Gia Bonavita
Literacy Theater, Storyteller, Playwriting
WORKSHOP AND RESIDENCY DESCRIPTION
Expanding Literacy Through Theater Workshop/Residency In Person
This theater literacy program provides a unique platform that engages students at multiple levels of language, literacy, and kinesthetic learning. Different literature genres (such as folk tales, poetry, fiction, etc) are introduced with an emphasis on vocabulary, sequence, context, and various writing styles. For a residency, movement, dialogue, and pantomime activities related to classroom studies are covered on various days. Students will enhance their confidence, concentration, and critical and creative thinking skills through practicing, formulating, and expressing their ideas and opinions. This active, engaging program can be offered as a workshop, a long-term residency, or a professional development workshop for teachers. For grades K-5!
Storytelling Through Theater Workshop/Residency In Person
This residency teaches students how to use theater activities to explore the storytelling process. Students will enhance their understanding of key storytelling components (main ideas, details, sequencing, and language) through pantomime (acting without words or sound), improvisation (on-the-spot actions/dialogue), and tableaus (motionless figures). Supported by a visual thinking strategy, students will use books from their classroom as a guide and visual images as an inspiration for their creative process. The theater program creates a safe and participatory learning environment for students to develop their social interactions, curiosity, critical reasoning, and problem-solving, and learn how to give and receive feedback, and understand multiple perspectives. This program can be offered as a workshop, a long-term residency, or a professional development workshop for teachers. For all ages!
Playwriting Residency In Person
In this residency, students will learn the basics of the playwriting process, understand the difference between narrative writing and dialogue writing, and be introduced to various playwrights/authors. Authors related to students’ current and upcoming classroom studies can be added to the program. Students will learn how to format plays to build characters and create conflict schemes. They will also have the opportunity to experience directing and acting. The completion of the program will be a presentation of short scenes. This program can be offered as a long-term residency or a professional development workshop for teachers. For grades 4 and up!
