Getting boys involved?? School play
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Topic: Getting boys involved?? School play
Posted By: Majicwrench
Subject: Getting boys involved?? School play
Date Posted: 12/02/10 at 11:27pm
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I do a theatre project with a local school (thru 8th grade) every spring, and have a terrible time getting the young men to turn out. While I have a great time with the girls, and occasionally have them take male roles, I would love to see more young men in the productions. Any good ideas??
Actually, any ideas, they don't need to be that good
 Keith
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Replies:
Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 12/03/10 at 11:44pm
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Best of luck Kieth I feel your no orpan there, as it's indicative of nearly all Comeatres everywhere.
Although the Men's project has started to work here & to bear fruit's, oops! It certainly has increased the 'Y' factor in a few groups thus far & introducing them to the call of the Lime light ;- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/03/3002046.htm - Read the full story here you may be able to modify it to your local situation. This may or not help at least it's worth a go, have you contacted your local Cub Scout Pack [I think you call them Weebelos?] Even if you can line it up with the Scout Leaders for wee 'Brussel Sprouts' to gain thier 'Entertainers Badge' or even your try local junior footy club?  ------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: Nyria
Date Posted: 12/16/10 at 2:19pm
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I've found it has a lot to do with the play you are doing. Find out what the boys in yor school think is cool.
Things really turned around for me when we did Grease - the guys wanted to be involved =) ------------- NYRIA |
Posted By: Majicwrench
Date Posted: 12/16/10 at 9:19pm
| Ohh good idea, a little questionaire.... thanks to both of ya! |
Posted By: TonyDi
Date Posted: 12/17/10 at 7:36am
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Getting BOYS involved in theater - pay them, feed them, cast the hottest looking girls you can. That really brings out the boys - I'm NOT kidding. I wish I were but when you have a decided lack of young men who are interested, the next best thing is to appeal to what they would be interested in like FOOD, FUN and good looking girls. Sad that it HAS to be like that to a great degree - unless you're just plain lucky, have them by the short hairs (meaning you teach an enforced drama class and they HAVE to be involved) or have a way to otherwise coerce them to do it. Once in, they often find they're having a blast. HAS to be fun and entertaining to them as well. I know it sounds silly and sexist - but it's the facts all too often (and I've seen it work well as a result) but should not have to be that way - I understand. Tough row to hoe that's for sure.
TonyDi
------------- "Almost famous" |
Posted By: Theatermama
Date Posted: 12/27/10 at 9:31pm
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Do you have a choir that has boys? Go after those boys, they are artistic type folks. Do you have any boys involved - they can often get their friends to do it with them. We did a haunted house for our first event one year when I was the drama coach and boys really like acting in that and then you have them hooked.
I have 3 boys and all do theater and have since they were quite young. They often help me recruit other boys. If you also have adult men who are involved it won't look so girlish as well.
Agree - depends on what you are doing and who is involved and food certainly helps.
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Posted By: Majicwrench
Date Posted: 12/28/10 at 1:21pm
Food, I have that down pat, learned from a master. Always bring food.
Hot girls, yup got some of those. Will keep pluggin away. But it is hard to pick shows when sometimes...like last spring....no boys show up .
Thanks for the suggestions!
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Posted By: Theatermama
Date Posted: 12/28/10 at 1:33pm
| You might also try precasting a few boys for key roles to see if you can find what you need before auditions. |
Posted By: KEB54
Date Posted: 1/01/11 at 2:24am
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My wife directs HS theatre. She is not a teacher, just a staff member contracted to direct plays.
She takes a genuine interest in the kids and gets lots of parents involved. She also helps out with make-up, costumes, props, etc. for school functions such as prom etc. She tries to make the theatre an asset for the entire school population not just the "theatre kids". She has drawn in a lot of kids as audience members, and eventually participants.
Anyway, as far as boys, one of the great things she did was meet with the sports coaches. She asked what she could do for them and to make sure the theatre wasn't "stepping on their toes". As it turned out, both the basketball and football coaches were very supportive. Both enjoyed going to plays when in college. They had't thought about HS plays but started going once my wife took the time with them. When the coaches are supportive it makes it easier for the boys to get involved.
Then one of the basketball players auditioned. My wife met with his coach to make sure everything was cool and wound up getting a newspaper article about both their programs and their cooperation. More boys started auditioning after that.
The Athletic/Activity Director, who oversees both sports and theatre, is very happy. Now they often sell out their 600-seat theatre and theatre is an income producer. ------------- KEB |
Posted By: Spectrum
Date Posted: 1/01/11 at 11:20am
WOW! Thanks for the story of how your wife does it, KEB54. That's how education is SUPPOSED to work. I think the key phrase in your story is "She takes a genuine interest in the kids and gets lots of parents involved." All too often these days, the "educators" coming out of colleges have the attitude, "If I'm not being PAID to do it, I'm not doing it." I've also observed way too many parents have abdicated their responsibility as parents. The fact that your wife breaks that nonsense up and pulls people in is refreshing to read about. Congratulations, and WELL DONE!  ------------- Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional. |
Posted By: Majicwrench
Date Posted: 1/01/11 at 3:29pm
| Good thoughts all. The school I work with is a nearby (tiny) town, 20 miles away, which makes interacting on a regular basis with the kids tough. Keep em coming |
Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 1/13/11 at 9:20am
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OK here goes my caveman mentality: Where else are your typical high school theatre nerd boys going to be able to be in such close proximity to hot theatre girls? I saw more skin while doing high school theatre than watching Cinemax late night. Obviously the teacher can't tell the students this but someone needs to clue them into the side benefits of the theatre world. I have done theatre for four decades now and I still love every titilating minute of it. No excuses, just have fun. ------------- Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse |