Children need to learn math, science, reading and regular school lessons, but they also need nourishment for their imaginative life. In the development and imminent exploration of imagination, a child’s mind blossoms with possibility. Simply pretending to be a lion on the plains of Africa can be a transformative experience. Young children are so uninhibited and willing to express themselves, that this is a perfect time to introduce dramatic play into their lives. It also allows the child the freedom of being silly in front of his or her classmates, and feeling part of the group at the same time. The act of standing in front of your peers can be a very frightening experience for some children while others thrive in the spotlight. Drama class allows each child the opportunity to perform to his/her comfort level and still gain the valuable skill of public speaking.
In my Drama class we focus a great deal on our bodies in space and how we control them. We dance and find rhythms. We practice making different sounds with our voices. We play theatrically inspired games that allow the children to remove themselves from everyday situations and explore how they might react as someone else. We also discuss the Art of Acting and what is required to create a “suspension of disbelief” that will engage an audience. I fill each class with age-appropriate activities that will appeal to the age group at hand. I often change plans midway through class in order to accommodate the energy of the children on that particular day.
Most importantly, Drama class is fun! It is a way for the children to create, and express themselves in a controlled environment.
Kathryn Carter graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Oregon University in 1994. She was given a Directing internship at The Oregon Shakespeare Festival to assist the director on the play From the Mississippi Delta” which proved to be invaluable. She then went on to graduate school with her husband, Troy, and graduated with a Master of Fine Arts degree in 2001 from The University of Montana. She has appeared in and directed numerous productions over the years. Some of her favorite roles have been: Curly’s Wife in “Of Mice and Men”, Jennie Mae in “The Diviners”, Blanche in “A Streetcar Named Desire”, and Catherine in “The Heiress”. The most notable production here in Seattle was “Hothouse Rose” presented by Live Girls’ Theatre in which Kathryn had the leading role. Kathryn also directed “Stellaluna” starring the kindergarten class of LWS in 2009. This is her second year teaching at LWS. She currently lives in Shoreline with her husband, two children, Atticus and Lelaina and their three dogs.
