Family Theater

Use these suggestions to make quick family plays.
Add a video camera and you have a dramatic movie!

Ready!
Gather costume materials:

• Old adult clothing is the best.
• Paper hats
• Sheets for capes
• Face painting (find simple recipe)

Who will be in your play?
Think what characters you're going to have: antagonists ("bad" people), protagonists (the heroines & heroes), narrators (who explains things). Assign a character to each person in your play.

What will your play be about?
Make up a quick plot (story) or use the random story generator, below.

For a special touch, use an old curtain rod and shower curtain in a doorway for a stage curtain.

Set!

• Set up the stage area.
• Assign and learn parts.
• Figure out costumes for everyone.
• Practice your play a few times.

Go!
Invite neighbors and friends to watch your performance or use a videocamera for your own private viewing later on.

Experiment!
Try performing with multiple endings...try out different ways the play could end.

Try "ab-lib", characters say whatever comes to mind. The other actors try to say lines that make sense with what the character said.

© The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, 1999