Photos from International Night. You all did a wonderful job, It was worshipful and inspiring to see you do the Diamond Ensemble to YOU ARE MY STRONGHOLD by Watermark, and then Recite Acts 1,2. Wonderful!!!

Looosly translated into Singlish from TRAVELING LIGHT by Lawrence Enscoe.

I've placed the Glossary at the bottom of this blog. I've placed it as an earlier entry so it won't take up so much space here. Well done on the quiz everyone!

Our final weeks
THE PLANS

WEEK 7 (10/10):
Glossary Quiz & discussion of terms
Review memorized section of Acts
Traveling Light: Pig Farmer monologue by Christine Yong

Acting: Improvisation handout p22
Game: Freeze (warmed up by thinking up
Conflict situations)

Homework: Memorize your section of Acts 1 & 2
Better get started reading at least 100pgs of a theatre book from the list.
You can prepare for improvs next week by reading text pages 61-83

WEEK 8 (17/10):
More Improvs
Acting Class: exercises on creating a character p23
Character Analysis (short & long) p24-29
Rehearse Acts for International Night
Diamond Ensemble for International Night

Homework for next week: Playback Theatre reading

23 October, International Night. Details

WEEK 9 (24/10):
300 word reaction paper due
Playback Theatre demonstration
Trying out Enacted Prayer – with Tapestry Playback
Homework for next week draft ideas for your student presentation


WEEK 10 (31/10):
Reader’s Theatre
“The Case of the Unemployed Sunday School Leader”
More on Creating Characters (if it doesn’t get done 17/10)
Discuss options for projects (discuss your homework)

Homework for next week: read dance notes


WEEK 11 (7/11):
More improvisation
Dance Overview with Jaqueline & Elaine! Loads of video and demos.
Quiz 3: Playback, Reader’s Theatre, Acting (whew!)

Homework: Prepare presentations!


WEEKS 12 & 13 (14 & 21/11)
Quiz 4: Dance, Staging & Directing
Depending on what students pick, part of week 12 can be time for rehearsal.
Student Presentations/Performances

This Creative Arts Course has widened my perspective and given me a better understanding of the whole ministry. -- William Tan, Salvation Army

This is a fantastic overview of the creative arts ministry, challenging me to grow in my gifts and in my personal growth as well. --Kace Chang

Gilbert top ranked sketch was a "9"
(find more reviews under the comments of the very first post in this blog SKETCH EVALUATIONS)

Name of Sketch: To Have and to Hold ?
Name of Sketch Collection/Book: The Comfort Zone : 11 Sketches to Challenge and Encourage Christian Faith
Publisher: Lillenas Publishing Company
Copywrite date: 2000

MESSAGE: The significance of the marriage vow. It is about accountability between husband and wife, commitment to family as well as the need for open communications. It is relevant as in this era of high divorce rate, the Church should do all it can to preserve marriages. Nothing was mentioned about God throughout the sketch.
THEME : The theme is about a husband and wife who's live priorities have departed and the lost of faith in each other ultimately resulted in the D word being mentioned.

STRUCTURE:
The inciting action occurs when Larry and Ellen argues about Ellen having bought new clothings for their child as Larry would like to get a new set of tyres for his car instead. It leads on to the rising action where Ellen probes and found out that her husband has been working with Sheila Bergman without accounting to her. The context was that they had fought over her before. The climax came when Larry broke the news that he wanted a divorce as he felt that things are just not working out between Ellen and him. This was followed by the denoument where Ellen tries to take in the news and concludes with Larry walking out of the house. It is quite predictable as how could Larry and Ellen be husband and wife when their priorities are so far apart. Through the sketch, it was slowly revealed that they could have grown apart over the years due to lack of communication and erosion of faith in each other with the appearance of Sheila Bergman. This sow the seed for reflection.
STYLE: The style used is a sketch.

TARGET AUDIENCE: The target audience include adults and youth; both Christians as well as the Unchurched, single or married.

PERFORMERS NEED TO BE: The dialogue is simple and the performers could be Beginners or Intermediate.

PRODUCTION: The notes are adequate and it is easy to produce. No elaborate props are required.
On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate this script?
9
Do you feel that it would work in your setting without modifications?
Yes as it is highly identifiable and generates quite a lot of reflection.

