Designing Drama
313 Followers
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
About the store
Jeana is a veteran teacher recognized as a passionate, student-centered educator continually seeking professional growth. For 25 years, she taught various English classes, such as journalism, theatre, technical theatre, video production, speech, and debate. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Columbus State University in 1991 and achieved her Master of arts for Theatre Education in 2001 from Prescott College. As a technician, Jeana has worked in various regional theatre companies, is CTE Certified, and wrote the CTE Technical Theatre curriculum for Arizona and Nevada school districts.
Continuing to follow her love of performing arts, Ms. Whitaker worked in professional theatre, television, and film, including work for HBO, Granada Films, ESPN, Entertainment Tonight, Rocky Mountain Theatre, and Arizona Theatre Company. Additionally, she created and ran an award-winning community theatre company in Phoenix, Arizona.
She is now retired from teaching in a classroom, lives in Europe, and continues to write and work as a consultant for educational theatre programs worldwide.
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Drama 101: A Complete Curriculum for Beginning Drama
An complete curriculum for teaching beginning drama. Includes lessons, tests, test keys, handouts and a thorough explanation for every lesson. This curriculum is taught in an order so that each unit and lesson builds upon the one before it. There are a few traditional and new drama "games," but the curriculum is designed with deliberate building blocks for a comprehensive theatre education. However, it is built with students in mind that are new to theatre as well as the more experienced.
7th - 10th
Art, Drama, English Language Arts
Also included in: Getting Started Bundle
Getting Started Bundle
This bundle is designed for the new-to-teaching drama teacher. It has everything you need to get started and will keep you going through the entire school year. Whether you are a first year teacher, or a seasoned educator that is now teaching a drama class, this bundle will help you get started on this new adventure. Even if you don't have to teach stagecraft, the basic lessons here are easy to use for substitutes or independent activities for learning. It includes: Drama 101: A Complete Cur
9th - 12th
Art, Drama
10 Minute Plays - A playwriting Unit
This playwriting unit will help you put together a 10 minute play writing project. This is great for Drama classes, English classes or Creative Writing electives. It provides a simple format so you can move around the pieces to suit your specific class. Exercises are provided for specific element focus, such as character analysis and development, as well as for different stages such as brainstorming free writes. There is also information about using table reads and staged readings as part of
6th - 12th
Creative Writing, Drama, English Language Arts
Theatre Superstitions
A fun classroom activity that explains the quirky superstitions of theatre and where they came from. Includes a word search (with key) and a writing activity. A great activity to leave for a substitute in a drama classroom. *NOTE - This resource has been updated to include a fun easel activity already prepared for you!
9th - 12th
Drama, Writing
Also included in: Spooky Fun Bundle
Stagecraft Made Simple Bundle
Stagecraft Made Simple was created for the theatre teacher that also teaches technical theatre, or stagecraft. It is written in simple language with easy to follow instructions so the teacher can use the material “as is” for student instruction. You can use the entire manual or singular pages to post into an LMS for individual student study on a virtual platform, or can print out individual pages as worksheets in the classroom. You can use the short quiz at the end for a chapter grade or j
9th - 12th
Art, Drama
Mime vs Pantomime - A lesson in non-verbal performance
This is a complete unit lesson for pantomime in the drama classroom. Activities may be used individually or combined for a complete unit. Explores the differences between mime and pantomime, teaches specific techniques for performance, includes individual and group activities and has a written test with an answer key provided. The entire unit takes about one week of classroom instruction.
