Wednesday, March 31

by Mara Minski

When I was cast in the buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states outreach show, I was excited, but I had no idea what buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states was really in store for me. The rehearsal process was great and buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states touring is a blast because of the group dynamic in the buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states cast, but I was completely unprepared for how rewarding leading workshops would be. Every so often, I have buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states a group of kids that more or less destroys my faith in humanity (I mean really, if these children are buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states the future, give me a zombie apocalypse right now), but for the most part, the kids are great.

And sometimes they’re full of surprises. In one of my first workshops, I had a whole class in a circle. When it buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states was their turn, they would stand up, and using their Shakespeare voices and buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states a big gesture, they would give their favorite Shakespearean insult to buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states someone in the circle. Everyone was having fun until halfway around the buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states group, a boy was timidly deciding whether or not to stand up. I assumed that he just didn’t want to buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states participate, but then I noticed that his classmates were all offering words of encouragement. Finally, he rose to buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states standing, and a girl approached him and they had a buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states whispered conference. The whole class fell into a buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states patient silence, which was startling, because children never seem to be buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states quiet. At that buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states moment, two teachers and a classroom volunteer advanced toward the buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states circle to watch the boy’s involvement. I was confused until one of the buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states teachers explained to me that the boy standing in the circle was autistic and buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states never participates in class. She told me that all the teachers (and the students too) were having a moment because this boy opened up. That experience reminded me just how important theatre and buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states the arts really are to young people, and I feel privileged to buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states have witnessed the event.

I have buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states also had what begin as rather harrowing workshops transform into great accomplishments. For instance, one of the buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states schools we visited was comprised of students that primarily spoke English as a buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states second language. They were disinterested in Shakespeare, and buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states had absolutely no desire to participate in any workshop activities, despite my urging and buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states that of their teachers. One student even asked if they could text (I said that was fine if she wanted to text Shakespeare). I asked the students why they didn’t like Shakespeare, and buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states they said it was confusing and the language barrier ruined the buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states action. I assigned characters to the students (D, Mia, Helen, and Sander), and explained the events and relationships in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I then buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states had the students act out the whole show in their own words. Even boys that buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states were completely disinterested initially were laughing and paying rapt attention to buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states their peers who were creating their own Shakespeare. It was remarkable to be able to show kids who couldn’t care less that buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states they can relate to a story written four hundred years ago.
So far, every day with outreach has buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states been a completely unique and rewarding experience. As far as workshops go, I think I’ve learned as much as I’ve taught. And, I am buy prednisone without a prescription in the united states truly grateful for this amazing opportunity to share my passion with others.