by Stephanie Simpson, Choreographer and Director
In this resource you'll:
As human beings, we are designed to make meaning out of our experiences and form relationships with others. Throughout history, the arts have been a place fueled by curiosity, exploration, reflection, play, and teamwork. Whether you are creating the art or receiving it, the arts provide a space for us to learn about ourselves more deeply so that we can connect with others and the world around us in more meaningful ways.
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is inherently woven into the DNA of arts education. SEL focuses on both your inner and outer self as well as our awareness and management capacities. Educators can be intentional when building SEL skills by using musical theater as the vehicle. Whether you are integrating the arts into your academic classroom, directing a formal show, or you are an arts teacher looking for additional curricular resources, musical theater empowers students to not only navigate their own story but also view the stories around them in new ways.
Telling stories has been a part of our culture from the beginning of time, whether that be for entertainment, creating connection and community, or the dissemination of information. Sharing and listening to stories helps expand our awareness as well as develop empathy and compassion for both our own past and present and that of others. Storytelling is a form of communication, teaching us the lifelong skill of expression in verbal and non-verbal ways.
Musical theater is a form of storytelling that integrates three different types of communication - acting, singing, and dancing. When teaching musical theater, I share with my students that when a character can’t fully express themselves through dialogue, they begin to sing. When singing isn’t enough, they break out into dance. Musical theater yields multiple entry points for students to connect and express themselves. While some students may be more drawn to the text, others may resonate with the music or communicate through movement.
The development of musical theater is intertwined with our culture and history as an American society. John Bush Jones states, “As a form of popular entertainment for fairly broad based audiences, throughout the twentieth century musicals variously dramatized, mirrored, or challenged our deeply-held cultural attitudes and beliefs'' (Jones, 2004, p. 1). Learners can access history and culture through musical theater. Many musicals have amplified and given visibility to people and stories that have historically been silenced or overlooked. For example, Hamilton became a cultural phenomenon because of its extraordinary craft, but it also gave voice to marginalized communities, invited us to look at history through a new lens, and connected with people beyond the traditional musical theater patron. Musical storytelling can have a powerful impact on our identity, thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors.
We can only connect with others as deeply as we are able to connect with ourselves. Understanding who we are, what we need, and how to communicate effectively are crucial to our health and wellbeing. Our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors inform each other. Developing an awareness of how we react to those thoughts and feelings allows us to manage and take responsibility for them. This isn’t always easy. Certain thoughts and feelings can be overwhelming. The arts provide a space for people to explore and reflect on their thoughts and feelings. Specifically, musical theater is an outlet for stepping into a character’s shoes and experiencing life through their perspective.
“The Lion King,” based on the real life African king Sundiata Keita, is a story about a young boy’s journey and transformation in embracing his true identity, accepting responsibility, and stepping into his role as king. While students may not be on their own journey to become king or queen, they can relate to the journey of figuring out who they are. We can use this same idea when stepping into the shoes of other characters. What can we learn about ourselves if we step into the role of Scar? We all have parts of ourselves that are dark. Understanding the thoughts and feelings behind the making of a villain or antagonist creates more empathy and compassion for both the character and the darker parts of ourselves. It encourages students to build perspective-taking skills and notice how they are currently showing up in their own lives, opening up opportunities for where they may need growth.
While working with your students, create moments of intentional reflection. You can start by asking students questions like this:
These questions help deepen students’ understanding of both the character and themselves. Reflective opportunities further develop the portrayal of a character as well as support group discussions about the material.
Being in relationship with others is integral to our growth and survival. Healthy relationships and community are a part of living a fulfilling life. Sometimes students are equipped with the tools to navigate positive and challenging relationships, and other times they still need to acquire them. Musical theater is a container where students can learn and practice these life skills. For a musical to be successful, the performers have to collaborate at a high level. To do this, they must trust each other, work together to overcome obstacles, and support each other throughout the process. Effective communication is the foundation to successful collaboration and includes: creating partnership, leading with curiosity, actively listening, and giving and receiving feedback. Whether you are working on a full production, shorter scenes, musical numbers, or devising an original piece, use the following frameworks to cultivate effective communication between your students - Fostering Teamwork, Empowering Questions, Active Listening, and Effective Feedback.
Fostering Teamwork
Konstantin Stanislaski’s famous quote, “There are no small roles, only small actors,” is a reminder that any performance requires equal commitment, participation, and partnership from everyone. It is important to take time before the “doing” happens to get clear on how everyone wants to “be” together. A helps to create an environment of trust and safety. It can be used as a reference throughout the process when working through challenges and to reinforce accountability. Ask students the following questions to create group agreements to be displayed in the classroom:
Empowering Questions
Asking open-ended questions and leading with curiosity encourages deeper reflection and builds connection. Have students ask questions of each other or the character they are playing by following these guidelines:
Active Listening
Active listening requires focus and presence. We want to not only focus on the words a person is saying but also on their body language, tone of voice, and rhythm. The dance improvisation technique of mirroring requires people to listen with their whole body.
Effective Feedback
Feedback is an opportunity for growth and development. Giving and receiving feedback can be a scary and vulnerable experience so it is important that students feel safe. In addition to reminding them about the , provide them a specific framework to use. One of my favorites is Rose, Bud, Thorn.
Musical theater provides students a container to explore their own identities, to connect with others, to learn to take risks, and to engage in the power of play. While musicals are composed of individual characters, it’s the story they tell together that creates an impact. Musicals are a representation of the human experience. We are all individuals, but it’s learning to connect and collaborate with others that creates a healthy and fulfilling life.
To explore more K-12 arts integrated lessons, visit the Related Resources section at the bottom of this page and Lessons & Activities from the Digital Learning Resources Library.
Stephanie Simpson is an award winning choreographer and director, professional coach, and facilitator. She uses her background in the arts, psychology, trauma-informed practices, and somatics to create human-centric professional development and leadership programs. Stephanie is the co-founder of , a freelance , and you can connect with her on or visit her .
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Writer
Stephanie Simpson
Copy Editor
Alyssa Kariofyllis
Published
February 29, 2024
Presented by
Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning
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