SECOND ANNUAL MONOLOGUES WORKSHOP
Monday-Friday, December 4-8, 2017
Co-Presented with Marfa ISD
In-school playwriting program with Marfa students led by Jennie Lyn Hamilton
Marfa Junior High School
Marfa Junior High students participated in Marfa Live Arts’ Marfa ISD Monologue Workshop the week of December 4-8, taught during Ms. Lane’s 7th and 8th grade English classes by Marfa Live Arts Director and founder, Jennie Lyn Hamilton. The winning scenes and monologues came to life and were presented by adult and student actors at the Winter Theater Showcase on Tuesday, December 12th at 7pm at the Crowley Theater.
Taught by Marfa Live Arts director Jennie Lyn Hamilton during Jaylia Foster’s 7th and 8th grade English classes, students were led through a series of writing exercises which helped them find their inner voice and build self-confidence. Using observation and sense memory techniques students learned how to develop characters, themes and dialogue.
The goal of the workshop was for students to learn a new set of skills for observing their environment and expressing themselves, skills that heighten their sense of place, perception and purpose. These building tools enabled them to create individual monologues which (a selection of) were performed on Tuesday. Hopefully, through the experience, students gain confidence in both expressing themselves, and in sharing their discoveries.
The Monologue & Scene Workshop serves as a prep course for the high school Playwriting Workshop that is also taught by Marfa Live Arts each spring. In its seventh year, the high school workshop has resulted in over 475 one-act plays written by Marfa students.
The workshop’s primary goal is to meet the need for exposure to performing arts and literary education for the students of Marfa. Research shows that performing arts programs are linked to higher self-esteem among students, as well as improved cognitive, motor and language skills. This experience will allow students to form their own personal ideas and use their imagination to create something special and unique to them. By utilizing their creativity and a “no wrong way” mindset, it enables them to communicate ideas they may not otherwise feel comfortable expressing.
Header photo caption: Marfa Live Arts leads Ms. Foster’s 8th grade class on a walk asking them to make observations of their environment. These building block tools will help create the student’s scenes which will be presented at the Winter Theater Showcase.