Rachel Eric found a 10!

Name of Sketch: The Dream by Lisa Harper
Name of Sketch Collection/Book: Drama Team Handbook by Alison Siewert & Others
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Copywrite Date: 2003

Style: Reader’s Theatre? (This I have to check out)

Target Audience: African American Youth/Young Adults, Christians or Non-Christians

Performers need to be: Intermediate – Advanced

On a scale of 1-10, I would honestly give this sketch a 10! Well, my rating may not be completely objective. Being completely green in this craft, perhaps certain things that make a script a good or bad one may escape me. But as I evaluate it with what we’ve learnt and from a standpoint of an audience, it’s totally got me hooked and made quite an impression in me.

Structure:
The sketch is about a couple, Jerry and Tina talking about their last date to a movie titled ‘Real Women Have Curves’ (exposition) where the Jerry falls asleep because the lead actress “…ain’t curvy. She’s fat!” (inciting incident). This leads to each character airing out (quite unconsciously) their internal struggles. For Jerry, it’s a struggle with lust and for Tina it’s trying to conform to a stereotypical image in order to be loved (rising action). The climax comes about quite suprisingly when Jerry, as he’s speaking, realizes he may very well be turning into a “playa” just like his father was and turns to say “God, help.” And Tina realizing she is worth more than looking perfection just to be loved and (reveals) she has let it go by shaving her head bald (!!!). The couple interact with each other on stage for the first time with Jerry seeing Tina head shaved and all, and saying with conviction “I love you”(denouement).

Yes, I was completely hooked from the very beginning; mainly due to these elements:
1) The outline of the sketch can be easily identified. The exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax and denouement are clear-cut. This makes it so simple to follow the plot. Especially when it is staged so uniquely, with two characters speaking separate yet interwoven lines, showing separate perspectives on the very same situation/issue.
2) The dialogue though a recollection of the events/ narration of thoughts and feelings, were written with lines that are sharp to the point. The flavor of the African American culture is evident in these lines too, making it all so authentic. I especially loved how the interwoven lines beautifully (and at places humorously) compliment each other, making the entire sketch flow clearly in one direction.
3) Real. The entire sketch is very real. The characters are written so real. Real as African Americans. Real as human beings. As I was reading the sketch, I was so caught up in it because it was so believable. The young generation of African Americans and other ethnic groups, I believe, would really be able to identify with the premise, conflict and characters.
-The premise: The sketch is about a couple each ‘telling it as it is’ from their own points of view. They are doing so casually facing the audience. It seems like the audience is a friend to the couple, hearing each “side of the story”. A familiar scene? I believe most people has been in such a situation, hearing at least one person talk about their side of the story and what they think of their spouse/boyfriend’s actions etc.
-Conflict: While at the beginning the conflict seems to center on Tina’s dislike of Jerry’s habit of looking at other girls, later it sinks deeper into their internal struggles. Jerry’s inner conflict centers around becoming a beautiful person on the inside as he discovers that what he likes in a girl may very well be lust, and how this could very well be turning him into a “playa”. Tina is conflicted with the issue of conformity. Conformity to a certain image or look in order to feel beautiful and be loved. Once again a very real conflict in the day and age we live in where the images portrayed by media seems to indoctrinate a certain perfect yet near impossible stereotype or standard to reach in order to be loved, successful or happy.
-Characters: I finished reading the sketch feeling that these two characters could be my friends. Their strengths, weaknesses, struggles, quirks were so well voiced, you can’t help but feel drawn to them.
4) Surprise: The sketch really caught me with my mouth gaping open in the end. Never would I have imagined the character of Tina making a stand by having her head shaved. But then again, this made the conclusion all the more satisfactory. For me, this action conveys what words never will be able too…freedom from conformity, shedding of insecurity, truly knowing that beauty is within, loving and accepting oneself, purification and other expressions I am unable to describe.

Message:
The theme of this sketch, as I see it, revolves around the question “What is beauty…without substance?” It deals with these interconnected issues of conformity to what’s been stereotyped in society and accepting/loving oneself. Very relevant issues in this age of society.

