Class Description
Page to Stage, PTC’s Dramatic Academy readers theater class, is an ideal fit for young students in the Bangor School District. In readers theater, picture books and well known stories are utilized for creative and collaborative interaction between students. Using the story as a springboard the students imagine how their character looks, sounds, feels, thinks and moves. This engaged experience of imagination paired with action builds their soft skills of empathy, self-esteem and collaboration and strengthens the hard skills of listening, focus, reading, memorization, and retention.

Daily Class Plan Example
Theater game warm ups (emotions & movement) 5 Minutes
Read picture book aloud* 10 Minutes
Activity related to book (acting out story; creating a craft; working with movement) 10 Minutes
Wrap up 5 Minutes

*Prior to class start, books will be selected by the teacher and can be themed to what students are currently learning in school.

If desired, the class session can conclude with a performance which can be open to family and friends. Students would choose their favorite book, which the teacher would transform into a more traditional stage script. They would learn blocking (movement on stage), choose how their characters would speak and work on their memorization skills with lines and movement. After a few classes focused only on rehearsals, students would perform their piece for family and friends. This is optional and based on what works best for the school’s schedule.

Suggested Book Themes & Titles

All suggested books are based on their ability to be adapted into a script with multiple characters.

Maine Authors
Mother Bruce Series (Ryan T. Higgins)
Blueberries for Sal (Robert McCloskey)
One Morning in Maine (Robert McCloskey)
Miss Rumphius (Barbara Cooney)
Andre the Famous Harbor Seal (Fran Hodgkins)
The Lake When Loon Lives (Brenda Reeves Sturgis)
Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee (Chris Van Dusen)
Big Truck, Little Island (Chris Van Dusen)

Music, Dancing & Instruments
My Voice is a Trumpet (Jimmie Allen)
When Step Met Skip (Vicky Weber)
Because (Mo Willems)
Zin Zin Zin a Violin (Lloyd Moss)
The Creature Choir (David Walliams)
Giraffes Can’t Dance (Giles Andreae)
I Got Rhythm (Connie Schofield-Morrison)
Dooby Dooby Moo (Doreen Cronin)

Dragons & Beasts
Three Billy Goats Gruff (Stephen Carpenter)
It Came in the Mail (Ben Clanton)
Paper Bag Princess (Robert Munsch)
Dragons Love Tacos (Adam Rubin)
Dryer Troll (Stacie Mullen)
Wizard, Fairy & Magic Chicken (Helen Lester)
Beast Feast (Emma Yarlett)
Waking Dragons (Jane Yolen)

Nature Stories
Wonder Walkers (Micha Archer)
The Hike (Alison Farrell)
The Night Walk (Marie Dorleans)
Headstrong Hallie (Aimee Bissonette)
A River Ran Wild (Lynne Cherry)
Owl Moon (Jane Yolen)
The Raft (Jim LaMarche)
The Vanishing Lake (Paddy Donnelly)

Strong Kids
Brave Irene (William Steig)
Amazing Grace (Mary Hoffman)
Grace for President (Kelly DiPucchio)
A Boy and A Jaguar (Alan Rabinowitz)
Emmanuel’s Dream (Laurie Ann Thompson)
Drum Dream Girl (Margarita Engle)
A Splash of Red (Jen Bryant)
The Boy with Big, Big Feelings (Britney Winn Lee)

Curriculum Goals

Hard Skills
Confidence in Public Speaking – Students will practice public speaking through rehearsed lines and more confidence communicating with their fellow performers and director.
Literacy – Through reading the books in class as well as reading their lines, students will begin to recognize more words and understand the definition of words used.
Memorization – Students will practice their memorization for both their physical movement and lines/vocal choices.
Following Directions – Students will be expected to follow directions given by the teacher in order to successfully tell the story on stage.
Story Structure – Students will gain a better understanding of how a story structure functions and how to communicate it to the audience.
Vocal Projection – Students will explore how the volume and intensity of their voice tells a story on stage.

Soft Skills
Confidence in Choices – As actors, students will need to make choices about how their character speaks, moves and interacts with other characters in order to continue the story.
Teamwork – In order to successfully tell the story, students will need to work with their fellow performers both in their own choices and supporting the choices of others.
Creative Thinking & Imagination – Students will need to use their imagination in order to create the atmosphere of their play as well as in order to translate a book to a script.
Focus – Students will practice their ability to stay focused and in character throughout the performance as well as stay relatively focused during class time.
Self Expression – Students will use their own interpretations to create and perform on stage.
Self Confidence – Creative thinking and expression can increase a student’s self confidence and sense of self worth.

Appropriate Grades: PreK through Second Grade (separate groups or as a combined group)

Class Maximums & Minimums
Preschool – Min 4/Max 10
Kindergarten – Min 4/Max 12
First Grade – Min 4/Max 15
Second Grade – Min 4/Max 15

Times/Dates Available: 6-8 week session, meets once a week

Length of Class: 30 minutes

Class Fee: This class has a $100 fee per student. There are scholarships available.