Workshop: Kathryn Johnson will lead workshops that present teachers and students with techniques to use and explore playwriting in the classroom. Suggestions and activities for using playwriting exercises in conjunction with core curriculum will also be included. Playwriting provides students with active, involved learning experiences that naturally address elements of plot, character, setting, dialogue, cause and effect, conflict, point-of-view and many other elements of literature. Comprehensive evaluation of a character's thought process and actions, with a focus on results and consequences, may also translate into increased appreciation for and understanding of literary or historical events. Improvisation will also be taught to help students learn to listen, work with others, hone their presentation and communication skills and think on their feet.

Kathryn Johnson is an actress, playwright, director and arts educator. Professional theatre credits include acting, directing and teaching for South Coast Repertory Theatre; founding and administering The Pasadena Playhouse Young Actors School and writing and directing original children's musicals for Hollywood/Los Feliz Jewish Community Center and others. She has taught theatre and playwriting classes in many school in southern California, and was recently one of 20 artists working with the Los Angeles Music Center investigating new ways to integrate arts training into the classroom. She earned a B.A. from University of California, Santa Barbara, and pursued graduate studies in directing and children's theatre at California State University at Fullerton.

Price:
$100 per 60-minute workshop, plus possible planning fee. Minimum three workshops per day must be scheduled.

Age Group: K-12
Capacity: 1 Classroom (maximum of 35 students, plus regular teacher)
Availability: Year Round

Teacher In-Service: Price: $300/hour (2-hour minimum required).
Capacity: 40 Educators

To design an arts education program with this artist, please call (213) 250-ARTS or email schoolprograms@musiccenter.org.

Prices good thru 6-30-11