Post-Show Questions for Discussion and Activities

Note to Educators: Use the following assignments, questions, and activities to have students evaluate their experience of the performance of Having Our Say, as well as to encourage their own imaginative and artistic projects through further exploration of the play in production. Consider also that some of the pre-show activities might enhance your students’ experience following the performance.

Having Our Say: Performance Reflection and Discussion.
Following their attendance at the performance ofHaving Our Say, ask your students to reflect on the questions below. You might choose to have them answer each individually or you may divide students into groups for round-table discussions. Have them consider each question, record their answers and then share their responses with the rest of the class.

Questions to Ask Your Students About the Play in Production

What was your overall reaction to the performance of the play? Did you find the production compelling? Stimulating? Intriguing? Challenging? Memorable? Confusing? Evocative? Unique? Delightful? Meaningful? Explain your reactions.

Did experiencing the play heighten your awareness or understanding of the play’s themes? How?

What themes were made even more apparent in production/performance? Explain your responses.

Do you think that the pace and tempo of the production were effective and appropriate? Explain your opinion.

Questions to Ask Your Students About the Characters

Did you personally identify with either Bessie or Sadie in Having Our Say? Who? Why? If no, why not?

What qualities were revealed by the action and speech of the characters? Explain your ideas.

Did either character develop or undergo a transformation during the course of the play? Who? How? Why?

In what ways did the characters reveal the themes of the play(s)? Explain your responses.

Questions to Ask Your Students About the Style and Design of the Production

Was there a moment in Having Our Say that was so compelling or intriguing that it remains with you in your mind’s eye? Write a vivid description of that moment. As you write your description, pretend that you are writing about the moment for someone who was unable to experience the performance.

Did the style and design elements of the production enhance the performance? Did anything specifically stand out to you? Explain your reactions.

How did the production style and design reflect the themes of the play?

What mood or atmosphere did the lighting design establish or achieve? Explain your experience.

How did the music and sound design enhance your overall experience?

Did the design of the costumes and/or makeup serve to illuminate the characters, themes, and style of the play? How?

Thematic Discussion: On Racism, Discrimination, and Prejudice.
Ask your students to research the definitions of the following words:

Racism
Discrimination
Prejudice

Have them share the definitions they found, and ask them, as a group to craft the best, most comprehensive definition of each term; write these crafted definitions on the black/white/smart board. Ask students to explain, in their own words, the differences between racism, discrimination, and prejudice. Ask them how the three are related. How does one frequently lead to the other?

Questions on Race/Racism

What do you think are some of the reasons why race is such a sensitive issue in this country?

Can you provide some examples of racism that Bessie and Sadie mention in the course of Having Our Say?

What is their philosophy about the “rebby boys?”

Have you ever experienced or witnessed racism in action?

Have you ever felt that you were racist? Please explain.

How can racism be combated in this country?

Questions on Discrimination

Ask your students why people discriminate against people they consider “different.”

Beyond race-based discrimination, what other types of discrimination exists (e.g., based on age, disability, national origin, religious, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, etc.) and how does discriminatory behavior impact the lives of individuals who fall into each category?

What can we do to prevent discrimination?

Questions on Prejudice

Ask your students about prejudices that exist today.

Why are certain group, attitudes, and values considered in a more favorable light than others?

What are some ways that prejudice is spread?

What elements of society continue to spread prejudicial opinions?

What can be done to stop the spread of prejudice?

What are some examples of prejudice that Bessie and Sadie discuss in Having Our Say?

Cultivating Your Own Family Tree.
In the spirit of Having Our Say, have your students explore their own family heritage/identity by creating a personal family tree. If possible, ask them to include photographs.
- Students should include all extended family members and relations, including stepfamily members, half-siblings, and even individuals who may not be directly-related but share great significance in the family structure. They should consult with the older generation to clarify family relationships.
- While assembling their family trees, students should interview any available family members for interesting family stories or memories. (Interviews can be presented, in their entirety or excerpted, via written notes or audio/video recordings.)
- In addition to the family tree with photographs and stories, ask students to bring in a family artifact that is of particular importance to their family and/or that reflects their heritage.
- Have students take turns sharing their family trees, photographs, stories, and artifacts with the rest of the class. Once everyone had has a chance to share, ask your students to talk about what they learned from the project. Also ask them to reflect upon why it is important to learn about one’s family heritage/identity.

Having [Your] Say: The Review
Have your students take on the role of theater critic by writing a review of McCarter Theatre’s production of Having Our Say. A theater critic or reviewer is essentially a “professional audience member,” whose job is to provide reportage of a play’s production and performance through active and descriptive language for a target audience of readers (e.g., their peers, their community or those interested in the arts). Critics/reviewers analyze the theatrical event to provide a clearer understanding of the artistic ambitions and intentions of a play and its production; reviewers often ask themselves, “What is the playwright and this production attempting to do?” Finally, the critic offers personal judgment as to whether the artistic intentions of a production were achieved, effective, and worthwhile. Things to consider before writing:

Theater critics/reviewers should always back up their opinions with reasons, evidence and details.

The elements of production that can be discussed in a theatrical review are the play text or script (and its themes, plot, characters, etc.), scenic elements, costumes, lighting, sound, music, acting and direction (i.e., how all of these elements are put together). [See the HYPERLINK .]

Educators may want to provide their students with sample theater reviews from a variety of newspapers.

Encourage your students to submit their reviews to the school newspaper for publication.

Students may also post their reviews on McCarter’s web site by visiting McCarter Blog. Select “Citizen Responses” under “Categories” on the left side of the web page, and scroll down to the Having Our Say entry to post any reviews.

Blog All about it!: Having Our Say After the Show.
McCarter is very interested in carrying on the conversation about Having Our Say with you and your students after you’ve left the theater. If you are interested in having them personally reflect upon their experience of the play in performance, but are not interested in the more formal assignment of review writing, have them instead post a post-show comment on the McCarter Theatre Blog. To access the blog, click on this link McCarter Blog, then select “Citizen Responses” under “Categories” on the left side of the web page, and scroll down to the Having Our Say entry to find a place to post an inquiry or comment. [For structured responses, consider the following prompt: What expectations did you bring with you to Having Our Say and were your expectations met, not met, or exceeded by the performance?] See you on the blog!