Dramatizing Myths and Tales - Creating Plays For Large Groups

Drawing on material from West African, Mayan, North American, Japanese and British cultures, this is an invaluable aid to creating classroom productions employing storytellers, sound effects, actors and props

"This book is a very thorough guide to producing, rehearsing, and performing a story theatre presentation in an elementary school setting. The book is divided into two parts ...

The first part contains information on: the mechanics of producing and directing a play, setting the scene, a model step-by-step rehearsal schedule, and informal classroom dramatizations. These instructions are clearly and concisely written

The second part of the book contains five scripts that have been tested in elementary classrooms, including tales from South America, Japan, Native Americans, Africa, and England

A brief description of each play follows this review

Included with each play is -

(1) a brief synopsis of the story, along with a bit of background information
(2) acting exercises specific to the performance of the story
(3) production notes, which in each case includes directions for teaching simple dance movement to enhance the telling of the story
(4) specific suggestions for costumes that are simple and easily obtained by teachers and their students
(5) specific suggestions for instruments used for sound affects
(6) story questions and research topics
(7) a selected bibliography

Each script is clearly written and contains specific cues for the sound affects and for crew and actor movement

This book is highly recommended for any elementary classroom teacher who would like to use drama to enhance the regular curriculum

The plays could also be used by a professional touring company, which could perform the plays as part of a presentation and workshop for teaching teachers how to use drama in the classroom"

~ Rosemarie Howard and Rachel Young - Children's Book and Play Review May/June 1995