8th - 11th
Drama, Other (Arts), Speaking & Listening
Bag of Rubrics
Make your life easier with these are assorted performance rubrics for beginning, intermediate and advanced theatre classes. The rubrics give students a clear explanation for their grades and sets up expectations for the performance. The ten rubrics included are: 1. Characterization 2. Monologue 3. Shakespeare 4. Commedia del 'arte 5. Improvisation 6. Reader's Theatre 7. Children's Story 8. Directing 9. Group Scene 10. Peer Evaluation **NOTE: Now use with Easel for EASY fillable score sheets on
7th - 12th
Art, Drama
Romeo and Juliet - A comical play
How do you teach Shakespeare with a class full of girls? You write an original parody script. I took out the tragedy and added some humor by exploring the silly side of "love at first sight." Add, delete or change characters (and names) to suit your own class needs, but the basics are here. It's a great way to introduce Shakespeare to a middle school class or a 9th grade English class. All of the original story elements are here, complete with five acts, but it is short, funny and relatable t
7th - 10th
Drama, Literature, Other (ELA)
Also included in: Performance Bundle
Re-gifting - A Christmas Tradition - An original play
A short and funny Christmas scene about a fruitcake that just can't find a home. A fruitcake is re-gifted from person to person until it ends up right back where it started. This short play runs about 10 minutes when produced. It was originally produced with 7th and 8th graders for a holiday show and was the favorite scene of the night.
6th - 9th
Drama
Also included in: Performance Bundle
Stagecraft Made Simple - Set Construction
Stagecraft Made Simple is a series made for the busy drama teacher that also has to teach tech, build sets, direct the play, etc. It simplifies the most basic processes used in educational theatre. The text is written so it can be given directly to students, either on a digital platform or in person. Students can then follow the step-by-step instructions with illustrations to build basic set pieces. Included in this lesson is: Types of Flats Parts of a Flat Building Flats Building Windows an
8th - 10th
Drama
Also included in: Stagecraft Made Simple - Set Building Bundle
Spooky Fun Bundle
Halloween Theatre Bundle : 3 Engaging Lessons for One Low Price (Grades 6–12)Get your students in the Halloween spirit with this three-in-one bundle of creative, performance-based lessons! Perfect for theatre classes, English classes, or any setting where you want to combine fun with learning, this bundle saves you time and money by packaging three popular lessons together: 🎃 Scary Storytelling Around the Campfire (3-Day Unit) Students explore storytelling as a performance art through improvi
7th - 10th
Drama, Other (Arts), Other (ELA)
Stagecraft Made Simple - Set Building Bundle
Stagecraft Made Simple is a series made for the busy drama teacher that also has to teach tech, build sets, direct the play, etc. It simplifies the the most processes used in educational theatre. The text is written so it can be given directly to students, either on a digital platform or in person. Students can then follow the step-by-step instructions with illustrations to build, paint and decorate basic set pieces. Included in this bundle is: Types of Flats Parts of a Flat Building Flats Build
8th - 10th
Drama
Introduction to Theatre
This introduction to theatre guide has been specifically curated for grades K-3, using my 25+ years of teaching and directing young performers. It gives the elementary teacher abundant resources for introducing theatre in an early-grade classroom. It includes an original play for production, games for character development, and tips for creating sets, props, and costumes. There are no royalty costs for production and you have my permission to change anything you need to suit your educational
K - 3rd
Art, Drama
Costume and Makeup Design
Costume & Makeup Design: Reimagining Halloween Characters (Grades 6–12)Bring creativity, history, and theatre magic into your classroom with this 2-day partnered project where students learn the role of costume and makeup designers while reimagining traditional Halloween characters in new and original ways. Perfect for drama classes, theatre units, or seasonal projects in October! What’s Included: ✔️ Complete 2-day lesson plan with objectives and activities ✔️ Editable PowerPoint presentation
7th - 10th
Drama, Other (Arts), Other (ELA)
Also included in: Spooky Fun Bundle
Technical Theatre - Introduction to Set Design
Use this PowerPoint presentation as an independent project that your students can do from home while distance learning or use in the classroom. It is a brief introduction with a step by step guide for creating an initial set design for a play.
