ROYSTON THEATRE RESIDENCY

For the past 13 years, with the help of the Foundation for the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns, the Third Graders of our district have taken part in a ten week Theatre Residency in which they write, rehearse and perform their own plays based on stories they are reading in class.
​Under the direction of Peter Royston, each class in the third grade chooses one of the stories they've been reading, translates it into play form through improvisation, tableaux work and writing, then rehearses and performs it before an audience of family and friends. Over the ten week session, third graders learn the basics of theatre and gain confidence through performance and ensemble building. 

​Says Peter Royston: Since the performances takes place on Heritage Day, and since the students at Washington Irving come from all over the world, we have taken stories and folktales from all around the world and brought them to life, transforming them from words on the page to acting on the stage! The kids work on all aspects of the theatre process, from play writing - writing scenes from the story in their own words which are incorporated into the script, to rehearsing and then performing. And of course, watching the other classes perform, since being an audience member is an equally important part of the theatre experience. 

The stories take us on a trip around the world - 

ROSE/COREN:  Conejito: A Folktale from Panama

ESTELLA: Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West Africa

DEVIVO: Strega Nona: A Tale from Italy

WHITE: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs: A Funny look at this classic tale

GONZALEZ: How the Brazillian Beetles Got Their Coats

WOODS: Finn McCool: An Irish Folktale

CLARK: The Seven Chinese Brothers
 
RUBINO: The Great Kapok Tree - A Cautionary Tale from the Amazon Rainforest

CALVERT: The Empty Pot: A Tale from Ancient China