It provides a Biblical perspective on these issues in a contemporary way. As I was reading the sketch, I could pick up principals on inner beauty as highlighted in:
-Proverbs 31 which explores a woman of noble character who “is worth more than precious rubies”
-1 Peter 3:1-8 nicely sums up for a woman that she “… should be known for the beauty that comes from within…” and for a man that he should “…give honor…”
-1 Corinthians 10:13 beautifully encourages that temptations can be overcome
because of God’s grace.
-Genesis 1:27 that assures us that there is only one perfect image and we are made “in His own image”. What’s so great about this sketch is that for it’s length it truly does “Show, Don’t tell” the above scriptural principals without being preachy or overbearing any elements. Perhaps a new or non-Christian may be unable to detect the Scriptural basis that forms the sketch. I guess this is where a pastor could do a good job of addressing the issues of the sketch through a message on the above or other scriptures.

Whether the end of the sketch (denouement) was cliched, I’m sure can be debatable. One part of me argues it’s shows too simple a solution to a real challenging issue: calling on God and shaving your head bald. The other part of me argues however, that these actions are exactly what they are. Actions- for the audience to realize that a solution is available. But they must act on the problem. And to a Christian, a first course of action is prayer of confession and help.

Production:
The production notes are limited to gestures/actions, lights out and how lines are spoken (interwoven). Perhaps because this sketch was written like a reader’s theatre-simple and direct. Thus the director and actors, especially the inexperienced, will have to consider other unspoken production details such as how the words should be spoken, do the characters move about, and if they do in which stage directions etc. This sketch is so simply written it’s definitely possible to produce. Perhaps with a bit of modifications though, to fit in with the culture here. From observation, I feel these issues relate well to the Malay and Indian communities in Singapore. With the dialogue interchanged with the flavors of their unique expressions and certain things mentioned such as hairstyles and name of the make-up cream, names of models or rap stars changed to suit the local context, it would definitely make an impact.

Quote is a section heading from Pederson, Steve, Drama Ministry: Practical Help for Making Drama a Vital Part of Your Church, Chapter 6, Pg119, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999.
* All Scriptures references taken from the New Living Translation, Metal Edition

From Puay Hong
Sketches from the Book
Sunday Morning Live Vol 1

Name of Sketch: Tired When Needed
Name of Sketch Collection/Book:
Publisher: Zondervan Publishing House
Copywrite date: 1992
On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate this script? 9
Do you feel that it would work in your setting without modifications?
Not entirely because the actor loves hunting as a hobby and there is no such hunting hobby in Singapore. Maybe can replace the hunting with golf or something else.

Do you feel it would work with minor modifications
(To honor copyright, it is best to check through the publisher about modifications)? Yes.
STYLE: Comedy
TARGET AUDIENCE: Christians
PERFORMERS NEED TO BE: Intermediate
STRUCTURE:
Yes, it grabs my interest and makes me want to see what happens because I am wondering how the main character is going to say “No” to this overbearing lady. Yes, it develops logically with inciting action, rising action and climax. In fact, it even has some humour within the dialogue.

What is the playwright’s theme? (issue) The theme is about christians who are over stretched in their involvement in too many activities. It is also the expectation of the others that

Is the premise believable? (what happens) Yes.
Does it have clear and adequate conflict? What is the conflict? Yes, the conflict is that one expects the main character to help out because he has always been helpful but he is too tired and burnt out to be involved anymore.
Does it appeal to the imagination? Yes.
If a comedy sketch, is it funny? Yes, it is funny.
MESSAGE:
The message is that one should learn to say “No” before one gets burnt out. Also we should not expect people who have been helpful to keep on helping and doing. We should get others to help out instead of the same people. Yes, the message is very relevant and it only deals with one issue.
PRODUCTION:
Yes, it is possible to produce it.

Name of Sketch: Prayer Group Therapy
Name of Sketch Collection/Book: Sunday Morning Live Vol 5
Publisher: Zondervan Publishing House
Copywrite date: 1993
On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate this script? 9
Do you feel that it would work in your setting without modifications? Yes.

STYLE: Comedy
TARGET AUDIENCE:Christians
PERFORMERS NEED TO BE: Intermediate
STRUCTURE:
Yes, it grabs my interest to know how the “prayer” will end. The story develops logically even though I feel that some of the character might not have enough to develop. The conclusion is quite satisfying as I think that it is not easy to end the “prayer”. Of course, I would have preferred it not to end this way ( but I do not know how it should end otherwise too).

