Parenting My Teen

Fifth in the series “After School Activities”, we will cover being involved in the school’s drama club. Be sure to subscribe to our RSS feed so you don’t miss any of the  helpful topics covered here at Parenting My Teen.

My daughter attends a fine arts charter school, so a full semester of drama is required in order to graduate. She has chosen to take more than the required amount because she loves it and has natural talent. Over the summer she has been involved in “Drama 3″ which is for the advanced drama students who are serious about drama and will be performing “Cinderella” in the fall. However, not all schools require students to take a drama in order to graduate, but instead offer it as an elective course.

Having a teen decide to join the drama club is a proud moment for parents. Having seen these kids perform is akin to watching a Broadway play. They are great actors and actresses, and those who do not perform take great pride is contributing to set design, costume design, lighting, script writing, and all facets that go into to producing a play.

During the school year, musicals and plays are rehearsed for special performances put on throughout the school year. Moreover, some of these musicals and plays are performed outside of the school in such places as principal’s meetings or particularly when special invitations to perform are sent to the school as well.

Dramas like West Side Story are still being produced, choreographed and sung by students across the country. It is a timeless classic and one that takes a great amount of work, practice, memorization, and direction. Everyone from the band, the students, teachers, and parents become involved in the production of this wonderful musical.

In addition, there are teens that have begun to write their own plays or have taken the classics and reworked them into wonderful productions. As a member of the drama club, you need to be able to take direction, project your voice, read well, and rehearse daily. Kids who love drama extend themselves beyond what is required and give their all to produce a show unlike any other. It is to their credit and the dedication of their teachers who provide such top notch performances in our schools.

If you have a teen who has acted out a role or pretended to play a particular part as a child, this may be the perfect vehicle for him or her to pursue in school. Who knows, they may eventually wind up on Broadway.

For further help giving your teen the direction and guidance they need in high school, check out Helping Your Teen Through High School.