Directing a play with middle school kids can be a frightening experience. Many teachers often tell me, “I don’t know if the show will go through. I have middle schoolers!”
I love directing plays with middle school actors. It’s amazing how they always pull it together in the end. The dress rehearsal may be a disaster, but the production is filled with energy, excitement and everyone shines.
Young teens, of course, are interesting. They are in the midst of finding out who they are. Peer pressure is a huge factor. The drama club? It’s always filled with a million girls and three boys. It’s truly a balancing act.
In a month or so, Newton Middle School will be producing TWINDERELLA. I’m the director and I’m about to panic. But then I take a step back and realize that every play that I have directed at Newton has been incredible. The kids always come through.
Finally, here's a book that offers creative alternatives for middle school teachers who spend their summer sifting through piles of scripts in the quest for the perfect play.
