"What I would consider the best experience of the (Primary Voices) residency would be the part where every single student actually became inquisitive to conjecture and to know more about the curriculum."
"From this experience I learn that life may seem different through a lens. Also, it helps me understand and get to know my classmates better."
"This was an incredible experience for my students and one they will never forget. They grew and gained confidence in themselves. This is what learning is all about!"
-Comments from Primary Voices participants
Primary Voices is our in-school arts education program. Teaching Artist Martha Steketee visits the participating high school and introduces classroom students to critical writing about live theater using Primary Stages current production as the focus.
During several site visits, students learn to analyze plot, themes, characters, as well as production design elements in general. Each student develops ideas individually and in group discussions, and shares them verbally and in writing. The class then travels to Primary Stages theater to attend a student-only matinee performance, and to participate in a talk-back session with the cast following the play. The following site visit is a roundtable meeting to discuss what students have seen and how they feel about the production. They then, as critics, proceed to write their reviews. In the final class, the reviews are read aloud and “critiqued” by their classmates.
The talk-back session at the student matinee and the final class in which the students read their reviews are videotaped by a professional colleague. Filming inspires the students to present themselves with a professional and knowledgeable demeanor and adds another media platform to share their critiques.
We are delighted that students from Flushing High School participated in Primary Voices spring semester 2011 and studied A.R. Gurney’s World Premiere comedy Black Tie.
Read more about the process on our Teaching Artist's blog: http://psprimaryvoices.wordpress.com/.
If you are a teacher or principal and would like to be added to our Education Program mailing list, please contact Sue Breger at sue@primarystages.org.
A very special thanks to New York State Council on the Arts for supporting Primary Voices for the 2011/2012 Season.
Primary Stages thanks the following donors who have specified funds toward our education programs in recent years:
Rose M. Badgeley Residuary Charitable Trust
Colgate-Palmolive Inner City Education Fund
Senator Thomas K. Duane
Assemblyman Richard Gottfried
Manhattan Delegation
Council Speaker Christine R. Quinn
Councilman Daniel R. Garodnick
Kathy Barrett
Craig Bereson
Linda Bergman
Philip Carrubba
Angie Cunningham
EF Gillis
Delia Gorga
Reva & Josh Greenberg
Einar Gunn
Ann & Irwin Jacobs
Claire Kinsella-Holtse
Karen La Rosa
Beth Neimeyer
Doug Nevin
Barbara & David Thomas
Margaret & Gary Wendlandt
Lynn Wright
Joanne Zeigler
If you are interested in making a contribution in support of Education Programming at Primary Stages, please contact Director of Development Jessica Comas or click the Donate Now button on the right side of this page.
