Claude McNeal Productions

Claude McNeal Productions

EDUCATOR CONTACT INFO

jowen@claudemcnealproductions.com

http://www.claudemcnealproductions.com

  1305 N Delaware Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202

IN

3173404258

ACT Out Ensemble

Program description

A featured part of Claude McNeal Productions (the nationally-acclaimed performance/theatre education company headquartered in Indianapolis), ACT Out is a social-issues improvisational theatre education program that centrally helps students of various ages learn to better face the difficult conflicts that are pervading and damaging societal issues in their everyday lives, encouraging students to embrace individualized solutions. Topics such as bullying, diversity, social anxiety, or anywhere from up to twenty-four other serious issues are acted out by professional actors in intense dramatic scenes, followed by frank, research-based and to the point analysis by both audience and presenters.

Founded in 1995, the ACT Out Ensemble has already helped transform the lives of more than 500,000 through the unique power of live social-issues theatre, and has been recognized by The Washington Post, CNN and Teen People Magazine for its excellence in original work.

All shows are original and researched in meetings with respected health professionals and educators, and then presented through the use of improvisation by four to six actors. ACT Out structures performances to meet the organization’s needs and provides each audience with an entertaining and educational experience. When combined with classroom-based learning, ACT Out programs are an essential element of reinforcing lessons and retention through active discussion. Our data shows that 85% of students who participated in our programs felt it assisted them with their real-life situations and daily encounters. In contrast, data shows that only 5-10% retain information in non-dramatized presentations.

ACT Out has a number of issues we can provide programming on, but specialize in the following topics for 4th through 12th graders, and meet the Indiana State Standards per the Indiana Department of Education (under the standards adjacent to each of
our topics):

  • Bullying, including cyber- bullying- Follows Indiana Code 20-34-6-1 (under the anti-bullying and health and wellness standards)
    Social Anxiety/Character Development (including self-esteem building) – Follows Indiana Code 20-30-5-5 (under family /consumer science category)
    Diversity & Inclusion: Follows Indiana Code 20-30-5-7
    Preventing Dating Violence (which includes choosing healthy relationships) Follows Indiana Code 20-30-5-17 and 20-30-5-6 (under the family and consumer science category)
    Substance Abuse: Follows Indiana Code (under Health & Wellness) Standard 20-30-5-11

Every ACT Out performance (length, topic and format) is uniquely tailored to suit the intended grade level. Students come away from ACT Out programs with an improved self image, a feeling that they belong to a larger community, a stronger sense of character and an increased spirit of cooperation. We are dedicated to crafting programs that are meaningful to the communities we serve and committed to bringing significant change to the lives of students.

Performances generally last 45 minutes to one hour and feature a number of scenes highlighting selected topics. Scenes are immediately followed by an audience discussion, facilitated by an ACT Out director (also involving the cast), with the goals of empowering students to actively explore ideas presented in the performance, and engaging them in conversations that create continued awareness of the topics. While these discussions embrace personal responsibility and individual solutions, students are encouraged to connect their thoughts during the performance to real-life situations and emotions after the performance. That is the power of live theatre!

Booking / scheduling contact

Zach Stonercok

   765-524-4451

 zach@claudemcnealproductions.com

Program detail
Artistic discipline: Theatre
Cultural Origin: Multi-Cultural
Program type: Camp, In-School Performance, Professional Development, Virtual Experience, Workshop/Class (In-School), Workshop/Class (Out-of-School)
Population served: Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12, Adults
Subject: Fine Arts: Theatre, Social Emotional Learning
Bilingual: No
Available dates:

Available year-round

Available times:

During the school days or after school workshops.

Max number of students: 250
Length of program: 45 minutes per session
Location(s):

Can perform in classrooms or gymnasiums.

IDOE STANDARDS

Connects to State (IDOE) and/or Common Core Curriculum Standards: Yes
FINE ARTS: THEATRE:
Anchor Standard 1 – Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work: Theatre artists rely on intuition, curiosity, and critical inquiry
Anchor Standard 2 – Organize and develop artistic ideas and work: Theatre artists work to discover different ways of communicating meaning.
Anchor Standard 4 – Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation: Theatre artists make strong choices to effectively convey meaning.
Anchor Standard 6 – Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work: Theatre artists share and present stories, ideas, and envisioned worlds to explore the human experience.
Anchor Standard 7 – Perceive and analyze artistic work: Theatre artists reflect to understand the impact of drama processes and theatre experiences.
Anchor Standard 8 – Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work: Theatre artists’ interpretations of drama/theatrical work are influenced by personal experiences and aesthetics.
Anchor Standard 10 – Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art: Theatre artists allow awareness of interrelationships between self and others to influence and inform their work.
Anchor Standard 11 – Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding: Theatre artists understand and can communicate their creative process as they analyze the way the world may be understood.
Anchor Standard 11 – Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding: Theatre artists critically inquire into the ways others have thought about and created drama processes and productions to inform their own work.

Qualifications

Conducts educational programming for 2 or more years: Yes
Performs criminal background checks on staff with youth contact: Yes
Maintains general liability insurance: Yes
Three letters of recommendation / references available: Yes
Provides study guides for teachers and or students: Yes
Provides tools to assess student learning (workshops and residencies): Yes
Provides scholarship and reduced fees: Yes
Conducts ongoing assessments of program quality: Yes
Connects to State (IDOE) and/or Common Core Curriculum Standards: Yes