1. To be or not to be . . .
Reader's Theatre

2. About Reader’s Theatre
Reader’s Theatre introduces drama.
Unlike traditional theatre, Reader’s Theatre does not require costumes, makeup, props, stage sets, or memorization.

3. About Reader’s Theatre
For Reader’s Theatre, students will only need voice, great facial expressions, and body gestures.
You will interpret the emotions of the characters through your acting!

4. To Decide on Parts: As a group, look through the entire script.
Pay attention to characters you may be interested in and how often the character speaks.
Count how many parts are in this play. Will one person need to play 2 parts?
Decide on a fair way to choose parts.

5. To Decide on Parts:
Designate one person as the director. The director will be in charge of placement of characters and providing feedback to the actors.
The director will also have a part in the play.
The director must be someone who has great leadership and people skills!

6. To Prepare:
Highlight your part in the script copy. Mark only the words you will speak.
Underline the words that tell about anything you’ll need to act out.
First, read through your part silently. If there are words you’re not sure of, look them up in the dictionary.

7. To Prepare:
Read through your part aloud. Should you try a funny voice? How would the character feel about what’s happening in the story? Can you speak as if the character is feeling that?
Now add faces and actions to your script!

8. Rehearsing: Talk slowly. Speak each syllable clearly.
Talk loud! You have to be heard by everybody!
Stand and sit straight. Keep you hands and feet still if they are doing nothing useful!

9. Rehearsing:
When you do look at the script, move just your eyes and keep you head up.
When you are moving around, face the audience as much as you can. When rehearsing, always think about where the audience will be.
Remember to be your character, even when you’re not speaking.

10. Performing:
If the audience laughs, stop speaking until they can hear you again.
If someone talks in the audience, don’t pay attention.
If someone walks in the room, don’t look.
If you make a mistake, pretend it was right.

11. Performing:
If a reader forgets to read, see if you can read their part instead, or make something up, or maybe just skip over it. But DON’T whisper to the reader.