®
INSIDE
BEFORE
EN ROUTE
AFTER
MIDSUMMER
before | A
NIGHT’S DREAM
Ready-to-implement classroom activities that
explore the themes and artistry of the show.
COMMON CORE STANDARDS
Writing: 4
Speaking and Listening: 1; 2
Language: 1; 2; 3
NEW YORK STATE STANDARDS
The Arts: 3; 4
ELA: 1; 4
BLUEPRINT FOR THE ARTS
Theater: Developing Theater Literacy;
Making Connections; Music: Developing
Music Literacy; Making Connections
This section is part of a full New Victory® School ToolTM Resource Guide. For the complete guide, including information about
the New Victory Education Department check out: NEWVICTORY.ORG/SCHOOLTOOLS
THE NEW VICTORY® THEATER / NEWVICTORY.ORG/SCHOOLTOOL
© THE NEW 42ND STREET, INC.
11
®
INSIDE
BEFORE
EN ROUTE
AFTER
ACTIVITY: OPERA FOR ALL
MIDSUMMER
before | A
NIGHT’S DREAM
Who creates opera? Who goes to the opera? Who performs opera? The Isango
Ensemble has turned these questions into hot topics with their South African adaptations
of traditional European operas. Use the following activity to start a conversation with your
students about the important work of the Isango Ensemble and to prepare them to attend
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM.
1.
A sk your students if any of them have ever attended an opera. What was it
like? What do they imagine attending the opera might be like? Who do they imagine normally attends the opera? Why?
2. Share the following quote with your students: “Our main goal is to try and get black people to come into the
theatre, to go into the theatre, to enjoy themselves as they did before the Apartheid in 1948, and to say to
them, theatre is not just for white people or people who are rich.” - Pauline Malefane (Co-Founder and
Co-Music Director of The Isango Ensemble)
3. Ask your students to write a journal entry in response to this quote. In their journal entry they should include
their thoughts on the following: Is this an important goal for an opera company? Why? How do you imagine the
Isango Ensemble might achieve this goal in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM? Does this quote relate to you
and your experience of attending opera or theater?
4. After they’ve written their journal entry, tell them to read it through and highlight a few words from their
response that they think are the most important. Have them share these words with 1 or 2 of their classmates.
5. Tell students that they, along with those same classmates, are going to use those words as inspiration for
naming a brand new theater company. The new theater company that makes opera or theater that they would
want to perform in and/or attend with their friends and family.
6. Once they have their company name, task students with writing a proposal for the creation of this theater
company. Their proposal should include the following:
• What is the name of your theater company?
• What is your theater company’s mission statement?
• What kind of performances will your theater company present?
• How will you make your theater company accessible and relatable to your community?
7.
H
ave each group present their proposal to the class.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Do you attend theater or other cultural activities in New York City outside of school? Why or why not?
Why are the arts important in a community? Why should the arts be accessible to everyone?
How do you think Isango Ensemble's adaptation of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM makes it relevant to the
people of South Africa?
THE NEW VICTORY® THEATER / NEWVICTORY.ORG/SCHOOLTOOLS
© THE NEW 42ND STREET, INC.
12
BE A PART OF
®
YOUR KID'S FIELD TRIP!
WATCH
• Check out the video trailer and a message from the company! NewVictory.org
• While you're there, do the suggested Family Activities to learn more about the show.
NewVictory.org/FamilyActivities
ASK
Ask your kid BEFORE the show:
• What do you imagine A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM will look like on stage?
• What are you most excited about for your trip to 42nd Street?
Ask your kid AFTER the show:
• What was your favorite part of seeing A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM?
• What elements of theater stood out to you in this show? Was it the lights, sets, costumes
or other elements?
• How was A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM different from other shows you’ve seen?
VISIT
The New Vic is New York City’s only performing arts theater
exclusively devoted to kids, their families and classmates—
bringing exhilarating stories, innovative art forms and
unparalleled performers from around the world to our
historic stage in Times Square. For a full list of shows in
the New Vic’s 2015-16 season, visit NewVictory.org.
CREATIVITY
PAGE
®
ADAPTATION ANTICIPATION
Answer the questions below each photo to get yourself acquainted with this Shakespeare
play and excited about the opera. Start thinking about what you might experience at the
theater when you see A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM!
What do you think these characters
are singing/thinking?
What do you think these characters
are singing/thinking?
What do you think these characters
are singing/thinking?
What do you think the music in this
scene might sounds like?
What do you think the music in this
scene might sounds like?
What do you think the music in this
scene might sounds like?
What do the costumes tell you about
the characters or setting of the scene?
What do the costumes tell you about
the characters or setting of the scene?
What do the costumes tell you about
the characters or setting of the scene?
Based on these photos, what do you want to ask the performers about their work?