7th - 10th
Art, Drama
Scary Storytelling by the Campfire Glow
Scary Storytelling Around the Campfire – A 3-Day Unit (Grades 6–12)Bring the magic of the campfire into your classroom with this engaging 3-day unit on storytelling as a performance art. Perfect for Halloween season or anytime you want to spark creativity, this resource helps students explore the art of storytelling through improvisation, writing, rehearsal, and performance. Students will: Learn key performance skills like vocal expression, facial gestures, pacing, and timing. Practice improvi
7th - 10th
Drama, Short Stories, Writing
Also included in: Spooky Fun Bundle
Stagecraft Made Simple - Sound
This guide will help you teach the basics of audio for a theatrical play to students in class including sound design and how to set up and run the amplification equipment. Includes explanations and diagrams for an audio mixer and a basic sound system setup. There is a short quiz at the end, so this guide also works well for independent study and for use of learning platforms, such as Canvas. This manual is not meant to be an all inclusive guide to theatrical sound design and implementation,
9th - 12th
Drama, Other (Arts)
Also included in: Getting Started Bundle
A New Oz Tale - An original play
There's an App for That is a brief look into what might happen if Dorothy happened into the land of Oz with her cell phone in hand. A short play ideal for middle school aged children. The well-known characters of Oz are in a new world with technology and apps, and they get a little holiday help from another classic favorite, Santa. This short play runs about 15 minutes when produced. It has been produced with 7th and 8th graders.
5th - 8th
Drama, Literature
Also included in: Performance Bundle
Santa on Strike - An original play
Santa on Strike is a holiday play about what might happen if Santa decided to go on strike. Updated into our world today, complete with Santa checking his cell phone for "thank you texts" from children, it is a light and fun holiday show for an elementary or middle school presentation. Students can have a lot of fun creating unique characters, especially with the whimsical elves. This play has been produced with middle school students and was a big hit! It runs about 10-15 minutes.
5th - 8th
Drama
Also included in: Performance Bundle
Movement for the Stage
Basic principles of stage movement are covered through direct instruction, activities and exercises. Test student knowledge with the performance-based assessment included. Includes sharing the scene, upstaging, opening out and creating a basic stage pictures. Good for the beginning drama class. This is a complete instructional unit with several lessons built in that will take approximately 7- 8 days in a one-hour drama class.
6th - 9th
Drama
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About the store
Experience
Jeana is a veteran teacher recognized as a passionate, student-centered educator continually seeking professional growth. For 25 years, she taught various English classes, such as journalism, theatre, technical theatre, video production, speech, and debate. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Columbus State University in 1991 and achieved her Master of arts for Theatre Education in 2001 from Prescott College. As a technician, Jeana has worked in various regional theatre companies, is CTE Certified, and wrote the CTE Technical Theatre curriculum for Arizona and Nevada school districts.
Continuing to follow her love of performing arts, Ms. Whitaker worked in professional theatre, television, and film, including work for HBO, Granada Films, ESPN, Entertainment Tonight, Rocky Mountain Theatre, and Arizona Theatre Company. Additionally, she created and ran an award-winning community theatre company in Phoenix, Arizona.
She is now retired from teaching in a classroom, lives in Europe, and continues to write and work as a consultant for educational theatre programs worldwide.
Teaching style
I like to create an environment that makes students feel safe and respected; then they feel free to try new things, explore and create. Middle and High School students are often self-conscious about others judging them and need to learn to be confident and stand on their own, so they can pave their unique journey. Drama helps this do this and the confidence and skills cross over into all other academic subjects.
Awards & shining teacher moments
National Youth Arts award for set design of “Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” (2017)
Arizona Thespians Teacher of the Year (2015)
Arizoni Awards (2004-2008)
New Teacher of the year (1991)
Irene Ryan nominee (1986)
My own education history
I hold an MA in Theatre Education from Prescott College and a BS in Secondary Education from Columbus State University.
Additional biographical information
For more information, please visit my website:
www.jeanawhitaker.com
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