What is the playwright’s theme? (issue) About how different people view prayers.
Is the premise believable? (what happens) Yes.
Does it have clear and adequate conflict? What is the conflict?
Yes, it has clear conflict between the different “pray-ers”.

Does it appeal to the imagination? Yes.
If a comedy sketch, is it funny? Yes.

MESSAGE:
I think it is very relevant as there are many different types of people – some who use prayer as gossip, some who use “big words” etc. It makes people think of the way they pray and their motives for praying.

PRODUCTION:
Yes, it is possible to produce.

Name of sketch: First Bank of Do Unto Others
Name of sketch collection/book: The Comfort Zone: 11 Sketches
Publisher: Lillenas, Nazarene Publishing House
Author: Chuck Neighbors

On a scale of 1-10, I rate this sketch 8

No modification is needed. Easy to understand everywhere and any where.

STYLE: Comedy

TARGET AUDIENCE: Churched, Adult, Youth

STRUCTURE: EXPOSITION, looks like a normal bank teller and customer, however, only when Mitch wanted to withdraw “smiles” and “encouragements” that we know that, it’s a not so unrealistic sketch. First conflict was introduced when Mitch had overdrawn his account and he didn’t believe it (INCITING ACTION). However, only a couple of conflicts were used in this sketch (RISING ACTION), thus, rising action isn’t that significant. CLIMAX reached when Mitch wanted to withdraw from his wife’s account but realized that the accounts aren’t transferable. DENOUMENT, Mitch realized the whole policy of the bank and how it works.

Emphasized on Christian value of “Do unto others what you will have them do unto you.” , however, not preachy at all. Concept is easy to understand.

Conflicts are not strong however.

Easy to produce =)

from Amy Lin
Name of sketch: Gossip, They Wrote
(same scketch collection as below)

On a scale of 1-10, I rate this sketch 7

This sketch does not need much modification, however, this sketch is little bit cartoonish, with the characters and setting. I do not think that a church would have a gossip magazine like the one mentioned in the script.

STYLE: Comedy

TARGET AUDIENCE: Churched, Adult, Youth

STRUCTURE: We only knew that this newspaper office is for the church magazine when the Choir Director was mentioned (EXPOSITION). First conflict was introduced when Ken mentioned about breaking the Ten Commandments (INCITING ACTION). RISING ACTION continues till Ken has something “gossipy” about Jackie. Ken turned the table back to Jackie. Jackie was not too happy about it and disagree with the idea of writing those topic (CLIMAX). Ken made Jackie realized that gossip isn’t that fun when you are the subject (DENOUMENT).

The theme of this sketch is talking about how gossips are not good for the spirit, especially if you are the subject of the topic. Gossips are things that will mislead others.

Conflicts are clear and sufficient.

It does emphasize on the Christian values of how Christians should not gossip. But this sketch is also applicable to unchurched audience (though not for salvation), but for

Easy to produce =)

from Amy Lin
Name of sketch: Why wait?
Name of sketch collection/book: The Comfort Zone: 11 sketches to challenge
Publisher: Chuck Neighbors
Copywrite Date:

On the scale of 1-10, I rate this sketch 9

No modification is needed in this sketch, can be used anywhere and any place.

STYLE: Realistic Drama, Comedy

TARGET AUDIENCE: Youth, Parents, Church, Unchurch

STRUCTURE: It grabs my interest as this topic is seldom touched in church (my church at least). We know from the beginning of the sketch that Jason is talking to his dad about him and his girlfriend, although this EXPOSITION is pretty straight forward. The first conflict was introduced when Jason told his dad that he is serious in his relationship with Amy, however, his dad thinks that they are still young and are still in high school (INCITING ACTION). Further conflicts were introduced in the sketch as Jason tried to ask whether his dad and mom “waited” till marriage. On the other hand, hid dad was not keen on answering that question (he’s GUILTY!!). This dragged on for a little while, like a tug of war (RISING ACTION). CLIMAX was reached when his dad finally answered Jason’s question, which they did not waited till marriage. However, his dad explained to Jason why it is good for him to wait, he sounded regretful. His dad also made Jason promise that he would wait (DENOUMENT).

