Providence College education and theatre majors recently teamed with local schoolchildren to provide a unique experience in creative drama.  

The course, Children's Theatre and Creative Drama, is designed to expose students to the creative play methods and sound literary principles of both drama and children's theatre by practicing the theories taught in the classroom with children in the community.

Mary Farrell, professor of theatre at PC, developed the class and practicum about 20 years ago as one of the College's first outreach programs. Over the years, Farrell and her students have worked with children from nearby Providence schools and libraries, including St. Pius V School, the Robert F. Kennedy Elementary School, and the Smith Hill Library.

While each student was assigned a teaching practicum at various locations throughout the community during the fall 2006 semester, the class of eight also collaborated to produce three master classes.  For these classes, the students designed a lesson to be taught to elementary school students from nearby St. Pius V School using techniques in creative drama. 

"It is a very practical and monitored experience in leading a drama session, working directly with students, and developing the lesson beforehand," said Farrell. "The students are able to see the lesson in all its dimensions. It's like a one-shot student teaching where they get lots of feedback on their work."

The workshop provides the pupils from St. Pius with a different way for the children to enjoy learning through action and activity-centered lessons where they're able to devote more time to exploring the kind of resources that they have as creative people.

Farrell noted that several programs have resulted from this course in the past, including a children's dance class offered by Dr. Wendy R. Oliver, professor of dance and chair of the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Film, and a student-run, after-school theatre program at St. Pius V School that culminates in a musical production in the spring.