Alley Theatre's 2013-14 Education Programs Final Report by Alley Theatre

ANNUAL EDUCATION REPORT 2013-2014

PPLIED THEATRE uses theatre practices in unconventional settings — beyond the walls of our stages — to enrich our community. The Alley Theatre’s mission is to deepen the understanding of ourselves, one another, and the world we share by uniting theatre artists and audiences to experience the power of stories that illuminate the breadth and complexities of the human condition. The mission of Alley Theatre’s Education and Community Engagement Program is to become a driving force for exemplary arts education practices, to nurture the next generation of theatre artists, and to harness the power of theatre to motivate community engagement, discourse, and empathy.

GATHER / NURTURE / ENGAGE / EDUCATE

THANK YOU T

hrough the support of our generous sponsors, Alley Theatre’s education programs served 56,438 students and 1,940 teachers from 147 schools and 36 Independent School Districts. Throughout the course of the 2013-2014 Season, our sponsors assisted Alley Theatre education programs in facilitating 202,610 contact hours to students, educators, patrons and community members.

CORPORATIONS Anadarko Petroleum Corporation BBVA Compass Deloitte Enbridge Energy Company, Inc. GDF SUEZ Halliburton Foundation, Inc. Kinder Morgan Foundation Macy's Marathon Oil Corporation Shell Oil Company Spectra Energy Wells Fargo Wood Group GOVERNMENT Harris County Department of Education Harris County Juvenile Probation Department Texas Commission on the Arts

We would also like to extend special thanks to the numerous individuals who supported our student matinee program and the touring production of Oskar and the Big Bully Battle!

FOUNDATIONS Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo™ The Powell Foundation National Corporate Theatre Fund George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation William E. and Natoma Pyle Harvey Charitable Trust The Hearst Foundations Immanuel & Helen B. Olshan Foundation, Inc. Jack And Annis Bowen Foundation Lillian Kaiser Lewis Foundation Robert W. Knox Sr and Pearl Willis Knox Charitable Foundation OFFICIAL AIRLINE OF ALLEY THEATRE United Airlines

OVERVIEW

STAGING STEM W

e are especially pleased by the strong response to our new arts integration initiative, Staging STEM, which combines theatre arts integration techniques to enable elementary school teachers to present challenging concepts in science, technology, engineering and math in more effective and engaging ways. This year, we piloted Staging STEM in seven two-week residencies that served one complete grade level. Working in tandem with HISD’s implementation of new learning objectives in STEM education, each residency’s curriculum was specifically molded to the district’s new guidelines and the school’s needs. During one of our two-week residencies in Sharpstown, students from six 2nd grade classes learned about fractions and place value by bunny-hopping a number line and working with two-step math problems by packaging carrots in their very own factory. When tested, the average overall retention of knowledge increased 20%. In an English Language Learners class where children spoke seventeen different languages, vocabulary retention increased as much as 80%. This adds to the weight of evidence showing that properly implemented, high-quality theatre arts integration programs can have a powerful impact on young learners. In view of these results, HISD has asked the Alley to expand Staging STEM to 21 schools. Word continues to spread to other districts as well, leading us to expect 400% increase in activity in 2014-2015.

“It was remarkable to observe the way the instructors presented different scientific concepts through dramatization, which even inspired students who are normally reluctant to participate, to become excited and get involved.” —Sandra Coley, 5th Grade, Sutton Elementary

OSKAR and the BIG BULLY BATTLE! T

his season’s Alley Shows for Kids (ASK) touring show, Oskar and the Big Bully Battle!, has been a runaway success across Harris County. To meet high demand, the sold-out tour was extended not once, but twice, and the overwhelmingly positive response has prompted us to continue the tour in the fall of 2014. Oskar is 10! Oskar loves his new shoes! They belong in “The Museum of Greatness!” Or, at least they did until Frank stepped on them. If apologies had happened then and there, the playground mishap would not have escalated into a humorous adventure illustrating the roles of victim, bully, bystander, and upstander. While the show deals with its subject in a humorous fashion, it conveys a serious message about student behavior. This assembly was developed by school administrators and theatre artists to help students understand the multiple perspectives involved in an escalating incident of bullying. Ultimately, students were taught how to respond when they are on their own playgrounds. Teachers, principals and administrators raved about the play, saying it was the best show they had seen in many years. In addition to the performance, schools receive a comprehensive Companion Guide to lead teachers and students through important subjects in the play. The Companion Guide contains activities and discussion questions specifically designed to help teachers incorporate the play’s lessons into the classroom. One Katy ISD Kindergarten teacher emailed at the end of the year to tell us that she still used, “What would Oskar do?” to help her students understand their own behaviors.

