It's Showtime!

​It's Showtime! Last week's blog was about my costume box. Well, you certainly can't have a box of costumes without having a STAGE! And who knew it could be so easy.

Simply go to the discount store, and get yourself a curtain tension rod, and install it in the appropriate doorway--hopefully one that has an entrance to the den or living room where all the family can gather and watch the young ones perform. Nothing better as any grandparent can attest. And just lower the curtain, and it becomes a puppet stage, Finished for the evening? Simple release the tension in the rod and take it down.

See? Nothing to it!

Raise it high--it's a theater curtain.

Same curtain. Just lower for a puppet show.

If you've never encouraged your grandkids to perform, let me encourage you to start. The advantages for your grandkids are many:

It develops language and speaking skills. It gives children confidence. Kids that develop such skills in drama tend to become leaders and do well in school. Because of the confidence that develops, they are inclined to participate in math and science fairs. They do well academically. What grandparent wouldn't want to have a hand in developing that.

As you can imagine, drama nurtures the imagination and promotes creativity. It enables the practice of cooperation and collaboration. I've seen my grands work together on plays--developing dialogue, writing scripts, and planning entrances and exits. Yes, they argue, but they eventually work it out.

​An important advantage~

And here's one advantage that we don't often think about--it teaches empathy. As I've told you in previous blogs, I taught middle school. I was fortunate to train in "History Alive." One of the components in that teaching technique is role playing. Let's say you've completed your study of the Texas revolution. You can then begin having your students role-play. You might assign someone to be William Travis, the leader of the Alamo. The student has to get inside of Travis and try to comprehend what that might have been like--to ask men to fight against incredible odds. You can even have someone be Santa Ana and try to comprehend his motives for not letting Texas escape the dominion of Mexico. Or have someone play the role of a farmer's wife whose husband decides to join the Texians. You can see how that would development empathy and understanding, two traits that I think are sorely needed in today's world.

But don't just take my word for it~

"I find that one of the great things about acting--you have the opportunity to stand in somebody else's shoes. . . Each character faces a dilemma in her life, and as an actor you're able to step into that character's skin, look through her eyes. You leave transformed, a different person, because once you live a little bit of someone's life, it changes you." Sally Field

"I love acting because it's this space where dreams can be realized, fantasy comes to life, and there are no limitations on what's possible." Jessica Alba

Always ready for a dramatic entrance. . .

Let's be silly!

And puppet shows~

Stuffed animals can fill the bill for puppets.

Traditional store-bought finger puppets. And making your own out socks, sacks and other materials would be fun too! I'm thinking that's another blog.

And the puppeteers!

And we can't forget Shakespeare:

"The play's the thing. . ."

Give creative dramatics a try at your house. Just another fun way to bond with your grands and see their wonderful creativity and imagination in action!

Finally~

Here are two links to one of my favorite blog spots. The first is about clothespin people which you could use for puppets, and the second is another way to do a "no sew" puppet theater.

​www.artbarblog.com

​(You'll have to do a search for "Clothespin People" and "Puppet Show". I was unable to link directly to those pages. Sorry......)

https://www.artbarblog.com/?s=clothes+pin+people

​https://www.artbarblog.com/?s=puppet+show