The Rep - Education - Middle School Programs: Grades 6-8

Middle School Programs: Grades 6-8

If you are interested in speaking to someone in person regarding any of these programs, or if you wish to register for a class, please contact Jenny Kostreva, Education Director at jkostreva@milwaukeerep.com or 414-290-5370.

Assembly Programs:

Nomusa Xaba, Storyteller

This seasoned professional, known affectionately as Mama Nomusa, brings her wealth of experience to your school in the form of interactive stories, songs, raps and games. Her wonderfully easy style, playful sense of performance, keen awareness and respect for her audiences make her a high sought after artist.

Marlin Hill, Comedian

This amazingly gifted comedian, who took first place at the Apollo Theatre five times in a row, loves to work with students! His 35 to 45-minute performances not only encourage laughter, but teach about positive life choices and help the students find what is unique within each of them. Performance topics include:

HOW ABOUT THE COSBY SHOW
With amazing accuracy and joy, Mr. Hill recreates the Bill Cosby Show episode where Rudy is thrown a party for making the honor roll. Even the audience is included in this captivating re-enactment.
WHEN I SAY “NO” I MEAN IT
Never were the tough issues of drugs and gangs so hilariously handled! In this touching sketch, Mr. Hill re-enacts his own teen-age challenges with these ever-present threats for youth everywhere.
WHAT REALLY HAPPENS TO BULLIES
Marlin shares his own personal experiences and challenges that he faced growing up in Milwaukee Public Schools in relations to bullies. He gives examples of the different types of bullies that roam in our schools. He encourages students to stand up for their education and to never allow a bully to interfere with their learning. Marline also shares techniques that will better help students deal wit the pressures that might occur as a result of bullying. He also addresses the consequences that are guaranteed for those who are involved with bullying. This program is highly recommended and is a must see for students to fall ages!
BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER
Marlin encourages students to surround themselves around other students that are positive, honest and college bound. He often says, “honor roll students hang out with honor roll students, thugs hang with thugs”. He gives great examples to help the students understand his message. He also encourages students to keep a tight circle of friends. He advises them to only allow the people who make them feel good about themselves to join that circle. Extremely powerful and uplifting!
WHO ARE YOU LISTENING TO?
Marlin starts off by asking this question to the students. He then goes on to share the many characters that are in his repertoire. Some of the advices that he was given was good and some of the advices was bad. He showcases that many different people who influence him in a positive way and thos who simply stressed the importance of education. These characters include: Lil’ Johnny, Bill Cosby & Grandma.

Our 2007-2008 Touring Show
Fee: $150/Performance MPS
$300/Performance NON-MPS

PENDING FUNDING

Title to be determined
Written by John Van Slyke

Once again, we have plans to create a 35-minute show that can travel into area schools and youth organizations, which addresses a topic of relevance to today’s youth.

This program, if funded, will be available to your organization in February. Please contact Andy North, Program Coordinator at 414-290-5393 or anorth@milwaukeerep.com if you'd like to receive additional information.

Workshops
—intended for a classroom size group

Basic Acting Technique

So many members of the education artist staff love teaching basic acting skills that this course can offer a number of approaches to learning acting basics. Try a single approach or several, you’re bound to love the learning too!

Creative Writing Workshop

Storyteller-Educator, Mama Nomusa, facilitates this workshop designed to enhance students' writing skills. A love for writing is developed by using enjoyable, creative techniques that draw from students own experiences and observations. This highly successful workshop has been used in MPS, nationally and internationally. 10 - 20 students, spiral notebook and pencil required. Workshop requires six visits.

Introduction to Improvisation

Okay...the audience suggests that a UFO has just abducted you and you’re locked in a holding cell with a talking tree, two politicians and Bozo the Clown...GO! Through this fast-paced class, students learn to take suggestions and create lively 3-5 minutes scenes that leave the audience cheering.

Mean What you Say, Say what you Mean

Encouraging honesty and a love of words, this class asks students to explore texts orally. After choosing a poem or prose piece that is meaningful to them, students will be guided through a series of exercises that explore the piece, physically, vocally and emotionally.

Mime Time

The language of movement can be a useful tool for all performers. Learn the techniques of mime to enhance stage movement for the actor and experience physical story-telling through your own mime creations.

Peacelab

In a time when violence in our schools becomes a more looming concern, this class created by Olusegun Sijuwade offers peace skills to your students. Through role-playing and other awareness-raising games, students will learn a myriad of ways to recognize and avoid potentially violent situations.

Physical Comedy Toolbox

Comedies and farces are full of physical humor that continues to make audiences laugh. This workshop will teach students to explore these hilarious physical possibilities and incorporate them seamlessly into character.

Scene Study (Classic and Contemporary)

This workshop deepens the student’s understanding of drama through an intensive examination of the world of the play. In this dynamic, hands-on program, students explore story, setting, character, action, conflict and resolution through an overview of script and character analysis. Students focus on the characters’ relationships, objectives and obstacles and the basics of the how dramatic literature works. While focusing on these elements, classic scene study introduces the student to the language and world of Shakespeare; including an exploration of historical context, vocabulary, diction and the components of dramatic verse. Workshop requires a minimum of 3 visits.

Stage Combat

Learn the basics of hand-to-hand and simple weapons combat for the stage. With the focus on safety and the emphasis on fun, this class can’t be “beat”. Large space with mats is desirable.

Stage Movement Workshop

This workshop provides an overview of movement for the stage and an examination of the student actor’s physical energies including: neutrality, relaxation, balance, alignment, center of gravity, isolations and movement choices. It encourages the student to explore creative movement and apply these skills to character study and scene-work. The workshop also promotes awareness of the body on stage, reinforcing and developing physical stage presence and the dynamics of non-verbal communication through both scripted and improvised character-based movement. Minimum of 2 visits required.

Take a Chance… Try Some Dance!

This fun, high-energy workshop consists of doing a basic dance warm-up, followed by learning three simple dances often found in musicals. The dances are easy to learn and fun to execute, but give a sense of how it feels like to dance in a musical theater production. Emphasis is placed on “dancing a character”, as well as trying the steps and styles of Music Theater. Fun for all!

Theater Residency

We can create a program for your school-day or as part of your after-school program, to teach students through the dynamic art of theater, their importance as individuals and how to better function in a community. Theater games and improvisation teach skills in focus, community effort, group problem-solving and communicating positively with face, voice and body. Recommended minimum number of visits: 6

**CREATE YOUR OWN WORKSHOP**

Is there something you have in mind that you can’t find on this list? The Rep’s Education Department has a wide range of talented education artists who specialize in different areas! Call Jenny Kostreva, Education Director, to find out how we can meet your needs!