To our Educators…
Playhouse on the Square, The Circuit Playhouse, and the Playhouse on the Square Touring Company would like to invite you and your students to experience professional live theatre and virtual lessons this coming school year. Since 1985, we have been providing opportunities for youth in the Mid-South to attend live professional theatre during school hours. We feel it is important to combine the arts with education, and we offer a variety of shows and lessons to do just that. Let us help you reach TN, AR, and MS state education standards in Theatre, English, Reading, and more. Study guides and talk-backs with the actors are just two additional ways we strive to make your partnership with us an experience you and your students will remember. We will begin accepting reservations for the 2020 – 2021 school year on August 1, 2020. We encourage you not to wait too long, as seats go fast. Thank you for all that you do, and we’ll see you at the theatre!
Artist Work Samples
Sample Programs Offered
Program Type: Arts Appreciation
Program Description:
LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE (TOUR)
Adapted by Kevin Kling; Based on the book by Kevin Henke
“I am Lilly! I am the Queen! I like EVERYTHING!” With this now-famous declaration, the irrepressible mouse jumps off the pages of the enormously popular Lilly books and explodes onto the stage. From her hilarious tactics to make her new baby brother disappear, to her passion for her fabulous purple plastic purse, everyone will enjoy following the adventures of Lilly, the star of contemporary children’s literature.
(Tours- April 13, 2021 – May 21, 2021)
Lesson Plan Example: Download File
Program Type: Arts Appreciation
Program Description:
SMOKEY JOE’S CAFE (School Matinee)
Music and Lyrics by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
The Broadway sensation celebrating the songs of Leiber and Stoller returns to the Birthplace of Rock and Roll! Featuring hits like “Spanish Harlem,” “Yakety Yak,” “Love Potion #9,” and “Jailhouse Rock.” Smokey Joe’s Café will have audiences dancing in the aisles. (January 26, 2021 & January 27, 2021)
THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS (School Matinee)
Book by David Thompson Music by John Kander and Fred Ebb
A vaudeville style variety show is the thrilling final collaboration of Kander and Ebb. The Scottsboro Boys is a retelling of the landmark trial of 9 black teenagers. The case would eventually give rise to the Civil Rights Movement.(March 23, 24, 30, and 31, 2021)
A DOLL’S HOUSE by Henrik Isben / A DOLL’S HOUSE PART 2 by Lucas Hnath (School Matinee)
At the turn of the nineteenth century Nora Helmer was the most controversial female character on the stage- walking out on her husband and children to find herself. Now she returns to tie up loose ends and she has to deal with what she left behind. The Circuit Playhouse tells the complete story of the Torvalds in repertory. (PART 1 – April 20, April 28 and May 5, 2021) (PART 2 – April 21, April 27 and May 4, 2021)
LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE (SCHOOL MATINEE)
Adapted by Kevin Kling; Based on the book by Kevin Henke
“I am Lilly! I am the Queen! I like EVERYTHING!” With this now-famous declaration, the irrepressible mouse jumps off the pages of the enormously popular Lilly books and explodes onto the stage. From her hilarious tactics to make her new baby brother disappear, to her passion for her fabulous purple plastic purse, everyone will enjoy following the adventures of Lilly, the star of contemporary children’s literature. (May 7, 2021)
Lesson Plan Example: Download File
Program Type: Arts Curriculum
Program Description:
Playhouse Pointers: Artistic and Technical Theatre Instruction: Playhouse on the Square’s professional staff is eager to share their vast knowledge of theatre with our Tennessee schools and students. Learn from the experts and take advantage of our artistic and technical expertise.
Thirty-minute videos, with pdf handouts, are available on a wide variety of subjects. We are also open to providing a lecture or virtual activity to suit your specific needs. (October 1, 2020 – May 31, 2021)
Technical Theatre:
9th – 12th grade:
Costume Design: Translating Commercial Patterns into Costume Designs (Available 12/1/2020)
Costume Design: Advanced Hand Sewing (Available 11/1/2020)
Intro to Set Design 101 (Available 12/1/2020)
Prop Design 101 (Available 11/1/2020)
Stage Management 101 (Available 10/1/2020)
Stage Management Techniques: Prep, Rehearsal, Shows (Available 11/1/2020)
6th – 12th grade:
Costume Design: Rendering Techniques (Available 11/1/2020)
Costume Design: Basic Rendering Follow-Along (Available 1o0/1/2020)
Costume Design: Theatrical Mask Making 2 (Available 11/1/2020)
Costume Design: Basic Hand Sewing (Available 10/1/2020)
Sound Design for Productions: An Overview (Available 10/1/2020)
K-5 grade:
Costume Design: Theatrical Mask Making (Available 10/1/2020)
General Design: Blending Colors and their Emotional Connections (Available 11/1/2020)
Theatre History:
9th – 12th grade:
Greek Theatre (Available 10/1/2020)
The Dark Ages (Available 10/1/2020)
Renaissance Theatre (Available 12/1/2020)
Musical Theatre (Available 12/1/2020)
Theatre Artistry:
9th – 12th grade:
Play Analysis (Available 10/1/2020)
Scene Writing (Available 10/1/2020)
Self Producing in Theatre(Available 12/1/2020)
Theatre Career Skills: Audition & Self Promotion (Available 11/1/2020)
Musical Direction: Conducting an Orchestra (Available 11/1/2020)
Musical Direction: Teaching Vocal Parts (Available 12/1/2020)
Piano Accompaniment: From Auditions to Performance (Available 12/1/2020)
Musical Theatre: Warming up the voice (Available 10/1/2020)
6th – 12th grade:
Choreo 101 (Available 12/1/2020)
Musical Direction: Overview (Available 10/1/2020)
Musical Theatre: Vocal Technique (Available 11/1/2020)
Voice Auditions: Finding Song Cuts (Available 11/1/2020)
K-5
Story Drama (Available 10/1/2020)
Found Object Props (Available 12/1/2020)
Creating a Sock Puppet Character (Available 12/1/2020)
Adapting Stories (Available 11/1/2020)
Choreo 101 (Available 11/1/2020)
Lesson Plan Example: Download File
