Published: March 06, 2009
Drama Academy Students Take a Step Towards Broadway
By Larry O'Connell
The freshman and sophomore drama students at Forest Hill High School have taken a big step towards having their original ten-minute plays produced on Broadway for a night. The Drama Academy's classes have been selected by Fidelity/FutureStages
http://www.futurestage.com/home to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime play competition. Forest Hills High School was one of only ten schools in New York City to be invited to this extraordinary opportunity.
However, these young students are not left to their own devices. Fidelity/FutureStages provides 16 workshops with a professional playwright who introduces the students to basic elements of dramatic writing. Students later learn firsthand from industry professionals about playwriting, directing and the work that goes on behind the scenes.
This year the Drama Academy was fortunate to have playwright Dennis Green to lead the students through the process of creating their own ten-minute plays. Green is no new comer to teaching playwriting to students. He was one of the original creators of the course for Young Playwrights, a theater group that offers courses for New York City students as well as teacher training. Green also has an extensive resume as a playwright.
Last week Green critiqued a series of staged readings performed by students in the Drama Academy. Students were assigned to stage the first scene of their scripts. Afterwards Green encouraged other students in the class to give the writers feedback. Green proved to be a keen listener as well as a provocative questioner. Urging students not to settle for their current drafts, he probed the writers with questions like, "What is the issue in the play?" followed by, "What does your main character learn?"
Green later remarked, "I don't want to overwhelm the kids with theater terms and too many dramatic concepts." He added, "It really comes down to a main character wanting something very badly, and making a strong choice that leads to consequences." Green then reflected with a smile, "Yes, it sounds simple, but the writing never is."
"It's worth the effort," remarked sophomore drama student Lewis Gurgis. "Hey, who knows? Maybe I can someday say, 'Hey Mom, I'm going to Broadway.'" After a moment Gurgis grinned and noted, "I think she'd faint."
Well, Lewis, who knows?
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