For drama teachers · The room

The room

One black box, roughly 30 by 25 feet, and most of it paid for out of pocket, found in alleys, and donated from amazing parents and teachers.

This is just how I've done it. I've been lucky, but I've also fought tooth and nail to create an environment where my students and myself can explore, create, and find joy in the process of being theatre artists.

The space

Do I change the layout year by year? Yes I do.

Smallest classroom in the school in the oldest school in the city. I've had big spaces, I've been a travelling teacher. When this classroom opened up, I asked admin if I could paint it black. They said they didn't have money for painters...which wasn't a no. So I didn't hesitate.

Some Specficis

Roughly 30 feet by 25 feet
We use flipForm risers as seating. We can comfortably fit four people per riser. Two on top and two on the bottom. I keep two to three chairs in the room for visitors or if a student has a physical need for a chair. The goal is to optimise playing space
The tape on the floor helps to designate group space as well as teach about stage diretions. The smaller boxes are starting spots for 1st and 2nd grade.

Risers and seating

Functional Versatility

Wenger flipForms are great. Heavy enough so they can be a stable base and light enough that students can move them. In third grade, the students learn to collaborate and communicate in moving the risers. They fold down into a stage or up for seating/standing.

flipFORM Risers and Seating Details

They are a little pricey, but well worth it. Many companies sell them, but the manufacturer link is here they are around $1200 a piece. I have acquired mine over the years by piecemeal and grants. My first set was left over from a music teacher and they are around 30 years old...so they last.
Seating: I can seat four students per riser. Two on top and two on the bottom. THis works even for my eighth graders. You could fit more, but it gets a little crowded.
Alternative Seating: cut up yoga mat squares, taped boxes, the floor

Storage and the shelving wall

I was lucky enough to inhereit this

The thing that makes a choice-based room possible.

Students know where to find things

Floor to ceiling shelving on one short wall
Materials are labeled in plastic bins in both English and Spanish
The bins hold all of our 'making' materials. Scissors, tape, pencils, hot glue guns, crayons, etc.
I never touch the materials. If a student walks up to me to hand me their pencil, I point to the shelves.

Lighting

This took the longest to build over the years, but is a game changer.

DMX Controller, Par64 LEDs, QLC+, and many youtube tutorials.

The Gear and knowledge

Lights: Chauvet SlimPAR 64 lights. I bought them through many, many grants. They were cheaper 10 years ago, but that's how it goes. Here's an amazon link. I currently have twelve. Six are in the classroom and six are floating around for whatever other nonsense i come up with.
How it is wired and hung
The controller, and the order you teach it
Programming cues with students, not for them
What you can do with two lights and a dimmer instead

Costumes and props

A Handful of Items Goes a Long Way

Hats, Scarves, Old Halloween Costumes

Things to know

A lot of parents are more than happy to get rid of old Halloween costumes. Every other year or so, I send out an email asking for donations.
Storage: Big plastic bin
These get washed periodically and closed down if I know a class has a case of "head friends" (iykyk)

Use these, change them, and don't credit me if that's awkward at your school.