Flexible Casting for School Drama Programs and Drama Camps One of the biggest challenges facing drama teachers isn’t finding a great script. It’s figuring out how to make that script work with the students who actually signed up. Maybe you expected 15 students and only eight registered. Maybe you planned for a small cast, and suddenly…
Author: brendan kelso
Brendan is the main creative source and author behind Playing With Plays and the infamous Shakespeare for Kids series. You can typically find him inventing by day, playing with his family by night, and writing by very late night.
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Peter Pan Costumes
Peter Pan Costume and Prop List for Schools, Homeschools, and Youth Theater One of the questions I get regularly is: “What costumes and props do I need for Peter Pan ?” Ok, really, I get this for most of my plays, but I just received this question and thought I’d put together a post to…
A playwright from California never expects to see their flexible-cast classroom plays translated into Norwegian… but that’s exactly what happened. What began with a teacher wanting to perform Hamlet in his native language has grown into multiple translated classics, international performances, and a fascinating look at how Norway supports arts education through organizations like Dramas.
Learn how to add funny fake commercials to school plays to give more students meaningful stage time. A creative drama activity perfect for middle school theater, homeschool groups, and large-cast productions.
Best Plays for Middle School Drama Let’s be honest. Finding a good play for middle school is… not easy. You’ve got: So yeah—“just pick a play” isn’t exactly helpful advice. What you actually need is something flexible, engaging, and classroom-tested. Here are some of the best middle school plays—especially ones that work in real classrooms (not just…
Homer’s Odyssey to Rick Riordan’s The Sea of Monsters. Why Percy Jackson is a secret gateway to Greek mythology If your students (or kids) are currently hooked on Percy Jackson and the Olympians, you’re already halfway into teaching Greek mythology—whether you planned to or not. Rick Riordan’s The Sea of Monsters pulls heavily from Homer’s Odyssey, remixing ancient myths…
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Cyrano – Duel in Rhyme
I was recently contacted by someone who purchased my Cyrano for Kids and was a bit bummed that the Duel in Rhyme was not included. Unfortunately, I am under a strict word count, and some things have to go. This happened to be one of those pieces. However (fortunately!), I can write a post here and share…
Bring Odyssey the Musical to your classroom with Playing With Plays’ kid-friendly script plus free teacher-written lyrics—perfect for grades 3–8.
Projection!!! Is it just me, or is this always an issue? Right. That was a rhetorical question. I’ve struggled figuring out a way to get students to project for many years. Recently, I came across some great ideas (thanks to other teachers!) and pulled them together here. I did a bit more research and found…
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Seniors on Stage
How short plays are bringing joy, creativity, and connection to senior living communities I recently had another conversation that stopped me in my tracks. An educator reached out, asking if my Playing with Plays scripts could be used to bring fun and fulfillment to senior living communities. As we chatted, something clicked. I’ve spent over two decades…