With the support of the Maryland State Department of Education, Olney Theatre Center has developed a network of Educational Connections to engage students in the excitement of live theater and to involve them in the creative process. Through our touring company, National Players, and the work of our teaching artists, professional performances of the world's great dramatic literature and challenging creative writing workshops are accessible to students in every school district in Maryland. Many of Olney Theatre Center's Educational Connections can reach, inspire and excite your students as well.

The National Players bring literature to life in special 90-minute matinee versions of the works of Shakespeare and other classics.  Nearly every student performance in Maryland is preceded by a workshop and followed by a lively post-show discussion of the play with the acting company. Teachers are provided study guides and other resource materials in advance to help enrich the performance experience.

In-School Workshops Are Available Year-Round.

Topics:

POWERPLAY
A dynamic and interactive playwriting workshop that introduces the basics of dramatic structure and involves students in the creative process. Through a series of exercises and improvisations, the students write monologues and short scenes that are then brought to life by the actors in the company. Especially useful as a pre-show workshop, PowerPlay provides students with an introduction to the play, gets them excited about the show they are about to see and puts them in touch with their creativity.

SHAKESPEARE: THE ACTOR'S JOURNEY
This engaging workshop illuminates the journey the actor must take to bring Shakespeare's words to life. Using scenes and soliloquies from Shakespeare, students explore and personalize Shakespeare's language, characters, and situations.

ACTING & IMPROVISATION
Teaching Artists lead students through a brief series of exercises and improvisational games to warm-up the body, voice, imagination and intellect, followed by an introduction to character development & scene study. This workshop can be tailored for younger or more experienced students.

STAGE COMBAT
A workshop in the rudiments of illusion and the methods of creating believable, safe stage fighting. Players demonstrate the methods of hand-to-hand stage combat and teach students the basic moves: stage slaps and punches, falling, and hair-pulling.

AUDITION TECHNIQUE
Using monologues or scenes students have already prepared, students will be led through a series of exercises to strengthen their material and self-confidence. Individual coaching and discussion of the audition process, headshots, resumes, etc.

CREATE YOUR OWN WORKSHOP
With advance notice, National Players is available to design and teach workshops tailored to your specific curricular needs or interests.

For more information, please contact Kevin Hasser, National Players General Manager, at 301.924.4485 ext.116 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .