Attending Events
THINGS TO KNOW about attending a performance (http://www.mondaviarts.org/education/guides.cfm)
Performance Etiquette
· Be on time—there’s no seating during a performance and you will have to wait until an usher allows you in.
· No cameras, video recorders, or audio recorders are allowed.
· Remember that a live performance has a different standard of behavior than movies and home television. Live performers can hear and see you and are easily distracted by any talking or moving around in the audience. Our ability to sit quietly during the concert allows the performers to concentrate on doing their very best.
· When the lights go out, it means get quiet and pay attention. It doesn’t mean say “shhh” over and over.
· Turn off cell phones. Leave IPods and other noise making or electronic device at home. Come to enjoy the experience.
· Most often food or drink is not allowed in the theater. Please do not chew gum.
· Wear what you feel comfortable in. It isn’t unusual to see someone in jeans next to someone in more formal wear. If you aren’t sure, business casual is always appropriate.
· Sometimes there is a 15-20 intermission between pieces or acts. Check your program for more information. Some performances go straight through the performance with no break.
Special notes
For Dance:
· Applaud when a dance is over. How do you know? Often the curtains will close or the dancers may take a bow.
For Theatre:
· Theater refers to a live performance before a live audience. Theater is different from television or film productions because the direct interaction between the audience and performer creates a mutual energy upon which an actor builds.
For Music:
· Listen courteously.
· Watch the conductor and performers for indications that the music has finished. Then, show appreciation for the performers’ efforts by applauding politely.
PERFORMANCE LEARNING EXPERIENCES – EXAMPLES (www.mondaviarts.org)
Before viewing the performance:
Research background information such as artistic director or key personnel biography, time period and culture of the performance. Based on this information predict what you will see or hear on stage.
Create a poster to advertise the performance including the title, author, location, dates, time, and ticket prices.
Research the art, music, or dance from the time period of the play you are about to see.
Bring in a sample to share with the class.
Research either the genre or style of the performance you are about to see. Give an oral report to the class discussing where, when and why this genre or style became popular.
What effect do you think a performance of this genre or style will have on a modern audience?
Research the art, music, or dance from the time period of the performance you are about to see. Bring in a sample to share with the class.
Create questions for the performance as if you were interviewing the artist.
After viewing the performance:
Write a review of the performance.
Describe any metaphoric or symbolic elements used in the performance and create an activity, PowerPoint, or paper to share with the class.
Analyze the style of the performance and how it relates to events today.
Choose a character from the play, piece of music or dance and write a monologue to perform for your class revealing this character’s /dancer/musicians thoughts, for a play it would be five years after the end of the play.
Research the costuming for a particular time period and design costumes appropriate for males and females.
Based on your observations of the performance, choose one of the careers involved in the performance that you find interesting and research it. Report your findings to the class.
Call a local arts company and ask to do a job shadow of one of the theater artists.
Watch a film version of a play you have seen. Compare and contrast the technical elements involved in the production of each.
Research events from the time period of the production that lead to the events shown on stage.
Give an oral report to the class on this background information.
Research theater of another culture such as Kabuki (Japanese) or water puppets (Vietnamese) or music or dance from another culture and compare/contrast.
Explain how the culture influenced the type of performance performed.
Look through the local headlines and find an article that could resemble the action/themes/ideas portrayed on stage.
Research the building where the event took place. Describe the architecture, its purpose and incorporate and apply artistic principles learned in class.
RESOURCES
Brockett, Oscar G.
The Essential Theatre
Holt Rinehart & Winston,
1966 ISBN 0-15-501598-2
Abel, Lisa, ed.
Theatre: Art in Action
National Textbook Company,
1999 ISBN 0-8442-5307-3
Web Site:
www.Kennedy-Center.org/
education
Web Site:
www.teachingarts.org