Everyone’s a Critic—Everyone’s a Critic—Now Write Like One!Now Write Like One!

Pre-Workshop InformationBy Alyssa Herzog Melby

Education Director, Prime Stage Theatre

Before the showBefore the show

Theoretical LensTheoretical Lens

The “Everyone’s a Critic” workshop is a blend of a few different theories of how we can experience art and discuss art, including:◦Findings from The Arts Experience Initiative◦Imagination, or Aesthetic Education, from The

Lincoln Center InstituteAll of these theories are based on inquiry

What is an “arts experience?”What is an “arts experience?”“Most artists and arts producers acknowledge that a meaningful definition of art acknowledges the active and engaged interplay of all constituent elements of the creativeact, from creation to production to reception and beyond.This changing relationship is the calculus of the artsexperience. To “experience” something implies undergoinga cognitive journey from receiver to perceiver, from a passiveto an active state, from a neutral condition to an opinionatedstance. But to realize the full potential of experiencing anarts event, the audience member must possess two qualities:the authority to participate in the process of co-authoringmeaning and the tools to do so effectively.”

~The Arts Experience InitiativeThe Heinz Endowments (2008)

How can I create a more How can I create a more meaningful arts experience? meaningful arts experience? Before you encounter the art—

•Be awake and alert•Find out what enrichment programming, if any, is offered•Ask yourself what are your expectations? What are you excited about? What are you unsure about?

During the arts encounter—•One simple action—Notice

After you encounter the art—•Record your observations•Engage in a dialogue

During the showDuring the show

Things to think aboutThings to think aboutAsking questions is a through-line to the arts experience.

Because asking questions forces us to engage in a dialogue and helps to create a more meaningful arts experience!

1. What do you notice about the theatre space, both in the lobby, the house, and the stage?

2. What do you notice about the acting?

3. What do you notice about the production elements (lights, sound, costumes, set, etc.)?

4. What do you notice about your reaction to certain moments? What do you notice about the other audience members’ reactions?

After the showAfter the show

Pre-Writing ProcessPre-Writing Process

Record Observations, or “noticings”Ask questions, or “wonderings”Research questions for “findings”

NoticingsNoticings1. Record what you noticed about the production in as much detail

as possible as soon after encountering the work of art as possible.

WonderingsWonderings1. What questions occur to you about the work of art? 2. What are you curious about regarding the social, economic,

historical, and biographical context of the work of art?3. What personal or curricular connections does the work of art

evoke?

FindingsFindings1. Look at the questions you’ve generated—where can you find

answers to them?-encyclopedias-the internet-personal interviews-newspaper and magazine articles-other works of art

2. To make sure you’ve understood your findings, summarize them and begin to find connections between the findings.

Homework before workshopHomework before workshopThis workshop will be utilizing Prime Stage Theatre’s wikipage to record observations, questions, andresearch prior to the workshop. A separate attachment with directions on accessing the wiki will beprovided.

1. View the powerpoint—almost done!2. See The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. 3. Post as much as you noticed during the performance on the

discussion thread, “Noticings”4. Post at least 3 questions that you generated about the

performance on the discussion thread, “Wonderings.”5. Research your questions and post your findings on the discussion

thread, “Findings.”6. Read all posts and discussions before attending the workshop.

Print outs of the findings will be made by Prime Stage for reference at the workshop.

During the WorkshopDuring the Workshop

What to expect during the What to expect during the workshopworkshop1. Discussion on inquiry-based models—noticings, wonderings,

findings2. Reading sample theatre reviews and going over components of a

performance review3. Writing, peer evaluations, and rewriting personal reviews

Any questions or concerns, please email Alyssa Herzog Melby, Education Director, at aherzog@primestage.com or call 412-805-3308.