in the Classroom. As a director and choreographer, Penny has been involved with over 40 productions along the Wasatch Front, including work with Rodgers Memorial Theatre, Weber State, The Grand Theatre, Plan-B, the Egyptian Theatre, and Salt Lake Acting Company.