Building Community Through Drama
For the past six years, Metro Theater Company's professional teaching artists have facilitated a hands-on, interactive drama residency with fifth and sixth grade students throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. This program includes opportunities for students to work together to solve challenges through non-competitive drama games, improvisation and Forum Theater in an effort to build a supportive and welcoming community. Best practices in bullying prevention are a key component of this program. Students participate in a process that empowers them to make positive choices using the tools of action and reflection. This program weaves dramatic learning and character education to make a positive change in the school culture. Goals of this program include creating awareness of bullying (relational, cyber, physical) through drama, active discussion and reflection; motivating students to become proactive agents of change within their school community; increasing positive change in the school community through identifying and addressing obstacles and issues; building community among students through drama activities.