What is Readers Theatre?; Using Your Voice for Characters; America in the 1940s-1960s; Why History Helps Your Performance

Readers Theatre: Voice & History

Readers Theatre: Voice &amp; History

Use your voice to bring history to life!

Agenda

• What is Readers Theatre?

• Using Your Voice for Characters

• America in the 1940s-1960s

• Why History Helps Your Performance

What is Readers Theatre?

Readers Theatre is a way to perform a story using just your voice. You read from a script, bringing characters to life without costumes or sets. It's like a play for your ears!

Youthful voices bring stories to life in Readers Theatre.

No Costumes, No Props!

• Voice and feelings are the stars.

• Imagine the story, no fancy sets.

• Like radio plays popular in the 1940s.

• Gestures show action, not costumes.

Pitch and Tone

Speed and Personality

Pitch is how high or low your voice sounds. A high pitch might show excitement, like a child asking for a new toy. Tone is the feeling in your voice, such as happy, sad, or angry. In the 1940s, radio actors used these changes to make characters real for listeners, even without seeing them.

Speed is how fast or slow you speak. Speaking quickly can show nervousness or urgency, like someone rushing to catch a bus. Speaking slowly might show thoughtfulness or sadness. Think about old TV shows from the 1950s and 60s; actors changed their speed to show different personalities and emotions.

Why Do Readers Theatre?

• Read smoothly, like 1940s radio.

• Understand stories, like 1950s TV shows.

• Bring characters to life, like 1960s actors.

• Build confidence, perform with friends.

Scripts and Roles

Readers Theatre uses special scripts with character names and dialogue. Each person takes a role, using only their voice to tell the story, much like radio plays popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Back then, families gathered to hear exciting tales come alive through voices and sound effects.

Readers Theatre: Bringing stories to life through voice.

Vintage radio: Voice-powered storytelling echoes Readers Theatre.

America After WWII

After World War II, America changed a lot. Many people found good jobs, and families moved into new houses in places called suburbs. This was a time of hope and growth for the country, especially in the 1940s and 1950s.

Post-war family life: suburban growth and hope.

New Homes, New Families

After World War II, many families started, leading to a "baby boom" with lots of new babies. These families often moved to new neighborhoods called suburbs, like Levittown, New York, built outside big cities in the 1950s. They sought bigger homes and yards, creating a new way of life.

Post-war suburbs: new homes, new families, new life.

The Civil Rights Movement

The 1950s and 1960s brought the Civil Rights Movement, a time when African Americans fought for equal rights. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. used peaceful protests to end unfair laws. Important events included the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington.

March for Rights: Civil Rights Movement's peaceful protests.

Cold War and Space Race

• USA and Soviet Union were rivals.

• They competed without direct war.

• Space Race: first satellite, moon landing.

• People worried about nuclear bombs.

Television Changes Everything

In the 1950s and 1960s, television became popular in American homes. Families gathered to watch shows like "I Love Lucy" and news events, changing how they spent evenings together. TV also brought important information, like news about the Civil Rights Movement, right into people's living rooms.

Family bonding over 1950s-60s television and media.

Retro TV: A 50s/60s window to family, news, and change.

Music and Youth Culture

In the 1950s and 1960s, new music like rock and roll became very popular. Artists like Elvis Presley made music that teenagers loved to dance to. This music also influenced how young people dressed and acted, creating new styles.

1950s/60s rock and roll: youth culture, dance, and style.

Stories from the Past

• 1940s: WWII, rationing, big bands.

• 1950s: Rock 'n' roll, TVs, drive-ins.

• 1960s: Civil Rights, space race, peace.

• Act out history, explore daily life.

Dialogue and Time Period

Slang Through the Decades

The words characters speak in a Readers Theatre script can tell us a lot about when the story happens. Slang, which are informal words or phrases, changes a lot over time. For example, the way someone says something is 'cool' might be very different depending on the decade.

In the 1940s, people might have said 'swell' or 'keen' to mean something was good. By the 1950s, 'cool' and 'dig it' became popular phrases. The 1960s brought terms like 'groovy' and 'far out,' showing how language evolves with each generation.

Setting the Scene

Understanding history helps you imagine the setting. Think about a busy 1950s diner with jukebox music or a 1960s protest for civil rights. This helps performers "see" the scene, even without physical props.

1929 diner scene: imagining history for performance.

Why Does History Matter for Readers Theatre?

How can knowing about life in America during the 1940s, 50s, and 60s help you perform a story from those times?

Readers Theatre: Voice & History

What is Readers Theatre?; Using Your Voice for Characters; America in the 1940s-1960s; Why History Helps Your Performance

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