A Brief History. Setting the Stage for Social Success. Movin & Groovin. Actors in Action. Inclusive Musical Theater. Acting Antics.

Transcription

1 Setting the Stage for Social Success presented by Cindy Schneider A Brief History» Cindy s background» Autism & Theatre making the connection» Growing the program» Reaching out to other geographic regions Movin & Groovin» Focused less on abstract language skills» Age appropriate movement based theater and music activities» Skills include following directions, learning patterns, motor skills, group behaviors, greetings,etc. Actors in Action» Focused less on abstract language skills» Teen appropriate movement based theater & music activities» Skills include following directions, learning patterns, motor skills, collaboration in a group, taking a risk, building confidence Inclusive Musical Theater» Youngsters/teens with social needs perform with typical peers» Focus is on all aspects of putting on a musical production» Group work, collaboration» Actors work on scenery, make props etc.» Culminates in performance Acting Antics» Geared to youth/teens with average to above average IQ» Focuses on building self-esteem & social cognition» Builds ability to read non-verbal cues, abstract language, read context etc.» Involves theater games, improvisation, scene work 1

2 Neurological Differences Executive Functioning» Executive Function» Sensory Processing» Social Emotional Regulation» Set Goals» Plan» Sequence» Prioritize» Organize» Initiate» Inhibit» Pace» Shift» Self-monitor» Emotional Control» Complete Sensory Differences» Receive sensory information and process it differently» Hyper or Hypo-sensitive (seeker or avoider)» Can trigger significant reactions or withdrawal» Can have a great deal of trouble focusing due to unmet sensory needs Social / Emotional Regulation Difficulties» Impulsivity» Difficulty anticipating consequences of own behavior» Trouble filtering responses» Difficulty keeping body in check Theory of Mind Impairment» Difficulty predicting others behavior» Difficulty in explaining own behavior.» Difficulty understanding emotions» Difficulty understanding the perspective of others» Lack of understanding of social interaction 20-40% of the total message is related to the specific words said BLAH BLAH BLAH 60-80% of the total message relates to what we do with our body when communicating Adapted from M. Winner

3 Social Impact of Theory of Mind Impairment» Difficulty with appropriate emotional responsiveness» Difficulties with conversational interactions» Inaccurate reading of contextual and/or non-verbal cues» Difficulty sustaining peer interactions» Disproportionate focus on own interests Why Theatre?» Recreational activity» Conducive to teaching social cues and interpretation» Interacting is an integral part of acting» It s fun!» It s not called Social Skills!! Components of being an audience» Reading body language» Reading facial expressions» Interpreting vocal tone, volume» Understanding the content and context of the situation Components of being an actor» Using appropriate body language» Using appropriate facial expression» Modulating vocal tone and volume» Portraying meaning and context From here on... Rules of Acting BIG 3 =» Body Language» Facial Expression» Vocal Tone and Modulation» Never hurt another actor Physically Feelings» Listen to the director 3

4 Name game» Circle formation» One actor claps across to peer using all messages and saying name» Peer then does the same to a new peer» Continue as quickly as possible Skills in the Name Game» Ice Breaker» Successful first group activity» Giving non-verbal messages» Get to know names/peers» Processing time» Motor planning» Focus» Variations? The Power» Pass clap around circle in one direction» The person who has the power gets to change direction» Eventually multiple people have the power Skills in The Power» Works on focus and attention» Must pick up body cues for where the clap is going» Promotes the ability to shift» Repetition increases the ability to shift quickly Bamboozle» Circle or line» Director gives a feeling word to actor» Actors use body language, facial expression, vocal tone to express emotion» Say BAMBOOZLE using that emotion Skills in Bamboozle» Begin to work on the BIG 3» Can scaffold easily to levels of actor» Build confidence 4

5 Sell Your Partner» Demonstrate or have actor demonstrate how a used car salesman might sell a common object» Model exaggerated salesman vocal qualities» Partners: graphic organizer Sell Your Partner» Partners interview one another about skills, preferences, strengths» Partners practice salesman pitch: why should WE want that person in our lives?» Used car salesperson persona?» Actors regroup to audience positions» Person who is product sits in chair as salesperson gives the pitch» Then switch roles» Each team takes their turn Skills in Sell Your Partner» Getting to know peers» Recognizing the interests of others» Risk taking-performing without a script» Encourages creative thinking» Self esteem builder Flexible Phrases» Assign partners in the group» Give each pair receives a common phrase» Pairs decide on 2 or more ways to say that phrase to bring different meaning to the phrase. 5

