Charlie DelMarcelle (he's the guy writing this!) has been a teacher, guest artist, residency planner, curriculum builder, teacher trainer, faculty member, and passionate advocate for children's theatre education for twenty years.
As theatre artists, we talk a lot about the power that our art and our work can have: the power to shape dialogue, present new ideas, to entertain and to delight and to challenge. Sometimes we find success in that, and sometimes we don't... but in my long career as an actor, I can say with conviction that taking those skills beyond the stage and into the classroom is consistently the most gratifying, transformative, and important thing I do.
Our most dominant fear as human beings is the fear of presenting ourselves publicly to others. As teachers of theatre, we offer students -- of all backgrounds and abilities, ages and beliefs-- the tools to conquer this fear. Theatre teaches us empathy. It helps us understand one another. It's incredibly powerful, and I have witnessed firsthand -- with children, young adults, college students, seniors, individuals with special needs, and at-risk populations -- just how rewarding that tool can be.
It is essential to create an environment where students feel safe enough to take big risks and supported enough to fail gloriously. My classroom is a celebration of playfulness -- a space where students can develop their personal courage and increase their sense of compassion for others.
If you're interested in talking to me more about how theatre can foster collaboration, celebrate connection, and grow empathy, I'm available to teach educational residencies, brainstorm community outreach programming, chat summer camps and classes, offer conflict-resolution workshops, develop teacher trainings, and help you figure out how to better integrate the arts into your classrooms.
Send me an email. I would love to talk to you further.
As theatre artists, we talk a lot about the power that our art and our work can have: the power to shape dialogue, present new ideas, to entertain and to delight and to challenge. Sometimes we find success in that, and sometimes we don't... but in my long career as an actor, I can say with conviction that taking those skills beyond the stage and into the classroom is consistently the most gratifying, transformative, and important thing I do.
Our most dominant fear as human beings is the fear of presenting ourselves publicly to others. As teachers of theatre, we offer students -- of all backgrounds and abilities, ages and beliefs-- the tools to conquer this fear. Theatre teaches us empathy. It helps us understand one another. It's incredibly powerful, and I have witnessed firsthand -- with children, young adults, college students, seniors, individuals with special needs, and at-risk populations -- just how rewarding that tool can be.
It is essential to create an environment where students feel safe enough to take big risks and supported enough to fail gloriously. My classroom is a celebration of playfulness -- a space where students can develop their personal courage and increase their sense of compassion for others.
If you're interested in talking to me more about how theatre can foster collaboration, celebrate connection, and grow empathy, I'm available to teach educational residencies, brainstorm community outreach programming, chat summer camps and classes, offer conflict-resolution workshops, develop teacher trainings, and help you figure out how to better integrate the arts into your classrooms.
Send me an email. I would love to talk to you further.
