Ownership in School Theatre. PEN 70

In school theater, if children feel that they and not the teachers have created the characters, or have influenced or created the script, songs, sets, and dance--in other words, if they "own" what they act--they act better and enjoy it more. When children do not have ownership, they go through the motions, stand where they are told, say what they are told, and usually dread the experience. When children have ownership, their acting becomes secondary to the main reason for the whole exercise, which is to help them build relationships and to cope more effectively with all the situations life is presenting them. In a school, two musicals ("Mary Poppins" and "Oz") were presented using the notion of ownership. Children were closely involved in every stage of the production; the teachers served as dispensable coaches and facilitators. The children became so deeply involved in the production that many wondered what the teachers would be doing during the performance. Teachers and students shared the responsibility for the productions, for even when the children do own the story, they still need some help in the telling. When children own a production and teachers have genuine roles to play, the process and the production will be fulfilling personally and professionally for both teachers and children. (RS)