RSC's Michael Boyd Visits Ohio Teachers, MFAs

Our Ohio teachers and MFA students immersed in a week-long teacher leadership program with the Royal Shakespeare Company had a real treat today -- an afternoon visit from the RSC's renowned Artistic Director Michael Boyd (above, with MFA student Alex Boyles). Boyd worked with the group, first splitting them into smaller teams and instructing them to create an imaginary "machine" based on a scene or character from King Lear (below) He then spent time directing several OSU MFA acting students in one of Lear's scenes. Boyd, known for creating an ensemble among the RSC actors, ended the day with a Q & A session. He explained, "Where the play happens is really between us -- between the actors and the audience. That's where our art form happens. That's our definition of an ensemble."

The earlier part of the day was spent building ensemble within the group with a variety of activities led by Virginia Grainger and Rachel Gartside, and exploring the magic of Shakespeare's language and the rhythm of his words.

This evening, the entire Ohio group -- including Hannah Rockey, Melissa Rulong, Kelly Simmons and Faye Love (below) -- had the opportunity to go to the RSC's Courtyard Theatre for the production of King Lear, a moving performance that tells the story of the King, who, stripped of all status, heads into the wilderness with a madman and a fool for company. Directed by David Farr, Shakespeare's great tragedy peels away the trappings of society to reveal the unforgiving truth of the human condition.


Features

Throughout the week, we’ll be talking with some of the 20 teachers and 10 MFA students who are involved in the second cohort in the OSU / RSC partnership program.

"I've been impressed this week by the extreme care taken of the ensemble and the extreme care taken of the text, of Shakespeare's work. A lot of the ensemble-building exercises -- none without purpose -- lead smoothly to the next teaching moment. My ideas. . . your ideas . . . their ideas are equally valid and incorporated. Every person is equally important in this ensemble. Value is placed on other people's ideas. And, I love getting up and getting active -- it really sparks my interest.

Alison Vasquez, MFA acting student at Ohio State


"I always shied away from Shakespeare because I felt he was very austere and regal. But yesterday, I played the part of the King's drunk knight asleep on his banquet table with his dogs. That's not so stuffy, is it? That 'melted the ice' for me with Shakespeare and now I can 'splash around in the water.'"

Hannah Rockey, MFA acting student at Ohio State. . . and friend

Stratford-upon-Avon and King Lear

In idyllic Stratford-upon-Avon (above), the 20 school teachers and 10 MFA students involved in the current phase of the OSU/RSC partnership got down to business today, working with RSC education staff Ginny Grainger and Rachel Gartside (right) to embrace principles at the core of their Stand Up for Shakespeare, which encourages young people to:
• Do it on your feet – explore plays actively and practically in the classroom, as actors do
• See it live – see live performances
• Start it earlier – introduce Shakespeare to younger age groups.

At the heart of the philosophy is the idea of creating "ensemble", whether it's in the classroom or among the actors in a play. The group of teachers and grad students is already is starting to create an ensemble among themselves, and today explored Shakespeare's play, King Lear, (below), which they will have the wonderful opportunity to see Wednesday evening when the RSC production is staged at Stratford's Courtyard Theatre.

They explored Lear through a variety of collaborative and shared activities including drama and movement, active listening and focusing on different points of view. Says Lesley Ferris, professor of theatre and co-director of the OSU/RSC program, "Ginny (below) and Rachel are so inventive and helped the group really get inside the 'skins' and heads of Lear's three daughters -- anchored with a 'set' of three costumed mannequins. Their expertise really brings out the actor in everyone, including all of the teachers."

The local BBC radio station is producing a feature spot about the OSU/RSC program and the week-long experiences shared by the Ohio teachers and MFA students. They sent a reporter to the training center Tuesday to talk to participants and leaders, including Metro High School teacher Kim Swensen (below).

Karen Bell (below) also talked with the reporter, as did RSC leader Rob Elkington and teacher Derek Hinkle.


