As a theatre educator with over 25 years of experience in both high school and college classrooms (including nearly two decades in international schools) I’ve worked alongside countless drama teachers and curriculum leaders to help rethink, refine, or rebuild Theatre programs from the ground up.
Curriculum planning in Theatre is an opportunity to align teaching with larger educational goals while keeping creativity and student engagement at center. If you’re in the process of developing or updating a drama curriculum, then I’m available to collaborate with you, to help conceptualize perspective and develop practical strategies, as a means of leveraging the power of Theatre education as an effective learning tool.
Aligning Theatre Curriculum with Standards and School Vision
A strong drama curriculum must reflect the values of a school while meeting state, national, and/or international standards. But beyond checking boxes, a Theatre program must help students grow as artists and individuals.
When I work with schools, I help ensure that curriculum documents clearly scaffold student learning across grade levels while also capturing the unique heartbeat of a school’s community. Together, we address essential domains such as:
- Storytelling – Empowering students to tell meaningful stories through voice, body, and presence.
- Collaboration & Communication – Honing interpersonal and ensemble skills.
- Interpretation & Analysis – Developing the ability to read, analyze, and bring texts to life.
- Improvisation & Flexibility – Teaching adaptability, spontaneity, and presence.
- Creative Problem Solving & Conflict Resolution – Tools for the stage and beyond.
Skills That Matter: More Than Just Acting
A well-rounded Theatre program equips students with a wide array of technical and creative competencies. When partnering with Theatre teachers, I help map out curriculum that includes:
- Acting and Performance – From monologue work to devised theatre and classical texts.
- Design and Tech – Scenic, costume, sound, lighting, and multimedia integration.
- Writing and Dramaturgy – Exploring structure, theme, and theatricality through original playwriting and analysis.
- Production and Directing – Understanding leadership roles and full-scale production processes.
- Arts Management – Introducing students to real-world logistics, from stage-management to budgeting, communications, marketing and promotion.
I work with educators to make sure these components are not just “add-ons” but integral parts of a sequential and balanced Theatre program.
Thinking S.M.A.R.T. When Planning Curriculum
When reviewing or designing a curriculum, I guide teams in applying the S.M.A.R.T. framework to each unit or program goal:
- Specific – Are learning goals clearly defined?
- Measurable – Can growth and achievement be assessed meaningfully?
- Achievable – Are the objectives realistic for your students and resources?
- Relevant – Does the curriculum align with departmental and school-wide priorities?
- Time-Bound – Is the scope realistic for your semester or school year?
This ensures the curriculum is not only inspiring, but actionable and sustainable.
Interdisciplinary Integration: A Theatre Program That Connects
Theatre doesn’t live in isolation — and the most impactful programs often connect with other disciplines. I support schools in integrating Theatre with:
- Math & Business: Budgeting, ticket sales, and production logistics.
- Visual Arts: Set design, costume rendering, and program artwork.
- Marketing & Communications: Student-led campaigns for shows, newsletters, and social media engagement.
- Humanities- English & History: Dramatic literature and historical context for plays.
- Technology: Digital stagecraft, sound engineering, and virtual productions.
Connections not only deepen student learning, but also broaden stakeholder investment in your program.
Practical Support for Drama Educators
Whether you’re launching a new program, seeking to revise existing curriculum, or looking for strategies to better support diverse learners, I bring both a big-picture view and on-the-ground practicality to the table. I can work with school curriculum teams to:
- Audit and revise units, lessons or program planning
- Create sequential learning frameworks across grade levels
- Develop assessment tools that match theatrical learning outcomes
- Align programs with IB, AATE, or other global standards
- Coach teams through collaborative curriculum mapping or departmental goal-setting
Curriculum design is more than paperwork—it’s the foundation of student transformation. With the right structure, the Theatre can nurture empathy, confidence, communication, and critical thinking, essential skills for any and al students.
I’m here to help.
Consults are free.
