Building Character Through Illuminating Characters: The Monologue Project
“Building Character Through Illuminating Characters: The Monologue Project” is an interdisciplinary and intergenerational project that combines history, writing, performance, and community service. Students interview community members, write monologues based on their stories, and perform the resulting theatre pieces for the community and the school. Last year, theatre students interviewed veterans and wrote their stories in monologue form. They then performed the monologues (acting as the veterans) for the veterans and their families at the senior citizen center. This year, one public speaking class interviewed senior citizens and community residents about immigration and changes in our township. From the interviews, they have crafted a theatre piece that will be performed at the senior center and the high school. The other public speaking class interviewed students and staff members in our school to learn about different challenges they face. The resulting theatre piece will be presented as an assembly program. The projects help students develop listening skills, empathy, and understanding of the difficulties other people face. The performances give other students and the community the opportunity to share in the experience.