“From K-5, the kids were enthralled with the story. The performance was top-notch. At a Title 1 school, many of these kids may never see a quality play. Not only the lessons but also the professionalism of the performers really gave the kids something to remember.” ̶ Stephens Elementary School PTA

SLAM POETS @ ALLEY THEATRE O

ur popular Slam Poetry program expanded from four residencies in 2012-2013 to fifteen this season. This 5- to 16-day Artist-in-Residence Program helps every teen tell their story. When shared, these stories deepen mutual understanding and ignite community discourse. Our goal is to teach students the vital skills necessary to nurture and discover their own dynamic voices. We want to instill in students the courage to articulate and defend their most personal ideas and experiences in a public forum. In doing so, the Alley Theatre provides a foundation for students to become effective and creative communicators throughout their lives. We also started a thriving partnership with the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, conducting Slam Poetry residencies at three juvenile detention centers, delivering 55 classes and 730 contact hours for 57 at-risk teens. The feedback from probation officers has been very positive, noting improvements in attitude, self-expression and study habits, in particular. All schools participate in the Young Poets’ Slam, TEENPALOOZA, held on the Alley Theatre’s Neuhaus Stage each fall and spring. This year’s young Poets’ Slam, conducted in partnership with Writers in the Schools, gave poets the opportunity to compete for coveted spots on state and national Slam Poets teams. In its inaugural year, one of our poets, Te’rell Cloud, placed first in the State of Texas and competed in the U.S. national grand slam.

“The Alley has created an open door with the Slam Poets training model to help young people express themselves and change their lives and world.” — Natalie Martinez, English Department Chair, Reagan High School 6

SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS “My ability to do my best was brought out by this program. In the beginning, I did not know there was so much to learn, and I feel like I will be able to take great things away from this.” — Johnston Middle School Student

he Alley Theatre encourages schools to tap into to the resources of a professional theatre through its school partnerships. Guided by the Alley Theatre’s education staff, drama and English departments craft an arts education action plan that complements and enhances the academic curriculum. Partnership schools have access to the broad slate of workshops and exclusive partnership programs such as the 360° Residencies in Shakespeare, Movement, Playwriting and Slam Poets @ Alley Theatre. In collaboration with teachers, we have developed two new offerings this year: Monologues 101 and Theatre Through the Ages, a workshop to dovetail with World History TEKS. After focused conversations this year, we have redesigned the program for 2014-2015 to serve schools more deeply by reaching into English departments with new workshops on Shakespeare and the Greeks.

Capitalizing on the Alley Theatre’s deep, personal relationships with teachers in each school, education staff members work closely with school leaders to design and monitor the progress of each partnership. Our work helps students build self-confidence and hone skills they will use for the rest of their lives: effective communication, working as a team, and problem and conflict solving.

2013-2014 PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS Black Middle School (Houston ISD, Title 1) Carnegie Vanguard High School (Houston ISD) Humble High School (Humble ISD, Title 1) Katy High School (Katy ISD) Lee High School (Houston ISD, Title 1) Mayde Creek High School (Katy ISD) Milby High School (Houston ISD, Title 1) Reagan High School (Houston ISD, Title 1)) Austin High School (Houston ISD, Title 1) Sharpstown High School (Houston ISD, Title 1) High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (Houston ISD)

ALLEY YOUTH COMPANY

lley Youth Company was a CASE After School Initiative grant-funded project from October 2013 to February 2014. Chosen from extensive auditions, 19 high school students from across the Houston area had the opportunity to learn how to build a touring theatre company and develop an original play. Approaching Maximum Entropy was the result of more than 100 hours of work between the students, Alley staff, and Alley teaching artists. The production combined movement, poetry, and dialogue to address current issues that teens are faced with on a daily basis and which are extremely relevant to their generation. The topics varied from local to global economic issues and showed the diverse backgrounds of the students’ struggles, including depression, self-image, bullying, dating and independence. Public performances were held in six different venues throughout Houston for more than 320 audience members.

