As teachers are already engaged in the creative arts, it’s natural for them to be involved in your show. In addition, students can see by their instructors’ enthusiasm that their school is committed to developing their overall quality of life, as well as their curriculum. [1] X Research source
Research shows that pursuing an interest in creative arts reduces feelings stress and anxiety and increases positive emotions. [2] X Research source Children are more likely to score higher on college entrance exams if they participate in four or more years of artistic study outside of their regular classes. [3] X Research source
Each school’s code of conduct differs, but mature content and dress will probably be prohibited. You may also have to obtain permission for utilizing school grounds after hours for planning, rehearsing, or putting on the show.
Make a list of everything you need help with and assign volunteers to work on each item. This can be everything from selling tickets to promotions, set-building, lighting, stewarding, and backstage logistics. If a role is particularly vital, have a back-up person to help if something goes wrong at the last minute. Don’t be afraid to delegate. Trust your volunteers and assign them enough help to accomplish their tasks. [5] X Research source
If RSVP’s are required, you’ll need to determine a timeline for that as well, as the RSVP date will need to be included on the flyers and invitations.
Some students might not have transportation during the evenings or weekends, so it’s crucial to keep the show as close to school hours as possible.
Coordinate with the school’s administrators to avoid conflicts with other school events such as athletics, other performances, or faculty meetings.
An auditorium or gym are large enough for a sizable audience and have plenty of room for a make-shift stage. The parking lot, school grounds, or a sports field can be used as long as weather permits.
Include any assets you are able to gain either from the school or from outside donations. Allocate the right amount of funds for each budget item. If any one item is significantly more expensive than the others, you may need to review whether it is necessary. [6] X Trustworthy Source Official UK government website Official website for the public sector of the UK government Go to source
Place donation jars in the school’s main offices, classrooms, or cafeteria.
Include clear information about the dates for the auditions, RSVP, and the show itself. Also highlight the location, theme, and contact information, and give credit to sponsors or donors.
Not only students, but parents, are active on social media. Instead of parents having to ask what their children are up to on a daily basis, it’s more effective to show them. [11] X Trustworthy Source Edutopia Educational nonprofit organization focused on encouraging and celebrating classroom innovation Go to source
Once you’ve seen the acts for yourself, you can suggest modifications to their performances or costumes to ensure that they conform with school rules and time restrictions. [14] X Research source Doing this early in the process allows for plenty of time to make any necessary modifications.
Consider the flow of the acts. Is it a good idea to put a rock band on after a romantic monologue from Shakespeare? Also, try to schedule a high-energy performance to end the show. You can use the schedule as the basis for a program to pass out to audience members at the beginning of the show.
Consider a principal or teacher. If the school has a drama or performance program, a student not involved in one of the acts might be a good choice. Make the MC’s duties clear from the outset. They will need to make an opening speech and introduce each act, so provide them with a copy of the schedule as soon as it is available.
Remember that you can delegate any of these tasks to volunteers, instead of trying to do them all yourself.
Make sure that members of upcoming acts are ready and waiting to go on. Make a plan with the MC to provide support for students who forget lines or get stage fright. If any of the student performers are too frightened to go onstage at their scheduled time, move their act to later in the show and bring on the next act. While the student waits to go on, give them a pep talk, remind them of how well they did in the audition or rehearsal, and make sure that their friends encourage them.
You might consider presenting volunteers with a small gift or flowers, or asking them to come on stage at the end of the show for a round of applause.
