Arts Learning

The Frank Theatre residency provided the students an exposure to theatre games, to the process of making a piece of theatre, to ways of thinking about theatre, ways of critiquing a piece of theatre, to the act of performing, and to the experience of seeing professional theatre and meeting the performers. Our goals for the project included increasing interest and understanding of the theatre as well as increasing their skills and confidence in speaking in front of a group. Results were obtained through several surveys that were evaluated by Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement at the University of Minnesota, as well as a rubric for evaluating performance skills. 25% of the students were more likely to attend a play after the residency, 60% of the students might be more likely, 60% said they UNDERSTOOD performance better and 73% of the students saw an increase in confidence in speaking in front of a group in their classmates. They also demonstrated an increased ability in thinking ABOUT performances. 2: MERC Alternative High School currently offers no theatre opportunities whatsoever. The Frank Theatre residency engaged 42 students (and up to six teachers) in the arts, in a form that they would not otherwise have access to in their educational environment. The survey results indicate that a significant number of the participants would be more likely to participate in the theatre as a form as a result of the surveys, evaluated by Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement at the University of Minnesota.