Stage Directions
Stage Directions
Materials: None
Grade: K-12
Goal(s): To explore and learn the many areas of the stage. To examine staging and blocking.
Upstage
Stage Right
Stage Left
Downstage
Audience
1. The actors gather in the center of the stage space.
2. Clearly establish where the "audience" is.
3. Demonstrate the relationship and placement of the stage directions. Notice that the actors right is opposite to the audience's right. Stage directions
are based on the actor's right and left, not the audience's.
4. Callout various directions. The actors then cross to that area of the stage.
5. Play Simon Says using stage directions. For example, "Simon says creep down stage left!"
6. Divide the actors into two groups. One group will be the actors, one group will be the audience.
7. Have the actors move about the stage space. Call, "Freeze!" and have the actors hold the positions they are in.
8. Ask the audience to identify:
Who has the most focused stage position? Why?
9. Have the audience become the actors and the actors become the audience.
Who has the weakest stage position? What can be done to make the position stronger?
Where would the lead character stand as opposed to supporting or chorus characters?
Suggested Variation(s):
Have individual audience members take turns directing the actors.
Raising The Bar:
Place scarves at each of the stage positions.
Divide the group in two and line up in the audience space.
Call out a stage direction and have one member from each team race to see who can grab the correct scarf first.
Return to Stage 3
Return to Main
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