1. Brainstorm a list of ideas and emotions that are associated with a gold rush. What thoughts or feelings do you think are important in a town where gold is mined? Choose one idea or emotion from the list created and write a short passage inspired by that thought. What themes or emotions are highlighted in this passage? What themes or emotions may be brought up in a play involving prospectors trying to “strike it rich”?

2. Examine the character profiles in this guide and ask your students how they imagine each character will look, act, speak. Think about how the different characters may relate to one another. Consider the characters of Mathias, Baptiste, Xuifei and Annette and improvise scenes between the characters, exploring their relationships. Have students write about their experiences playing these characters.

3. To get an idea of the flow of action, read the plot description provided in this guide. Then imagine that you are designing the set for this play. What would be your design concept, the visual idea that ties the whole production together? Is there a feeling or emotion that you would want to express through your design of this production? Prepare a design presentation for your class through drawings, visual aides or writing. Be prepared to field your classmates’ questions about your design choices.

4. In a recent introduction to her collected plays, Theresa Rebeck wrote:

“I am a woman. I am an American. I am a mother. I sometimes write for television, and I sometimes write movies. I play the piano. I knit. I rail at the universe. I am angry. I am sad. I am a comic realist, a misanthrope, and an idealist. There are many ways to categorize me and my work. But for myself, I would most like to be considered a playwright.”

Ask the students to categorize themselves. What do they consider to be their role in society? What are all of the traits and skills that could be used to describe themselves?