How do I get my class to open up and talk about Theatre?

It's really hard getting students to feel comfortable enough to open up about this stuff so here are a few tricks that always work for me.

After a few very silly warm ups (yes, even for discussion and talking) where you must make a huge fool of yourself to get them to make a fool of themselves too (like the Remote Control Emotions Game or Splat), start with asking them what they already know, what they like, what they don't like - if they like theatre and if not why not. As them what they think theatre is and then show them that theatre takes many forms - rap is theatre, the man who sprays himself silver and does robotics in the park is theatre etc,. Also that theatre doesn't need to be in a box with white middle class people talking politely and slamming french windows - it can be on a lake on a raft with burning oil drums (Bow Gamelan stlye), or up a tree (Artaud has some great examples of this and is also so nuts that kids love him), then move to how theatre in other cultures - what traits are unique? Japanese Noh theatre use masks and gesture what others can they think of?

If that's not got them, try to open it on a level that they can relate to and understand - ie they might not go and watch MacBeth, but they probably watched, for example, (or at least heard of) 24. Use Palmers wife and her actions and show them how like Lady Macbeth she is. Put them in groups and give them lines from the play and get them to set it in a 24 situation, trying with the actual lines and then devising the lines in modern language, just making sure they get the essence of the lines/scenes accross. Then get them to think about the staging of how the scenes would be 'shot' on TV but explain to them about how the limitations of a theatre stage calls for resourcefulness and get them to devise the physical aspects of the scene to give the impression of tension, being pushed for time etc.

Another track is to start talking about the more raunchy side of theatre - stories of debauched actors and playwrights over the ages and how their social and political environment at the time influenced their work and behaviours. (Ghosts that haunt particular theatres and why are also good too). This acts as a gateway so that they can then begin to dicussion.

Sorry for the long answer but these are just a few of the things that really do work!

Hate to break it to you, but 90% of them (or more) are there for 3 quick arts units, and on to the next general ed requirement. You can't open up and talk about something you aren't really interested in. They probably don't go to the theatre, they probably don't want to go the theatre (only 2% of Americans go on anything approaching a regular basis), and opening up and talking about it is mostly the opposite of what they want to do, which is get through it as painlessly as possible. At which point you are part of the pain. Find the handful of people who are interested and arrange to go see a show, then talk about that, then see another one. Maybe some of the others will be inspired to join you. As for the rest...

I do love students, not to mention the theatre, and I always count it a victory when I'm teaching to have even a handful of them change their minds about it. So I hope you have some luck. But as you're trying to whip them into a frenzy of sharing your enthusiasm, you might also rememember the saying, Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig...

ADDENDUM/EDIT: I realize, in looking back over my answer, how cynical it sounds. Apologies all around. I should know better than to answer a question like this after class...!

Set up a mock play with them. Opt for something humerous, perhaps 'Spamalot'. Use that as a stepping stone to more serious discussion.

P.S. Nice hat. ;)

ask the gay guy

Thanks for your opinion.