Getting Started
What Is RT? (And How Do You Really Spell It?)
Reader’s theater is minimal theater in support of literature and reading. There are many styles of reader’s theater, but nearly all share these features:
- Narration serves as the framework of dramatic presentation.
- No full stage sets. If used at all, sets are simple and suggestive.
- No full costumes. If used at all, costumes are partial and suggestive, or neutral and uniform.
- No full memorization. Scripts are used openly in performance.
Reader’s theater was developed as an efficient and effective way to present literature in dramatic form. Today as well, most scripts are literary adaptations, though others are original dramatic works.
Popular first in colleges and universities, reader’s theater has now moved to earlier education, where it is seen as a key tool for creating interest and skill in reading. Young people love to do it, and they give it their all—more so because it’s a team effort, and they don’t want to let down their friends! Repeated readings bring fluency, and if a script is based on an available book, kids want to read that too. What’s more, reader’s theater is a relatively simple activity for the teacher, with no required setup other than making copies of scripts.
Reader’s theater has been found effective not only for language arts but for social studies as well. Performing stories based on another culture is one of the best ways for students to become interested in and familiar with that culture.
As to how to spell it, there’s no one right way, so take your pick! All the following have been used:
- reader’s theater
- readers’ theater
- readers theater
- reader’s theatre
- readers’ theatre
- readers theatre
That’s why it’s sometimes easier to call it RT!
About This Book
Readers on Stage is a collection of resources for scripting, directing, and teaching reader’s theater, primarily to ages 8 or 9 and up. It draws on my five years of professional experience in reader’s theater as a performer and a director, as well as many more years of scripting, leading workshops, and hosting the most popular reader’s theater destination on the Web.
Part 1 offers three sample scripts to learn from and enjoy. Part 2 provides detailed tips on scripting, staging, and dramatic reading. Part 3 supplies everything else you need to start with reader’s theater in the classroom or library or to conduct your own reader’s theater workshop for adults. And Part 4 gives listings of additional resources. All materials may be freely copied and shared for any noncommercial purpose (except some may not be posted online without permission, as noted).
About the Web Site
For updates, many more scripts, and other resources, please visit Aaron Shepard’s RT Page at www.aaronshep.com/rt. And while you’re visiting, be sure to sign up for my email bulletin. There’s always more to come!
