Transcript Everyone`s a Critic— Now Write Like One!

Everyone’s a Critic—
Now Write Like One!
Pre-Workshop Information
By Alyssa Herzog Melby
Education Director, Prime Stage Theatre
Before the show

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 Institute

All of these theories are based on inquiry
Theoretical Lens
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 creative
act, from creation to production to reception and beyond.
This changing relationship is the calculus of the arts
experience. To “experience” something implies undergoing
a cognitive journey from receiver to perceiver, from a passive
to an active state, from a neutral condition to an opinionated
stance. But to realize the full potential of experiencing an
arts event, the audience member must possess two qualities:
the authority to participate in the process of co-authoring
meaning and the tools to do so effectively.”
~The Arts Experience Initiative
The Heinz Endowments (2008)
How can I create a more
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 show
Things to think about
Asking 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 show
Record Observations, or “noticings”
 Ask questions, or “wonderings”
 Research questions for “findings”

Pre-Writing Process
Noticings
1. Record what you noticed about the production in as much detail
as possible as soon after encountering the work of art as
possible.
Wonderings
1. 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?
Findings
1. 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 workshop
This workshop will be utilizing Prime Stage Theatre’s wikipage to record observations, questions, and
research prior to the workshop. A separate attachment with directions on accessing the wiki will be
provided.
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 Workshop
What to expect during the
workshop
1. Discussion on inquiry-based models—noticings, wonderings,
findings
2. Reading sample theatre reviews and going over components of a
performance review
3. Writing, peer evaluations, and rewriting personal reviews
Any questions or concerns, please email Alyssa Herzog Melby,
Education Director, at [email protected] or call 412-8053308.