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Theatre Review Assignment
Due: Before Spring Break
Turn in:  Google Classroom

SHOW INFO: 

This year's spring musical:  Beauty & the Beast

  • Show Dates:  March 8-9 @ 7 p.m. & March 9 @ 2 p.m., March 14-16 @ 7 p.m., March 16-17 @ 2 p.m.

  • You are required to attend (free with student ID) - free tickets ONLY on Opening Night!  Go to the box office after school the week of the show (from 3:00-3:30) to claim your free balcony seat.

  • You are required to write a review/critique on a live theatre production (high school or higher) this semester.  The fall play is an easy/free/local option, so Ms. Price suggests you take it.

  • Tickets for family members/friends who are not Oxford students can be purchased by going to OHSmusical.com and clicking on the "Ticket" link (which will take you to the ticketing website).

  • Tickets for Oxford students can only be acquired at the box office prior to opening night - while supplies last!  (The box office is open after school the week(s) of the show for 1/2 hour!)

ASSIGNMENT: 

One of your summative assessments in this class is your analysis of a live (stage) play or musical. This analysis is called a review (or critique) and you are the play/musical’s reviewer/critic.

For this SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT, assume you are a newspaper critic for this semester’s show.

WHAT IS A REVIEW?
A Review (sometimes called a “critique”) is an essay or article that expresses an individual’s 
analysis/opinions of an artist’s work (in this case a play or musical). (NOTE: To effectively review the show, your paper should be approx. 2 pages, double spaced, 10-12 font)

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A REVIEW?
Not only is a review an expression of a particular person’s analysis/opinion, it also helps inform 
other people of what a particular work of art is like. Of course, the best way to experience a piece of art is first-hand, but a reviewer’s job is to relay their first-hand experience to others who may not have seen the artwork...and the reviewer is relied upon to be honest/fair about his/her thoughts, feelings, likes, and dislikes.

Review TASK SHEET:  Click HERE

Review RUBRIC:  Click HERE

Read about WRITING a review:  Click HERE

IN-CLASS LESSONS ABOUT WRITING YOUR REVIEW:

In class, we learned about how to BEGIN your review assignment.  Follow the learning below if you were absent - in order to better understand the expectations/information shared in class.

1.) Watch preview to learning HERE 

2.) Watch a scene from Fences HERE (2 different actor performances/versions of the same scene)

A brief synopsis of the play, Fences:

Arguably August Wilson's most renowned work, Fences explores the life and relationships of the Maxson family against the backdrop of the evolving African American experience in the 1950's.  The protagonist, Troy Maxson is a restless trash-collector and former baseball athlete. Though deeply flawed, he represents the struggle for justice and fair treatment, as well as human nature's reluctance to recognize and accept social change.  (Source)

3.) Watch post-scene learning HERE

EXAMPLES:

If you'd like to read an example of a review, here's a MOVIE review of Lost in Yonkers:  Click HERE

Note:  The above movie review was written by an adult.  I do not expect your review to be written professionally, but I do expect that you follow the format of a good review and that you share your (original) opinions, and provide examples from the show that back up your opinions.

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