Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum Study Guide
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Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum Study Guide: Spring School Days 2016 Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Adapted by Ellen Geer Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum P.O. Box 1222, Topanga CA 90290 Office 310-455-2322 * www.theatricum.com Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum’s production of Romeo and Juliet is part of Shakespeare in American Communities, a national © 2016 The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum theater initiative sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts in cooperation with Arts Midwest. School Days Spring 2016 Romeo and Juliet Table of Contents Preface – how to use this study guide ................................................... 3 Program Overview ............................................................................... 4-5 Romeo and Juliet (includes some Content Cross-over: Social Science) Historical and Cultural Context ..................................................................................... 6-12 Romeo and Juliet..........................................................................................6 Israel (includes map of the region) .......................................................... 7-8 Palestine ................................................................................................. 9-10 Arab-Israeli Wars and Modern Conflict .............................................. 10-12 Ancient and Modern timelines ...................................................................12 Character Breakdown (traditional and Theatricum production) ........................................13 Synopsis (includes original text and adaptation) ........................................................ 13-19 Writing Activities...............................................................................................................20 Critical Thinking/Discussion Questions ............................................................................20 SUGGESTED Performance Activity – Seven Snapshots ..................................................21 Content Cross-over: Social Science – The Elizabethan Age The Elizabethan Age .................................................................................................... 22-23 Critical Thinking ........................................................................................22 Pictures .......................................................................................................23 Writing Activity .........................................................................................23 William Shakespeare – a brief biography ..........................................................................24 A chronology of Shakespeare’s writing .......................................................................25 Critical Thinking/Discussion Questions – William Shakespeare ................................25 Suggested Writing Activity – Shakespeare’s obituary ................................................25 Content Cross-Over: Language Arts An Introduction to Shakespeare’s Language .....................................................................26 Iambic Pentameter and Scansion .......................................................................................27 SUGGESTED ACTIVITY – An introduction to Scanning ...............................................28 Critical Thinking/Discussion Questions: Language ..........................................................29 Suggested Language Arts Activities ..................................................................................29 VOCABULARY – Shakespeare & Romeo and Juliet .......................................................29 Content Cross-Over: Performing Arts The Elizabethan Stage – The Globe............................................................................. 30-31 Images of The Globe Theatre ............................................................................................31 Suggested Visual Arts Activity ..........................................................................................31 Critical Thinking/Discussion Questions: Elizabethan Theatre ..........................................32 Suggested Activities...........................................................................................................32 SUGGESTED ACTIVITY – Text excerpts from Romeo and Juliet ........................... 33-34 Critical Thinking/Discussion Questions – Characters .......................................................34 Reference List ......................................................................................... 35 Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum 2 P.O. Box 1222, Topanga CA 90290 Ph. 310-455-2322 * [email protected] * www.theatricum.com School Days Spring 2016 Romeo and Juliet Preface This Study Guide is intended to help you find ways to enrich your students’ experience of Theatricum’s School Days Field Trip program. As such, it includes logistical information about the field trip itself and how to schedule the workshops included for you and your students. In addition, we have included information, lesson ideas, handouts and images designed to enrich a full unit of study on William Shakespeare. Because our production of Romeo and Juliet is set in modern-day Israel, we have also included some Social Science materials to help introduce your students to the history of that region. However, we have also included information on the Elizabethan Renaissance, as we know that your classroom study of Romeo and Juliet may be linked to such a Social Science unit. Finally, there is information about the play itself (both the original and adapted version) that we hope you will find helpful in preparing your students. If you have not already, we encourage you to use this study guide to help you find one or two easy ways to integrate Shakespeare, this specific play, or both, into your overall curriculum. Please feel free to give us feedback on what works (and what doesn’t) in this packet, as we are eager to find ways to improve our support of your in-class enrichment! And thank you for your participation in School Days! Elizabeth Tobias, Christine Breihan, Education Director School Programs Manager [email protected] [email protected] Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum 3 P.O. Box 1222, Topanga CA 90290 Ph. 310-455-2322 * [email protected] * www.theatricum.com School Days Spring 2016 Romeo and Juliet School Days - Program Overview Welcome to Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum’s School Days Program for spring 2016. We are happy to have you joining us whether it is for the first or 50th time! School Days is a very special enrichment program that has been serving Southern California students for over 35 years. Below is a brief overview of the various facets of the program for you to review so that you can be prepared to experience School Days fully! Thank you for being a part of this very special program. Preparing the students This study guide has been designed to help you prepare your students for their visit to Theatricum Botanicum. We have included: - Historical and cultural context specific to our production - character and plot information - suggested activities - basic background information about Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Age - an introduction to Shakespeare’s language - a list of resources ATTEND Professional Development Educators are invited, at NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE, to work with artist-educators on professional development – teaching techniques and ideas related to presenting Shakespeare, and this text in particular, to your students. This is a WONDERFUL opportunity to increase your knowledge, share ideas, and be inspired! Don’t miss out! The Professional Development workshops for spring 2016 will be held at Theatricum Botanicum on Saturday, April 16, 2016 from 10am-2pm. Contact Christine Breihan for more information or to reserve your spot. ([email protected]) SCHEDULE School Visit - ASAP A Theatricum artist/educator will visit your classroom to prepare your students for their visit to our theatre. (S)He will cover: - the details of the field trip - the basic plot of the play - historical information about Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Age (time permitting) Schedule your School Visit TODAY by contacting Christine Breihan at [email protected] Your School Days Field Trip When you arrive at the Theatricum, your bus will be greeted by a Theatricum artist/educator who will help get your students to the theatre. Students should dress warmly and in layers as it is cold in the morning and usually very warm by afternoon. They MUST wear close-toed shoes. They should bring a sack lunch and WATER. Students should wear sunscreen and bug-repellent if they are at all sensitive. Once in the theatre, students will participate in some improvisations until all buses have arrived; at which point they will enjoy an interactive Living History performance featuring Queen Elizabeth and William Shakespeare. They will be given information about both figures’ lives and the time in which they lived. Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum 4 P.O. Box 1222, Topanga CA 90290 Ph. 310-455-2322 * [email protected] * www.theatricum.com School Days Spring 2016 Romeo and Juliet School Days - Program Overview (cont.) Your School Days Field Trip (cont.) Next, the students will be divided into smaller groups. Each group will take two performance technique workshops (ex. improvisation, stage combat, scansion, ensemble building, comedia dell’arte, Elizabethan music,