On Monday evening the OSU group met up with a number of Royal Shakespeare Company leaders at the Dirty Duck, a Stratford landmark near the theatre. Welcoming all to the shared program was Vikki Heywood (below), executive director of the RSC.

Features

Throughout the week, we’ll be talking with some of the 20 teachers and 10 MFA students who are involved in the second cohort in the OSU / RSC partnership program.

"This program already has changed my outlook on teaching literature -- showing how the kids can be active players and get in tune with the characters, and how their prior experiences today can help them relate to these timeless plays. I can't believe I'm saying this in June, but I'm already looking forward to getting back to school to try these activities. It's great to have the MFAs with us, to get their professional take on the scenes. They make you think in new ways."

Jean Reph, 8th grade literature and composition, Wedgewood Middle School


"I love learning through play, and I love it because it lets you explore different components of the play -- the point of view, the plot, character traits and character motives. The sessions here are so interactive, and the collaboration among participants is awesome. It feels like a really safe environment because we all trust each other. When I get back to our learners and use these activities, I can't even imagine what it will be like because it will be so powerful."

Faye Love, 5th grade reading/language arts and social studies, Linden STEM Academy

Schoolteachers & OSU MFA Students Spend Week w/ Royal Shakespeare Company

A week-long teacher education program began today in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, where the Arts Initiative at Ohio State brought a second group of 20 central Ohio schoolteachers to work with the Royal Shakespeare Company educators and actors. They are joined by 10 MFA acting students from Ohio State's Department of Theatre. This is the second year OSU has partnered with the RSC to bring teachers to Stratford to work on techniques at the core of the RSC's renowned Stand Up for Shakespeare program. (The group is shown above, in front of the RSC headquarters in Stratford.)

Says Karen Bell, OSU associate vice president for arts outreach and head of the Arts Initiative, "We are so happy to be back in Stratford-upon-Avon this summer with these fine teachers and MFA students, and look forward to their work with our RSC partners. They're exploring RSC techniques that utilize active, drama-based approaches to the teaching of Shakespeare and other complex texts. We are seeing great strides from our first group of teachers -- who were here last summer with the RSC -- in their own classrooms, and look forward to seeing this second group expand the reach of this program."

Bell said this year's endeavor with teachers and MFA students will deepen the focus on the artistic and performance aspects of this educational partnership. When the group returns to Ohio, they will work this summer and throughout the coming academic year with OSU faculty, led by Brian Edmiston, director of pedagogy, to bring Shakespeare into their classrooms. Schools include Columbus City Schools, Reynoldsburg City Schools and Metro High School.

Bell (above, left) also introduced another OSU faculty member to the partnership. "I'm delighted to welcome Lesley Ferris (above, right), professor and former chair of the OSU Department of Theatre, who along with me will co-direct the programs of the OSU/RSC partnership. Lesley's visionary leadership, recognition as an accomplished director and researcher, and leader of OSU's study abroad London program make her a perfect fit for this important partnership."

Prior to beginning the education program, the group of teachers and MFA students explored London. . . and found a special use for Big Ben (below).

The new group of teachers includes: Kim Swensen (Metro); Kimberley Cox and Jessica Sharp (Reynoldsburg High School); Tonya Peacock (Hannah Ashton Middle School); Derek Hinkle and Sandra Guinto (Waggoner Road Middle School); Janice Bartels, Jean Reph, Rosalind Ebai and Alicia Fair-Foust (Wedgewood Middle School); Ron Hairston, Jill Sampson and Allison Volz (Hilltonia Middle School); Kathleen Waughaman (Windsor STEM Academy); Kelly Simmons and Faye Love (Linden STEM Academy); Art Isennagle III (South Mifflin K-6 STEM Academy); Michael Aberth (Hamilton K-6 STEM Academy); and David Hall and Melissa Rulong (the Graham Family of Schools). MFA students are Alex Boyles, Ashley Kobza, Victoria Matsos, Kevin McClatchy, Moopi Mothibeli, Charlesanne Rabensburg, Hannah Rockey, Ibsen Santos, Alison Vasquez and Aaron Zook.

