The twenty-nine week How to Write and Produce a Play course on SchoolhouseTeachers.com helps your student in more ways than just writing. Working together with others, especially if groups of homeschoolers work together on the project of producing the play, helps your student learn organizational and memorization skills, along with learning how to speak in front of an audience. The first semester of the class is spent writing the play, covering topics such as the type of play, the characters, problems, plot, setting, dialogue, and more. The second semester covers the actual play production, including rehearsals, props, costumes, set design and building, etc. Upon successful completion of all lessons in both semesters, the student will earn the equivalent of one-half credit of a high school Introduction to Theater Arts I course. If the student is involved in a full-scale production of the play, an additional one-half credit may be earned for helping with the technical aspects of the production, resulting in a full one credit being earned for this class. As always, please be informed of your own state’s academic requirements.

Plays can be so much fun, whether they take place in your living room or in the community! They can be a lot of work, or a little bit of work, depending on how much time you have to put into them. Either way, plays create wonderful memories for homeschool families to treasure forever!

Plays offer homeschoolers opportunities to connect with other homeschoolers. Children enjoy spending time with their friends and family. They make new friends and form new bonds. Many homeschool parents have told me that being part of a play changed everything for their children. The children went from being lonely, depressed, and wanting to give up on homeschool to being happy and LOVING homeschool. Some of our students have said that doing a play was the most fun they’ve ever had.

Plays offer a creative outlet for homeschoolers. Homeschool families enjoy sharing their time and talents to make sets, props, and costumes. I have found that many homeschoolers have incredible artistic abilities!

Plays offer an amazing learning experience for homeschoolers. Children learn organizational and memorization skills. They learn how to speak in front of an audience. They become more comfortable with public speaking and gain confidence in their abilities. Through our plays, I have seen many very shy, quiet children become much more outgoing and comfortable talking to people. Plays bring big blessings.

During the first semester, this course will guide you through the process of writing a play. During the second semester, this course will help you plan for a performance. This course will break down each step of the process, making it manageable and fun.

I hope you enjoy God’s gift of drama!

If you have any questions, or if you would like to share pictures of your play rehearsals, props, costumes, or sets, you can email me (with your parents’ permission) at marcihanks@twc.com. Visit my website at: https://christianscripts-public.sharepoint.com/Pages/default.aspx.

“I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me,” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).