‘’Coming from diverse backgrounds and neighborhoods, the group gathered early in the fall with a challenge and a mission – create, produce and perform a play relevant to their demographic group. Sophie absolutely thrived in that environment. She quickly assessed her own strengths and interests and figured out how she wanted to contribute. Importantly, she made it through that middle period of any creative process where the situation looks grim and messy and doubt begins to arise… she stuck with it and saw a great product at the end. What a great life lesson! “ ̶ Mark E. Worscheh, Alley Youth Company Parent

HYPE HOUSTON YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS EXCHANGE

ouston Young Playwrights Exchange (HYPE) cultivates and showcases the talents of local teen playwrights. More than 160 students submitted 10-minute plays this year, and six of the students were selected to be HYPE playwrights. Throughout the summer, the HYPE playwrights continued developing their scripts with intensive workshops under the guidance of Alley teaching artists and guest mentors. After one-on-one coaching with casting, rehearsal and production, HYPE playwrights presented their plays in staged readings on the Alley’s Neuhaus Stage. 2013 HYPE PLAYWRIGHTS AND PRODUCTIONS Gerardo Velasquez, Soup and Gift Baskets Alric Davis, Different, Damaged, Damned Natasha Wright, The God Erotic Camron Alexander, Eloquence Katie Morrison, Pamoja Na Wema Angela Montante, Dorothy Brandy Barfield-Rood, theatre director at Humble High School, stated "I have witnessed student transformations. Kids that think they have nothing to say and are incapable of writing become playwrights that have a voice and an outlet for their creativity."

“HYPE was absolutely life-changing. I loved the process so much. No one sugar-coated anything, and everything was honest and genuine. I learned so much about writing, and I love it so much more now than I ever have. It has prepared me for my future endeavors in the dramatic arts.” — Gerardo Velasquez, 2013 HYPE Playwright 9

ALLEY PLAY MAKERS P

lay Makers (theatre and playwriting camps for children K-8) has been redesigned this year with a new vision to integrate science concepts with theatre techniques. Camp enrollment doubled from last year, making 20132014 the most successful year to date. Campers rotated through classes in movement, acting, playmaking and crafts taught by teaching artists. In their evaluation forms, 99% of parents gave the overall educational experience the highest rating. Our model strives to bring playwriting skills and science concepts to life as campers create plays based on curriculum themes such as precipitation, the life cycle of the butterfly, and climate change. For example, the story of the Magfield’s and the McCoyles, based on the Hatfields and the McCoys, increased excitement and knowledge of electricity and theatre. Children came home with new vocabulary and gestures for science and theatre concepts. Students study concepts that they will be learning in the classroom, giving them a jump start to the school year. The Alley is encouraging campers to see science in a new light and continue learning new skills when they are away from school. The theatre lessons of confidence and effective communication will last a lifetime, whether campers grow to become scientists or actors.

2013

CAMP ENROLLMENT

2014

“He is becoming less inhibited at Play Makers – he is not an inhibited child at home but is shy in company. This performance was a huge breakthrough.” 10

— Play Makers Parent

ALLEY CONSERVATORY T

he inaugural season of the Alley Conservatory brought together a select group of 21 middle and high school artists from the Houston area. These promising young artists auditioned for the opportunity to receive five weeks of intense training in acting, voice, playwriting and movement with Alley Theatre teaching artists and Resident Company members with the goal of creating a completely new and original theatre piece. Guiding these students through the writing, refining and production process, Conservatory trained the next generation of theatre artists to explore and express their views of society and the world around us. The perspectives shared by the ensemble were as diverse as the members themselves, reflecting different socio-economic backgrounds and family situations. In addition to refining theatre skills, Conservatory students had chances to meet and be mentored by Alley Theatre directors and professional artists. The Conservatory culminated in two original productions, After Images and Crossroads. Both productions had their premiere on the Alley Theatre Neuhaus Stage before large supportive audiences.

“She wasn’t sure what to expect – it was more challenging than she thought it would be at first, but I have seen her mature and progress throughout the five weeks, and tonight’s performance was amazing.” — Conservatory Parent

STUDENT MATINEES F

or more than four decades, Alley Student Matinees and School Nights have introduced hundreds-of-thousands of Houston schoolchildren to live professional theatre. Companion guides, produced by the ECE Department for each production, provide context and background and explore the plays’ central themes. Teaching artists conduct classroom workshops to prepare students for performances and, afterwards, engage students in moderated discussions and activities based on the plays. To ensure access, admission to Matinee and School Night performances is subsidized and costs about as much as a movie ticket.

