Development of an Educational Theater Company

July 27, 2009 by  

This past year I was accepted to a program called TA 101 which was developed by Dr. Carol Fineberg, a researcher and frequent writer about arts education, and Master Teaching Artist Dale Davis, one of the founders who now serves as Executive Director of Association of Teaching Artists.   The course, for teaching artists relatively new to the field, was underwritten by grants from the Dana Foundation and New York Community Trust to the New York State Alliance for Arts Education.

Teaching Artist 101 Program

The program participants met every four weeks for four hours and explored a different topic each month.  We started with “Understanding School Culture” where we learned about schools and the various people that we would be working with in the school system.  We also learned about best ways to collaborate with the teachers in planning sessions.  We learned to develop curriculum, which was especially valuable.  Another important unit was the seminar on psychology and using what we know about in our work with schools.  We also learned about partnerships and grant writing.  Additionally, a unit that I especially loved was the seminar on different learning styles in the classroom.  As classrooms are more inclusive, this seminar was also very helpful.  TA 101 began in September of 2008 and concluded in March of 2009.  Participants were given ample time to feedback their responses to each session as well as the total experience. 

Reflection

I was very impressed by the other teaching artists in the room who were also invited participants.  Some of them had PhDs in Theater, some were already running their own theater companies, and others were already marketing their art to museums and schools.  I learned a lot from their questions to the speakers.  For each seminar, I became more organized and focused with information. I learned how to relate my lesson plans to the New York City DOE Blue Print and NYS Standards as well as various populations.  This was very empowering as I became organized and was more able to plan ahead for what it was that I wanted to do.   Most importantly, it got me to really think about partnerships that I could create.

Work Developed from TA 101 Sessions

I am using the lessons that I learned from TA 101 towards the development of an educational show that I hope to market to the NYC Public Schools.  To start, I am throwing a fundraiser.  

The fundraiser will be August 12th at 8: 30 pm at The Producers Club located at 358 West 44th Street. Tickets are $20.00 which include two drinks, raffle tickets for Coaching sessions, Shakespeare texts, gift bags and other goodies. We’ll have singing of Shakespeare songs by Kelly Nichols and Joe Crow Ryan’s folk singing.

Carrie Edel Isaacman is a regular guest blogger, look for her monthly posts to come out on the 27th of the month. She is currently working as an Adjunct Lecturer through CUNY and substitute teaching in the NYC Public Schools while she pursues her MS in Educational Theater at City College. She is also involved in TA 101 with New York State Alliance for Arts in Education.

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    Comments

    One Response to “Development of an Educational Theater Company”

    1. Virginia Hammer on July 28th, 2009 12:28 am

      Carrie’s great – I love her – ; I’m a flake – I hadn’t realized you’re in “Two Noble Kinsmen,” too! (I am too) – great stuff, Dennis. THANKS for this. T.A. 101 sounds VERY WONDERFUL. I took a 2-wk. free class through Equity last Sept., on T.A., tuaght by Jane Ives. It was great, but they weren’t much help at all in getting owrk. It’s tough times. Gotta stick with it, though. I can’t wait to tawk with ya about it, @ 2 Noble. thanks! Virginia H.

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