Notable News

Speaking of the Royal Shakespeare Company, the well-known theatre troupe now has an OSU presence on their website. Click here to read about our program on their web.

Features

Throughout the week, we’ll be talking with some of the 20 teachers and 10 MFA students who are involved in the second cohort in the OSU / RSC partnership program.

"The first hour (of the training program) today was the best professional development experience I've ever had in my 7 years as a teacher. Working with the RSC, the MFA students and my fellow colleagues, I feel alive and rejuvenated, and I can't wait to get the new school year started!"
Derek Hinkle, 5th grade language arts teacher, Waggoner Road Middle School, Reynoldsburg


"I absolutely love it! I come from a very academic background where you sit at the desk and read the book, so, I never felt a real attraction to Shakespeare. But getting to play with the Shakespeare text is really making it come alive! Getting up and joining in the activities leaves no room for saying 'I can't'. . . and then you realize 'you can.'"
Victoria Matsos, MFA acting student

Alley Fun

Arts in the Alley was full of fun on Thurs, May 6, with gallery openings, upbeat tunes from a local DJ, and performances by several female impersonators on a stage set up among the restaurants, bars and apartments.

The festivities celebrated the opening of The Ladies of Ohio: Digital Divas, an exhibition of large-scale photographs by John Sherman Lathram III (above), in the Arts Initiative space. Lathram also was celebrating the release of his new book of photos of the "ladies." His show continues through July.

Across the alley the Ohio Art League gallery presented the opening of Amateur Cartography, works by Jen Adrion, a show that continues until June 26. And in the Shoebox gallery, works by Anne Mills and Alexander Contino are on view (below) throughout the month.


Notable News

The partnership with The Ohio State University and the Royal Shakespeare Company is expanding! This summer, a second group of 20 local schoolteachers join the group of 19 teachers who have just completed their first year in the teacher leadership & education program. In addition, 10 Master of Fine Arts acting students from the OSU Department of Theatre join the program, too. The new teachers and MFAs will travel to Stratford upon Avon later this month for an intensive week of training with RSC actors and educators, and will continue working together and with OSU faculty for an intensive week on campus and in regular workshops throughout the year. According to the Arts Initiative's Karen Bell, the partnership has deepened and expanded its relationship with Columbus City Schools, Reynoldsburg City Schools and Metro High School. The new group of teachers includes: Kim Swensen (Metro); Kimberley Cox and Jessica Sharp (Reynoldsburg High School); Tonya Peacock (Hannah Ashton Middle School); Derek Hinkle and Sandra Guinto (Waggoner Road Middle School); Janice Bartels, Jean Reph, Rosalind Ebai and Alicia Fair-Foust (Wedgewood Middle School); Ron Hairston, Jill Sampson and Allison Volz (Hilltonia Middle School); Kathleen Waughaman (Windsor STEM Academy); Kelly Simmons and Faye Love (Linden STEM Academy); Art Isennagle III (South Mifflin K-6 STEM Academy); Michael Aberth (Hamilton K-6 STEM Academy); and David Hall and Melissa Rulong (the Graham Family of Schools). MFA students are Alex Boyles, Ashley Kobza, Victoria Matsos, Kevin McClatchy, Moopi Mothibeli, Charlesanne Rabensburg, Hannah Rockey, Ibsen Santos, Alison Vasquez and Aaron Zook.

Come on down to Arts in the Alley this Saturday for a Summer Art Market. ARTillery Ohio (above) presents a wide range of artwork for sale, along with live music and workshops in screenprinting and pottery-glazing in the alley at South Campus Gateway. Hours are noon to 8 pm.

Mahan Gallery in the Short North presents All I Need to Know: A Celebration of First Grade, with artwork by 24 first grade students taught by Cavin Bodouin in New Albany. Last year, his class exhibited their work in the Arts Initiative space. The new show opens June 26 and runs through July 1 at the gallery at 717 N High St.