WRITE A PLAY
We are proud to present the 27th year of the WRITE A PLAY program. WRITE A PLAY is a year-round comprehensive arts integration program with a unique blend of professional plays, exciting theatre experiences, and in-class workshops. Through participatory learning with a special emphasis on literacy, this program has developed an impressive record of success, reaching over 50,000 students annually.
All Students are encouraged to submit their work to FST’s Young Playwrights Festival, which celebrates those students and their teachers, whose plays show a strong understanding for the theatrical process involved in writing a play and reveal a budding creative talent that deserves congratulations! For more information, or to submit a play, please click here.
Subscriptions are available for the 2017/2018 School Year - SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Students can participate in the full three-show WRITE A PLAY Program for $15 per student.
Subscription Package:
Robin Hood (at FST)
Begins October 7, 2017
A fresh look at the timeless classic. Enter Sherwood Forest with legendary hero Robin Hood! Wielding a bow and arrow, Robin and his band of merry men join forces to stand up for what’s right. This swashbuckling tale of good and evil is full of action, trickery, disguises, swordfights, and plenty of help from the audience.
The Playmakers Tour: The Write Stuff!
Begins October 17, 2017
Geared to inspire your students to write their own plays and participate in our 2018 Young Playwrights Festival. As a model, professional actors will perform at least two award-winning plays written by young playwrights. The show also teaches playwriting basics by using improvisation and participatory learning tools to inspire writing. Included with the show are up to eight in-class workshops to get your students writing their own plays.
The Boy Who Liked Pulling Hair and Other Winning Plays
Begins April 14, 2018
Wise, heartfelt, and often hilarious this anthology of award-winning short plays highlights the most creative and imaginative writing from Elementary school students. Performed by a cast of professional actors, these authentic stories from the minds of children contain laughter, lessons, and learning for us all.
Add Onto Your Subscription!
Experience these exciting plays here at FST, or let us take the magic of theatre on tour to your school!
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (On Tour)
Begins February 3, 2018
In this inventive and highly theatrical adaptation, join Peter and Lucy on their travels to Narnia! The White Witch has cast a spell that makes it always winter and never Christmas. Peter and Lucy travel to Narnia and along the way meet Mr. Tumnus the faun, Aslan the Great Lion, and all the talking animals of the kingdom. Watch as they courageously battle the forces of evil and discover that love is the deepest magic of all.
Click here to view the class study guide.
Special Holiday Add On: Deck The Halls : ‘Tis the Season
Begins November 25, 2017
A brand new rendition of everything that makes the holidays in Sarasota special. With all new songs and sketches, audiences should get ready to celebrate the holidays – Florida style - palm trees with decorations, swimming in the sea, sand snowmen, and more. 'Tis the season to deck the palms and join in on the fun at this interactive family show.
PRICING: Add-on shows $695 / each for subscribers, $1,000 / each for non-subscribers
Available at FST or on tour to your school!
Our Secondary WRITE A PLAY Writing Workshop Tour is also booking for the 2017/2018 school year. One Day residencies at your school start at just $450!
To SUBSCRIBE or book the Secondary tour please contact Hannah Bagnall, Education and Outreach Associate at (941) 366-9797 or by email at [email protected].
“An outstanding job of providing REAL integration of the arts with the classroom.
Thank you for being my partner in education!” - Sue Rowe, Phillipi Shores Elementary School
FLORIDA STANDARD FULFILLMENTS
- Language Arts
- Prewriting
- Drafting
- Revising
- Editing for Language
- Conventions
- Publishing Creative Writing
- Listening & Speaking
- Theatre Arts
- Creation & Communication
WRITE A PLAY Awards
2013 | Be More… Knowledgeable Award from WEDU
2008 | National Endowment for the Arts: Statewide Touring
2004 | National Endowment for the Arts: Statewide Touring
2001 | National Endowment for the Arts: In-School Programming
1999 | National Endowment for the Arts: “Under Six” Program
1997 | Golden Gavel Youth Program Award from Sarasota Herald-Tribune
History of WRITE A PLAY
In 1991, FST launched the WRITE A PLAY Program as an arts-in-education initiative designed to inspire youth to write plays. Students are encouraged to write from their own point of view and in doing so they create a diverse group of plays such as No War Can Tear Our Love Apart, a touching tale of the love between a girl and her father leaving for active duty, and The Adventure of Captain Captain, an entertaining story about thwarting evil, saving the day, and not judging a book by its cover. They tell about relationships, lessons they’ve learned, and how sometimes the world is a very big place. Initiated with the support of the Florida Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts Challenge Funds, the WRITE A PLAY program now impacts over 50,000 attendees each year throughout the United States, Israel, Russia, and Scotland, and continues to inspire them to open their minds and imaginations.
Click here to watch the PBS Documentary about WAP.
The Benefit of an Arts Education
Click here to read a bulletin from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
Read about the benefits of theatre for the young
This NY Times blog post asks children how the arts has changed their lives
Learn about the impact of children's theatre
SUBSCRIBE NOW! Students can participate in the full three-show WRITE A PLAY Program for $15 per student.
Subscription Package:
Robin Hood (at FST)
Begins October 7, 2017
A fresh look at the timeless classic. Enter Sherwood Forest with legendary hero Robin Hood! Wielding a bow and arrow, Robin and his band of merry men join forces to stand up for what’s right. This swashbuckling tale of good and evil is full of action, trickery, disguises, swordfights, and plenty of help from the audience.
The Playmakers Tour: The Write Stuff!
Begins October 17, 2017
Geared to inspire your students to write their own plays and participate in our 2018 Young Playwrights Festival. As a model, professional actors will perform at least two award-winning plays written by young playwrights. The show also teaches playwriting basics by using improvisation and participatory learning tools to inspire writing. Included with the show are up to eight in-class workshops to get your students writing their own plays.
The Boy Who Liked Pulling Hair and Other Winning Plays
Begins April 14, 2018
Wise, heartfelt, and often hilarious this anthology of award-winning short plays highlights the most creative and imaginative writing from Elementary school students. Performed by a cast of professional actors, these authentic stories from the minds of children contain laughter, lessons, and learning for us all.
Add Onto Your Subscription!
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (On Tour)
Begins February 3, 2018
In this inventive and highly theatrical adaptation, join Peter and Lucy on their travels to Narnia! The White Witch has cast a spell that makes it always winter and never Christmas. Peter and Lucy travel to Narnia and along the way meet Mr. Tumnus the faun, Aslan the Great Lion, and all the talking animals of the kingdom. Watch as they courageously battle the forces of evil and discover that love is the deepest magic of all.
Special Holiday Add On: Deck The Halls: ‘Tis the Season
Begins November 25, 2017
A brand new rendition of everything that makes the holidays in Sarasota special. With all new songs and sketches, audiences should get ready to celebrate the holidays – Florida style - palm trees with decorations, swimming in the sea, sand snowmen, and more. 'Tis the season to deck the palms and join in on the fun at this interactive family show.
PRICING: Add-on shows $695 / each for subscribers, $1,000 / each for non-subscribers
If you cannot come to us, we can bring the magic of live theatre to your school. All productions are available to tour.
For more information and to become a WRITE A PLAY subscriber contact Hannah Bagnall, Education and Outreach Associate at (941) 366-9797 or [email protected].
DYNAMIC WORKSHOPS ON TOUR
FST offers in-class workshops as a one-day, three-day, or week-long residency. Our professional teaching artists reinforce your teaching methods and use arts integration tools to motivate your students to unleash their creativity through writing.
Students have the option to submit their plays and sketches to FST’s annual Young Playwrights Festival. Each student will be recognized for their participation and achievement. Winning writers will be honored by FST on the day of the festival in Sarasota, FL.
For available packages, scroll down. To purchase a residency or package please contact Hannah Bagnall, Education and Outreach Associate, at (941) 366-9797 or by email at [email protected].
Language Arts
Playwriting 101
This workshop is the cornerstone of Florida Studio Theatre’s WRITE A PLAY program. Using proven theatrical methodology FST teaching artists will guide students to write plays of their own. Workshops focus on the 4 elements of a play: Characters, Setting, Problem, and Dialogue and the importance of truth on stage and on the page.
Spoken Word Poetry
Finding Your Voice
Students will explore their own thoughts and ideas through the lens of spoken word poetry. Using rhythm, rhyme and storytelling exercises your
students will learn how express their voice as a writer. Classroom themes and topics can easily be intertwined into this unique learning experience
blending language arts and theatre into one.
Sketch Writing
Make 'Em Laugh
Do your students love youtube comedy stars and Saturday Night Live? This workshop is the perfect chance for them to learn the foundations of
writing sketch comedy. Through improvisation and writing exercises students will learn the basics of comedy writing. Sketches may range from parodied commercials, interview shows, character pieces, original songs, and parodied political and celebrity sketches. This workshop is a perfect way to get your students interested and exciting about writing!