The theme of this sketch is sexual responsibility/morality, parenting, dating

I like this sketch as it is very true to what’s happening in young people today and it is also very true to parents. They don’t feel comfortable when talking to their kids about sexual issues, especially when they themselves did not “wait till marriage” (no example set). This sketch is definitely believable, it gives me a feeling that “that’s so true”.

Conflicts are clear and there are adequate conflicts throughout the whole sketch, again, very true!!

A lot of Christian value in this sketch but no God was mentioned. Neither the bible was mentioned. Definitely not preachy!

Definitely easy to produce as well

I like this sketch! =P

from Amy Lin
Name of sketch: The Comfort Zone
Name of sketch collection/book: The Comfort Zone: 11 sketches to challenge
Publisher: Chuck Neighbors
Copywrite Date:

On a scale of 1-10, I rate this script 7

The sketch may need alittle modification depending of where it will be performed. Some churches might not be able to take the dialogues of this sketch.

STYLE: Comedy

TARGET AUDIENCE: Churched, Youth

STRUCTURE: It grabs my interest and makes me want to know what happens next. Right from the beginning the script told me that this setting developed in a family (EXPOSITION). The first conflict was introduced when the mum could not agree with what her daughter was wearing for church (INCITING ACTION). Other conflicts were introduced when mom and dad were discussing about the way another church was functioning (RISING ACTION), however, I do not think that there is a very clear rising action here. Due to the lack of rising action, I could not really identify the climax of the sketch. However, if I were to identify the climax, it would be when the mom said that it was inappropriate that there is drama in the church. The rest of the script brings about the DENOUMENT and ended off when the family sets of to church. However, I like the ending of sketch when the mom was humming the same tune as her daughter (some contemporary music) and then change to “Amazing grace”. It made the whole sketch so funny as the mom was complaining about what should not be done in church, but she is doing it outside church.

The theme of this sketch is about people’s perception of church in transition or contemporary church

It is not predictable as I kept on reading, wanting to know what happens next. The dialogues of the sketch are very realistic and as I read on, I agree together with the writer that this may be the things that some people may say.

The sketch is not preachy as it did not bring up any Christian values but just what some Christians perception about other churches

It is an easy sketch to produce; however, it might not apply to every church. The church has to be open minded to accept such a sketch.

From Amy Lin
Sketch evaluation
To have and to hold

Name of sketch collection/Book: Power plays Vol. 4
Publisher: Baker Book House
Copywrite Date:

On a scale of 1-10, I rate this script 7

Other than the place (Seattle) needs to be place to suit which ever place that this sketch is going to take place, the setting will work in any place without modifications. This script is very down-to-earth, in everyday life of a couple. Every married couple would have experienced this somehow down their marriage road.

STYLE: Realistic Drama

TARGET AUDIENCE: Married couples, church/unchurch

STRUCTURE: It definitely grabs my interest without me predicting what’s coming on next (maybe because I’m not married, HA!). It makes me want to read on further to find out what the wife was going to say to the husband. The start of the script told me that the man and woman are married with kids, when the topic of the kids came out in the script (EXPOSITION). It went on with the husband and wife in the kitchen talking about everyday issue (finance). The first conflict was introduced (INCITING ACTION) when the husband wanted to use the $150 to buy tires while the wife spent it on the kids. The husband could not understand why the kids need to buy new clothes anyway. The script developed with other conflicts introduced (RISING ACTION). The husband couldn’t care less about any other things, other than himself. It continued to rise to the topic of the husband’s business partner was brought up, and his previous affair. This CLIMAX reached when the husband brought up the issue of a divorce. The husband then told the wife as-a-matter-of-factly that he doesn’t love her anymore (DENOUMENT).

The theme of this script is everyday conflict between married couples.

The premise is very believable as more often than not, married couples experience this kind of issue in their marriage life.

Conflicts in this script were clearly introduced and there were sufficient conflicts in the 5 minutes sketch.

I guess, this sketch is so real to everyday life of a couple that, although to the script writer, it might be predictable, this sketch may still be able to grab the interest of the audience due to the realistic of it.

It is not preachy at all due to the setting of the sketch and definitely relevant.

It is definitely an easy sketch to produce.