In recent years, the Alley’s student performances have included such classics as Our Town, Othello, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Arsenic and Old Lace, Doubt, To Kill a Mockingbird, Much Ado About Nothing, A Moon for the Misbegotten, The Miser, After the Fall, The Crucible, Sherlock Holmes, Proof, Twelfth Night and The Glass Menagerie. During the course of the 2013-2014 Season, 13,680 students and educators attended Student Matinees, School Nights and in-school workshops staffed by theatre professionals. Students attended performances of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol — A Ghost Story of Christmas, Kaufman and Hart’s classic You Can’t Take It With You, Alan Ayckbourn’s Communicating Doors, Jon Robin Baitz’ Other Desert Cities, the world premiere of Theresa Rebeck’s Fool, and the Houston premiere of Christopher Durang’s Tony Award-winning play Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.

“Dear Alley Theatre, Thank you so much for the opportunity to see, You Can’t Take It With You. I loved everything about it! I really appreciated all of the work that went into every aspect of the production. It made me laugh, but it also made me think. I realized that although the show is a comedy, it is also very relevant.” — Nathan Richardson, Student HSVPA, Partner School

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT U nder a CAPP grant from the U. S. Department of Education, the Alley Theatre has joined other major arts organizations in offering professional development workshops for HISD teachers from low-arts schools. On a quarterly basis, groups of 40 to 50 educators in math, history, English and science meet at the Alley to participate in teacher training workshops that teach them how to integrate theatre arts into their classrooms. Each session lasts three hours, followed by a 30-minute webinar two weeks later during which teachers share their experiences and comment on the effectiveness of the program. These seminars have served as a launching pad for the Alley Theatre Summer Teaching Institute, a new program that will start in the summer of 2015.

“This year the CAPP program has brought many new and exciting adventures to my classroom. Last week at the seminar we learned several new games. I have been playing the game ZOOM with my classes using Synonyms and Anonyms. I have also come to understand the importance of being a risk taker on behalf on my student's education. It is not always easy to include the arts in our lessons, but the outcome is worth the effort!!!” — Karen O'Dowd, Marshall Middle School “I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation by Mary Sutton from the Alley Theatre. We discussed what ‘arts integration’ meant to each of us and how we used it in our classrooms. Mary had us form a circle to play a game of focus, concentration, and listening: Zip Zap Zop. From the game, we started integrating our specific content areas into the game by introducing vocabulary and processes. What was really great about this game was how flexible it was, and it was fun. The next day, I introduced the game to my class. The students were engaged in learning about parts of a circle, calculating area, circumference, diameter, radius, etc. The students used their bodies to demonstrate the different parts of the circle while their classmates drew out and calculated each part they were asked to find.” — Donald Martin, HISD

ALLEY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM F

itzpatrick Internships at the Alley offer valuable experience for qualified college students, graduates and young professionals planning to pursue careers in professional theatre and arts administration. Part-time and summer internships with stipends are available in many areas, including development, administration, marketing, education and community engagement, costumes, lighting and sound, stage management, and technical direction. Part-time interns commit 25 hours a week for a minimum of 12 consecutive weeks, while summer interns commit 40 hours a week for 12 consecutive weeks from May to August. Over the course of the 2013-2014 Season, 16 interns advanced their careers at the Alley.

“The best thing about working at the Alley is that I work for experienced professionals who delegate challenging tasks while maintaining a very educational environment.” —AmyJo Foreman, Alley Theatre Intern, 2013

ASSESSMENTS & MEASUREMENTS

eedback, both verbal and written, from teachers, students, teaching artists and community partners plays an important role in shaping the content of each Alley Theatre Education and Community Engagement program. To measure student engagement, skills, collaboration and classroom climate, we aligned our teaching rubric with Project Zero’s Qualities of Quality Report, Studio Thinking’s 8 Studio Habits of Mind, Thriving Mind’s 6 Dimensions of Quality and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. With these tools we are able to assess anecdotally as well as statistically. ECE staff and teaching artists give students a clear understanding of their goals and performance requirements and work in tandem with teachers to design curriculum that aligns with the Texas Education Agency (TEKS) curriculum guidelines. We gather feedback from teachers and students, Teaching Artists, and administrators through pre- and post-assessment questionnaires, testimonials and artifacts, e.g. pictures and portfolios, that demonstrate learning. To gauge their effectiveness in meeting the TEKS requirements for high school curriculums, ECE staff relies on project evaluations by students and teachers as well as anecdotal evidence, such as testimonials from educators and audience responses from readings of student plays.

WHOLE SCHOOL | Staging STEM Math Assessment

ONE ELL CLASSROOM | Staging STEM Math Assessment

2nd Grade, Sutton Elementary, April 7-18, 2014

This year, the ECE staff designed new assessments that complement the new HISD TIFF 4 STEM curriculum. Our work was reviewed to insure that the objectives meet distrct and state requirements. Pre-and post-assessment on core curriculum vocabulary and abstract concepts, such as the example above, is essential to the critical success and rapid acceptance of the Staging STEM program.

