Choice Board Activity: Switching Genres

Switching up the style of an current play might be loads of enjoyable. Take Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet — there have been numerous theatrical and movie variations of that play, resembling West Side Story (musical adaptation), & Juliet (musical POV adaptation), Gnomeo & Juliet (animated), Warm Bodies (zombie rom com), Romeo Must Die (martial arts movie), Rosaline (alternate character POV movie), and Football Romeo (fashionable highschool adaptation).

In this alternative board exercise, college students just do that: take an current play and swap up the style. Set it in outer area. Set it on a cruise ship. Set a contemporary play prior to now, or modernize a historic play. If all else fails, add zombies. (For inspiration, take a look at Theatrefolk’s Hamlet, Zombie Killer of Denmark. Each scholar will clarify their idea, then full varied duties of their selecting to broaden it.

Instructions:

EVERYONE:

• Choose an current play and skim it.
• Switch the style and write a synopsis of the way you’d change it. Length: 1 web page.
• Write an overview/timeline of the foremost moments of the play, in accordance with your modifications. Length: 1 web page.

CHOOSE 3 TO SUPPORT YOUR GENRE SWITCH:

• Create a comparability chart of a modified/altered/adjusted character.
• Create a personality sketch for a brand new character you’re including to the play, and describe what current character(s) they work together with and the way they have an effect on these characters.
• Write a monologue for a personality. Length: ½–1 web page.
• Write a brand new scene. Minimum size: 2 pages.
• Write a music for a musical adaptation (you might use an current music because the melody/construction, or create an authentic music).
• Create an inspiration collage or temper board that includes colors, textures, sketches, pictures, or cutouts that illustrate the idea. (Minimum dimension: 12 inches by 12 inches)
• Create a brand new set design. Explain the way it helps your adaptation.
• Create a dressing up design for one character. Explain the way it helps your adaptation.

BONUS: For further credit score, college students might full and submit as much as two further selections from the record.

Extension Opportunity: If you’d wish to broaden this exercise into a bigger scale (resembling an ISP or end-of-term venture), you may have college students create an elevator pitch for his or her adaptation, or do a full present design for the manufacturing.

Additional Resources:
Costume Challenge: Modernizing a Classic Character’s Ensemble
Connecting the Past to the Present: Modernizing a Scene
Playwriting Exercise: Exploring Adaptation
Be certain to take a look at Theatrefolk’s catalogue of classical adaptation performs for inspiration.