20th April 2024

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Play Online: Using Theatre in Virtual Classrooms

Play Online

We know teaching remotely is a challenge: it is hard to keep students engaged when everything is virtual. Why not try spicing up your lessons with virtual theatre? It’s easy to do with plays that are available as Virtual Classroom Scripts. Virtual Classroom Scripts are delivered immediately after purchase as a PDF that can be emailed, uploaded to a course shell, or printed out, so that you can quickly get scripts into the hands of students.

Theatre in the classroom has a variety of benefits, including supporting Common Core standards — which call for teaching literacy in all subject areas, providing students multiple points of engagement to the curriculum, and creating active, fun experiences. It’s also a great opportunity to form a partnership across departments for cross-curricular learning. The following plays were selected for their educational value, family-friendly content, and availability as Virtual Classroom Scripts. Want to see more options? Click here. Should you want to turn your classroom activity into a performance, all these titles are also approved for live streaming.

Historical Plays


Ancient Greece

The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza is a fun, fast paced attempt to cover the entirety of Greek mythology. Click here to read a summary and find out more.

1816 New Orleans (yellow fever epidemic)

Lafayette No. 1 depicts the yellow fever epidemic in 1816 New Orleans through an empowering youth perspective. Click here to read a summary and find out more.

Northern Ireland / Irish Republican Army (IRA)

The Shape of the Grave dramatizes The Troubles in Northern Ireland and the cost of independence. Click here to read a summary and find out more.

World War II – America

Badger has a lot to say about women entering the workforce and factory conditions during WWII. Click here to read a summary and find out more.

Nazi Germany

Dark Road gives perspective on the concentration camp guards and how normal people become capable of evil. Click here to read a summary and find out more.

Literary Adaptations


The Trojan Women by Euripides

The Refugee Women draws parallels to a modern-day refugee camp that is putting on a production of Euripides’ play The Trojan Women. Click here.

Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes brings to life four of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s thrilling short stories. Click here to read a summary and find out more.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a dramatized version of Stevenson’s classic with an added haunting chorus. Click here to read a summary and find out more.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Sense and Sensibility is a lively adaptation of Austen’s famous story. Click here to read a summary and find out more.

Emma by Jane Austen

Emma is a crisp, dynamic retelling of Austen’s classic. Click here to read a summary and find out more.

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables is an innovative adaptation of the classic story using five different actors to play Anne. Click here to read a summary and find out more.

Social Studies / Government Plays

45 Plays for 45 Presidents

45 Plays for 45 Presidents provides a bite-sized overview of each presidential era. Click here to read a summary and find out more.

How to Overthrow your Student Government

How to Overthrow your Student Government is a humorous exploration of power-hungry leaders, democracy vs dictatorship, and propaganda. Click here to read a summary and find out more.

The Outsider

The Outsider is a comedic look at democracy and political candidates. Click here to read a summary and find out more.

The Election

The Election is a hilarious and timely satire on PACs and personal motives in the contemporary political scene. Click here to read a summary and find out more.

FAQ


Q: We’re just using the play in class. Do I need a license?

A: If the scripts are just being read / performed in class, you do not need to license the show. However, if you will have any kind of audience (defined as anyone watching not directly working on the production) you will need to get the performance license.

Q: How do I get the plays delivered to students?

A: Virtual Classroom Scripts are delivered as a standard PDF to your email as soon as payment is received. The PDF may be emailed to students, uploaded to a virtual classroom, or printed out.

Q: What if we do want to put up a show for an audience?

A: To place an order for just the live performance license, select “license performances” on the play’s page. If you decide to perform the show online, you can license the streaming rights through our website.

Q: Is this script appropriate for my students?

A: Our team and many other schools believe so. However, community standards vary, so we suggest reading the play yourself. For all of our titles, you can read up to 90% for free online. If you’d like to read the full play, you can place an order for a perusal copy.

Q: Can you help me pick a play?

A: Absolutely! Email info@playscripts.com with details about what you’re looking for.
We suggest specifying the cast size, gender breakdown, type of group, desired show length, and genre. If you’re looking for any specific topics or themes, include those as well.

Also by Playscripts:

Playscripts Free Reads: Keeping Theatre Alive

Taryn Temple – Playwright Of The Hit Comedy “The Princess Capers”

Published in cooperation with Playscripts.com
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