“Science test averages increased 17% and Staging STEM played a crucial role in our students’ newfound success.” — Principal, Wilson Montessori School, HISD Public Elementary School

FACTS & FIGURES MAP KEY Alley Theatre High Schools Middle Schools Elementary Schools Multi-Level Schools

AVERAGE DEMOGRAPHICS SERVED

AVERAGE SOCIO-ECONOMIC LEVELS SERVED

Average % Served Out of 56,438 Students

36 School Districts

LOOKING BACK

ducational programs at the Alley Theatre have had substantial successes this year. The Staging STEM program exceeded our most optimistic expectations and clearly serves an urgent need. This year’s Alley Shows for Kids, Oskar and the Big Bully Battle, was so popular that we had to extend the spring tour twice to accommodate demand. We will continue the tour in the fall of 2014 and have commissioned a brand new Oskar for the spring of 2015. These results validate the Alley’s decision to expand its focus in ECE programming from a narrowly defined set of programs for middle and high school students to a broader range of initiatives that serve students from Kindergarten through 12th grade.

We observed that schools who established a link between their English and drama departments as part of their School Partnership activities were much more invested in their work with the Alley. With that in mind, we have revamped our middle and high school programs by adding instruction in Shakespeare, Aristotle and Sophocles, monologue study, and Theatre History Through The Ages.

In expanding our focus this year, we have discovered that the education community is clamoring for more concrete arts integration activities that serve not only students who love theatre but also those who can benefit from the many ways in which drama can quicken and enhance learning in core subjects. We are pleased that our contributions have met with such rapid acceptance and are eager to apply our skills to improve the K-12 experience and drive student achievement across the Houston area.

This year, we have examined existing programs with the goal of updating and refining successful programs such as HYPE to reflect national practices. We met with teachers, principals and district administrators who helped guide us in our transformation. We reorganized the department to meet the increasing demand for services and reinvented our marketing. We extended our reach of services in every program and built a thriving new summer program.

It has been an excellent year for us. Judging from the reaction we are already receiving from the field, we feel confident that our role within the community as a valuable arts education partner will continue to grow.

“She expressed that the Jr. Conservatory has confirmed her desire to be in the theatre! After the first few days she was worried it was too hard, but then figured out that it takes hard work to be successful in this business.”— Jr. Conservatory Parent

LOOKING AHEAD

ollowing a year of strong growth, our focus during the 2014-2015 school year will be one of stabilizing and deepening our thriving roster of programs. Beginning in August 2014, we anticipate significant growth in Staging STEM program. The demonstrated impact of Staging STEM has prompted all the pilot schools to request multiple residencies in additional grades. In addition, HISD has asked us to supply Staging STEM in 21 of their TIF 4 STEM schools. This activity will help us train more teaching artists in our arts integration techniques, design more applicable curriculum and equip more teachers with valuable strategies in arts integration for the classroom. All of this activity sets the stage fore the 2015 summer launch of The Alley Arts Integration Network, a professional development institute that will train Houston-area teachers to design their own units of core curriculum that integrate the arts into their daily instruction. While the Alley’s main theatre building on Texas Avenue will be undergoing a major renovation, the Alley will present its regular subscription season at the Wortham Theatre on the University of Houston’s main campus. Because of limited seating and other constraints imposed by this off-site venue, we have reluctantly decided to suspend our Student Matinees for the duration of the 2014-2015 season. This opportunity will help us devote staff and resources to developing an even more far-reaching Alley Shows For Kids. So, we are extending the tour of the phenomenally successful Oskar and the Big Bully Battle! into the fall of 2014 and will premiere a new commission by the same playwright in the spring of 2015 titled Oskar and the Curiously Colorful Clash! In this new saga, Oskar will wrestle with the theme of diversity, an appropriate and timely topic for students living in the most diverse city in the country. By the end of the 2014-2015 school year, we will have completely revamped our School Partnership Program to serve both English and Drama departments. We will be updating the 360° Residencies to include options such as Shakespeare, the Greeks, and Theatre History. Our School Partnership Program has a new uniform agreement which supplies 150 hours of instruction once each school’s principal and English and Drama department leaders commit to the program. To date, we have had an overwhelming response to the new and more in-depth partnership program.

AlleyTheatre.org/Education

Applied Theatre at the Alley education@alleytheatre.org 713.315.5424 Photography by Cressandra Thibodeaux