During a recent Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Honors Program event, 21 students from five school districts read short plays, dissected the story structures and participated in improvisational games and exercises to enhance their performance skills under the guidance of college professor and theater enthusiast Matthew Powers.
And that was just the start of it.
Later in the workshop, students worked in small groups to use what they learned to develop their own short plays. Then, they performed the plays.
“It was evident the students enjoyed the creative aspects of this workshop,” Honors Program Coordinator Deborah Schoff said. “They were engaged and fully participated in the experience.”
The “Narrative Improvisation and Short Plays” Herkimer BOCES Honors Program event took place on Dec. 5 at the Herkimer BOCES Gateway Center in Herkimer. Students in grades 9-12 from Central Valley, Dolgeville, Herkimer, Mount Markham and West Canada Valley participated.
Powers guided participants to explore how improvisational techniques fit into and help build narratives for plays.
Schoff said school chaperones commented on how this workshop gave students the opportunity to spend time working outside their comfort zones.
“Participants took risks to share ideas and act out their short plays,” Schoff said. “I could see their confidence and comfort levels improving as the day progressed.”
The Herkimer BOCES Honors Program is open to students in Herkimer BOCES component school districts and is designed to support the potential of students in grades 3-12 who have above average interests and abilities in a particular area. Programs allow for interaction with like-minded peers. Students learn by engaging in educational activities with presenters who are noted in their field. Exploration and programs provide for different learning styles and include topics in the arts and sciences as well as literature and history. Ongoing evaluation of all programs by teachers and students assures their relevance and quality.
