Program Guide
POETRY IN MOTION
Doran Hamm
K-12
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
In his program, Doran literally sets poetry into motion
as he revives and demonstrates the art of performing
poetry. Doran will bring to life the very best of poetic
literature, as he holds Yorick’s skull, or slams doors in
Belloc’s classic poem “Rebecca, Who Slammed Doors
for Fun.” This one man show makes use of David’s
incredible theatre experience as an actor, director,
writer, teacher, and mime. Drawing inspiration from
classic literature and children’s poetry, this program is
woven together into a masterful performance of
literature, storytelling, and theatre.
Sample Poems
“Rebecca, Who Slammed Doors for Fun,” Belloc
“Jabberwocky,” Carroll
“I’m Nobody, Who Are You,” Dickenson
“The Road Not Taken,” Frost
“Dreams,” Hughes
“The Owl and the Pussycat,” Lear
“Paul Revere’s Ride,” Longfellow
“Lone Dog,” McLeod
“The King’s Breakfast,” Milne
“The Sidewalk Racer,” Morrison
“The Wendigo,” Nash
“The Raven,” Poe
“Alley Cat with One Life Left,” Prelutsky
“Alas Poor Yorick,” Shakespeare
“The Land of Counterpane,” Stevenson
“The Song of Wandering Aengus,” Yeats
OBJECTIVES
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VOCABULARY and CONCEPTS
Stanza
Rhythm
Metaphor
Entendre
Line
Meter
Tone
Alliteration
Prose
Sound
Structure
Assonance
Rhyme
Diction
Form
Consonance
To introduce students to, and explore
poetry in an exciting performance
based atmosphere.
To excite students into a pursuit of
literary analysis by delving into, and
understanding poetry through
performance.
To inspire students into literary
pursuits.
What Is Poetry Anyways?
Poems are unique and versatile literary works
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of art with a variety of functions that form
together into a stirring, thought provoking
experience. Most poems send messages, share
feelings or experiences, and ask the reader to
think. Some poems can even make the reader
laugh or journey to far off amazing places.
Poetry works within itself to create a place of
magic, feeling, and power for the reader, and
its limits are unmatched.
PRE PROGRAM
 Have a short lesson on the history of
poetry in theatre.
 Ask your students, “What is poetry,” and
discuss the answers. Is rhyme a necessary
ingredient? Are line breaks? Are prose or
language poetry even poetry?
 Have your class read some of the poems
that may be featured in the program.
Discuss how the poems would appear were
they performed, and why. Be sure to focus
on how diction, rhyme, and meter could all
affect performances of a particular poem, if
they affect the performance at all.
 Discuss how character can be created, and
perceived, from poetry.
POST PROGRAM
 Discuss which characters from the
performance were your students favorites
and why. Ask your students to read the
poems performed, and see if they would
perform them differently.
 Have your students research and analyze a
poem. When they have done this, ask
them to perform that poem and use their
knowledge to create character.
Curriculum Links
Connecticut State Department of Education
Source: The CT Framework – The Arts, Theatre
Content Standard 6. Connections. Students will
describe characteristics and compare the
presentation of characters, environments and
actions in theatre, dance, and visual arts; express
and compare personal reactions to several art
forms; and describe ways in which the principles
and subject matter of theatre and other arts
disciplines taught in school are interrelated.
Content Standard 7. Analysis, Criticism, and
Meaning. Students will articulate and support the
meanings constructed from dramatic
performances; use articulated criteria to
describe, analyze, and constructively evaluate the
effectiveness of artistic choices in dramatic
performances; articulate emotional response to
and explain personal preferences about whole
dramatic performances as well as parts of those
performances; and articulate and justify personal
aesthetic criteria for critiquing dramatic texts and
events by comparing artistic intent with the final
performance.
Source: The CT Framework – Language Arts
Standard 1: Reading and Responding
Students will read and respond to individual
literal, critical and evaluative ways to literary,
informational and persuasive texts.
Standard 4: Exploring and Responding to Texts
Students will use the language arts to explore and
respond to classical and contemporary texts.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Doran Hamm is a vibrant wonderful actor, has
been doing shows since elementary school and
absolutely loves working with kids. He has worked
with the NE Youth Theatre since 2008; has spent
a couple of years teaching and directing theatre in
schools on the Virgin Islands and also toured Italy
for a year in 2009 with a children's theatre
company. He is passionate about exposing
children to theatre.
ARTS FOR LEARNING CONNECTICUT
An Affiliate of Young Audiences
ND
3074 WHITNEY AVENUE BUILDING 2, 2 FLOOR
HAMDEN, CT 06518
203-230-8101 telephone
[email protected]
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