Social Studies
Civil WRITES!
A playwriting workshop that explores American Civil Rights. Using primary and secondary sources students will learn about the historical narratives of important figures in American history and the basic Civil Rights every American is guaranteed. This will culminate with students
writing plays inspired by the themes and personal narratives from their research.
Myths and Legends
This arts integration workshop incorporates Greek Mythology and Drama. As the birthplace of theatre, Ancient Greece is full of exciting and captivating stories that lend themselves to dramatic storytelling. Students choose specific myths to focus on retelling in plays of their own, bringing to life these memorable stories for a dramatic experience they will never forget!
Walk A Mile In Their Shoes
Using the old adage “You can’t really understand a person until you walk a mile in their shoes” as inspiration, students will focus on a historical figure and write a play that details an important moment in that person’s life. This workshop can be integrated into any history lesson to humanize and personalize the people who changed our world. If you are looking for students to have a better understanding of World, National, or Local History this is the workshop for you!
Science
Improv for STEM Learning
Putting the STEAM into your Science Classroom
This 3 part workshop combines science concepts from the classroom with exciting Improvisational Theatre techniques. Students will learn communication and presentational skills that will help them engage their audience and be confident scientific communicators. The workshop culminates in a commercial pitch ala TV’s Shark Tank where students will inform and persuade the audience about their chosen scientific topic.
Suggested curriculum integration: The Parts of a Cell, The Scientific Theory, Newton’s Laws of Motion, or Elements and Common Compounds.
College and Career
Improv for Life
Saying “Yes, and” to Career, College, and Life
Improvisational actors use the phrase “Yes, And” to agree with their scene partner and to build upon their partner’s ideas. Using “Yes, And” as well as other Improv fundamentals these workshops teach valuable skills using fun and engaging games and theatre exercises.A great workshop for preparing students to interview for college or a job!
Areas of focus include:
• Public Speaking/ Presenting
• Creative Collaboration/ Teamwork
• Leadership
• Listening/ Receiving and Giving Constructive Feedback
Health
Being An Ally
Combatting Bullying Through Empathy
Understanding our emotions is an essential part to life and to theatre. In this workshop an FST teaching artist works with students to get out of their digital world and back into interpersonal relationships. Students will learn through discussion, writing, and exercises how to practice empathy,
listen better, and most importantly 5 practical ways they can be an ally for those around them being bullied or experiencing discrimination.
FLORIDA STANDARD FULFILLMENTS:
- Language Arts
- Prewriting
- Drafting
- Revising
- Editing for Language
- Conventions
- Publishing
- Creative Writing
- Listening & Speaking
- Theatre Arts
- Creation & Communication
AVAILABLE RESIDENCY OPTIONS
ONE DAY | $450
Students will learn the elements of the chosen subject(s). Subject offerings include: Playwriting, Spoken Word, Sketch Comedy, and Screenwriting. Teaching artists utilize improvisation and acting games with the students to explore various themes and ideas for writing. After a brainstorming session, teaching artists will assist the students in creating original plays, sketches, or poetry. For more information click here.
THREE DAY | $999
- DAY ONE: Introduction to the elements of the chosen subject, improvisation and acting games for exploration, and a brainstorming session with students to create ideas for original works.
- DAY TWO: FST teaching artists will assist the students individually or in pairs to create their original plays, sketches, or poetry pieces.
- DAY THREE: Students will work with teaching artists on final revisions for their piece. Once complete, all students will participate in an in-class reading of the sketches and plays. The subject of Spoken Word will have an in-class poetry slam.
ONE WEEK | $1499
- DAY ONE: Introduction to the elements of the chosen subject, improvisation and acting games for exploration, and a brainstorming session with students to create ideas for original works.
- DAY TWO: FST teaching artists will assist the students individually or in pairs to create their original plays, sketches, or poetry pieces.
- DAY THREE: Students will continue to write and revise their pieces with the assistance of FST Teaching Artists and fellow students.
- DAY FOUR: Students will cast and rehearse their plays and sketches. Spoken Word will explore variations of the way their pieces are read in differing styles of Spoken Word Poetry.
- DAY FIVE: Students will perform their work in the classroom for their fellow students and invited guests.
All workshops are one hour long. However, when a residency is purchased, FST teaching artists are present at the school for one full day. They can teach up to 5 one hour workshops in one day. Dependent on school schedule.
For more information or to purchase a residency, please contact Hannah Bagnall, Education and Outreach Associate, at (941) 366-9797 or by email at [email protected].