Children's Theatre Course

Lesson 1 • Child Development and Audience Awareness

Applies developmental psychology to audience analysis for different age groups. Informs every creative choice made throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Roles Within a Children's Theatre Company

Maps the professional roles—artistic, educational, and administrative—within a producing organization. Students identify career pathways and collaborative responsibilities.

Lesson 3 • Core Principles and Artistic Values

Defines the aesthetic and ethical values unique to theatre for young audiences. Students articulate a personal artistic philosophy grounded in these principles.

Lesson 1 • Elements of Effective Children's Stories

Identifies narrative components—character, conflict, theme—that engage young audiences. Provides analytical tools used in script evaluation throughout the chapter.

Lesson 2 • Adapting Source Material for the Stage

Covers the process of transforming picture books, folktales, and novels into stage scripts. Students learn adaptation ethics and practical dramaturgical techniques.

Lesson 3 • Evaluating Existing Scripts

Teaches a structured rubric for assessing published scripts for production suitability. Students practice critical reading and written script analysis.

Lesson 1 • Rehearsal Planning and Management

Develops skills for scheduling, running, and documenting rehearsals productively. Students produce a full rehearsal schedule for a short production.

Lesson 2 • Auditions and Casting Strategies

Covers audition design, casting criteria, and inclusive casting practices for youth productions. Students design and run a mock audition process.

Lesson 3 • Pacing, Energy, and Theatrical Clarity

Addresses tempo, rhythm, and the heightened energy required to hold a young audience. Students apply pacing tools during rehearsal simulations.

Lesson 4 • Blocking and Stage Composition

Teaches principles of stage composition, picturization, and movement clarity for young audiences. Students block a scene and receive structured peer feedback.

Lesson 1 • Foundations of Acting for Children

Introduces core acting concepts—imagination, concentration, and truthful action—adapted for young learners. Establishes the pedagogical baseline for all coaching work.

Lesson 2 • Character Building with Young Actors

Guides students in facilitating character exploration appropriate to a child's cognitive level. Students design and lead a character-building workshop session.

Lesson 3 • Voice and Body as Expressive Instruments

Trains students to coach vocal projection, articulation, and physical expressiveness in young performers. Connects physical and vocal work to character development.

Lesson 1 • Sound Design and Original Music

Explores how sound effects, underscoring, and original music enhance narrative for young audiences. Students curate a sound design plan for a production.

Lesson 2 • Lighting Design for Young Audiences

Introduces lighting as a storytelling tool that guides focus and creates atmosphere for children. Students design a basic lighting plot for a short scene.

Lesson 3 • Scenic Design Principles for Youth Productions

Covers how set design communicates story world, scale, and imagination to young audiences. Students analyze and sketch a scenic concept for a given script.

Lesson 4 • Integrating Design Elements Collaboratively

Teaches the design meeting process and how directors and designers align their visions. Students participate in a simulated production design meeting.

Lesson 1 • Child Safety and Safeguarding Protocols

Establishes mandatory safeguarding standards for working with minors in theatrical settings. Students develop a safeguarding policy document for a producing organization.

Lesson 2 • Production Planning and Scheduling

Covers the full production timeline from concept to closing night. Students create a production calendar integrating all departments and deadlines.

Lesson 3 • Stage Safety and Risk Management

Identifies physical hazards in theatrical environments and teaches risk mitigation strategies. Students conduct a mock safety audit of a rehearsal and performance space.

Lesson 1 • Curriculum Design for School Programs

Teaches backward design for creating theatre residencies aligned with academic standards. Students draft a multi-session curriculum outline for a target grade level.

Lesson 2 • Residency Logistics and School Partnerships

Covers the practical steps of scheduling, contracting, and sustaining school partnerships. Students draft a partnership proposal for a hypothetical school client.

Lesson 3 • Theatre as an Educational Tool

Establishes the research base for arts integration and theatre's impact on learning outcomes. Provides the rationale students use when designing and pitching programs.

Lesson 1 • Reflection, Assessment, and Artistic Growth

Facilitates structured reflection on the capstone production to consolidate learning. Students produce a written self-assessment and set goals for continued professional development.

Lesson 2 • Opening, Running, and Closing a Production

Addresses the operational responsibilities during the performance run and closing procedures. Students manage a live performance and complete a production close-out process.

Lesson 3 • Front-of-House and Audience Experience

Covers audience management, accessibility, and the full front-of-house experience for young audiences. Students design a front-of-house plan for their capstone production.

Lesson 4 • Pre-Production Planning and Team Assembly

Integrates script selection, design, and team-building into a unified pre-production plan. Students finalize all creative and logistical decisions before rehearsals begin.