6 Skills in Flexible Phrases» Collaboration with partner» Interpreting a phrase-multiple word meanings, etc.» Using the BIG 3 Sample Phrases» I didn t mean it.» Will you come here» Come over here.» I didn t do it» You better go. Two Phrases» One person is the pivot person - controls the scene» Two actors on the sides are each given two phrases - that s all they can say» Suggestion of a workplace is elicited from the audience Skills in Two phrases» Multiple meanings of words and phrases» Using Big Three» Acting and reacting to another person» Increasing flexibility Open Scenes Open Scene 2» Combination of common phrases» Can be interpreted more than one way» Extension of flexible phrases activity Sandy Maria Sandy Maria Excuse me. Oh, was I in your way? Just a little. So sorry. 6

7 Chris Andy Chris Andy Open Scene 1 Hey, cool shirt Yeah, well I like those sneakers. Where d you get them? Why, you want to get some, too? Yeah, right. Scenes from a Hat» Pair given a common scenario with a minor conflict» Actors create dialogue on the spot, reacting to one another» Must come to some resolution/ ending Skills in Scenes From A Hat» Working with a partner» Being attentive to partner» Using verbal and non-verbal communication» REACTING to verbal AND non-verbal communication of partner» Analyzing outcomes of communication Blah Blah» More abstract version of Scenes from a Hat» Pair given a common scenario with conflict» Only verbalization allowed is Blah, Blah» Two characters have Blah Blah conversation about conflict» Must come to some ending Skills in Blah Blah» Portray meaning without words, with non-verbals» Read meaning without words, with non-verbals» Conflict resolution» Reinforce concept that one person s action causes a reaction Migration» Group sitting in circle» One less chair that participants» Person standing asks YES/NO question: Are you wearing? Do you like? Have you ever.?» If participant s answer is Yes, they move to new chair» Person left standing asks next question 7

8 Skills in Migration» Focus/attention/listening» Perspective of peers» Must have answer immed.-no time to over analyze» Formation of yes/no questions» Strategies, use of humor, etc. Props» Provide a common object» Pantomimes using is as something other than its intended purpose» Tries to give audience as much nonverbal info as possible» Audience members raise hand if they can guess what object is supposed to be Skills in Props» Using imagination» Taking a risk» Using non-verbal communication» Theory of mind practice: figuring out the audience s perspective Infomercial» Start with Props game» Build up to this game gradually» Use 4 or 5 props» Team of 3 or 4 actors» Work together to improv selling group of props as a kit, for example: Sample kits» Prevent hair loss kit» Insect repellent kit» Halitosis prevention kit» Fire prevention kit» No more zits kit Skills in Infomercial» Creative thinking» Teamwork» Flexibility» Reciprocity» Closing statements 8

9 Slow News Day» Group of 3-5 actors» They are assigned a common object, food, etc.» Group decides who will play the different reporters» Create weather, sports, news, traffic stories with this item as the focus» Can be very whimsical, nonsensical Skills in Slow News» Cooperative group work with a structure» Compromise and negotiation» Creativity» Maintaining a topic» Sharing the spotlight Taxi Driver» Four chairs set up-2 front and 2 back» New person comes up to car as driver with a specific persona» Other members in car must emulate that same persona» Director yells switch and actors rotate and new driver comes in with new persona Comments about Taxi» Rehearse rotation scheme» Brainstorm different characters» Difficult for some actors especially those who are less confident to come up with a character» Option to choose from brainstorming list» Motor planning Skills in Taxi» Attending to fellow actors and emulating a persona» Shifting - quickly» Creative thinking» Increasing confidence so that one is willing to take a risk 9

10 » Bank Robber» Elderly woman/man» Cool dude» Cowboy» Movie Star Examples» Politician» Robot» Firefighter» S-L-O-W talker» Sports announcer The Final Word Theatre can offer youngsters:» Opportunity to develop a leisure time activity that they enjoy» Build Self-esteem» Make friends» Work on social and pragmatic issues» Have fun!!! What more could we ask?! Cindy s contact info: cindy@actingantics.org Website: Cindy s book is available at Jessica Kingsley Publishers as well as at Barnes & Noble or Amazon. 10