8-Week Drama Plan
Play: The Weird, Wild and Wonderful Days of School (by D. M. Larson, Freedrama.net)
Format: 2–3 rehearsals per week
Week 1 – Introduction & Casting
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Day 1: Icebreakers (name + gesture, improv game like “Yes, Let’s”). Introduce the play. Teacher or volunteers read a few favorite scenes aloud to spark excitement.
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Day 2: Full group read-through. Students rotate roles to hear different voices.
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Day 3: Casting. Assign roles (balance speaking lines; combine/split if needed). Hand out scripts.
Goal: Everyone understands the story and has a part.
Week 2 – First Read-Throughs & Character Work
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Day 1: Read Act 1 (or first half of play) with assigned parts. Pause to discuss characters’ personalities.
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Day 2: Read Act 2 (or rest of play). Talk about the “tone” (funny, silly, exaggerated).
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Day 3: Character Hot-Seating – each student answers questions in character (“What’s your favorite class?” “What annoys you most at school?”).
Goal: Students start to “own” their characters.
Week 3 – Blocking Part 1
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Day 1: Block (stage) first section of the play. Decide entrances/exits, standing/sitting, gestures.
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Day 2: Block the next section. Keep movements simple and classroom-friendly.
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Day 3: Run both sections back-to-back.
Goal: Everyone knows where to be on stage in the first half.
Week 4 – Blocking Part 2
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Day 1: Block remaining sections of play.
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Day 2: Review all blocking from beginning to end.
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Day 3: Add expression and volume—encourage students to “play it big.”
Goal: Whole play is staged.
Week 5 – Deepening Performance
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Day 1: Character Walks – students walk around as their character (shy, bossy, silly, cool, etc.).
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Day 2: Run Act 1 with focus on character voices and gestures.
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Day 3: Run Act 2 with same focus.
Goal: Build character consistency and stage confidence.
Week 6 – First Full Run-Throughs
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Day 1: Run the entire play with scripts. Don’t stop unless necessary.
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Day 2: Notes + problem-solving (fix pacing, overlapping lines, entrances).
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Day 3: Run again with improvements.
Goal: Students see the “big picture” and practice stamina.
Week 7 – Polishing
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Day 1: Work specific tricky scenes (fast dialogue, comic timing).
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Day 2: Add simple props/costumes (notebook, backpacks, hats). Practice using them.
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Day 3: Full run in performance order with props.
Goal: The play feels polished and performance-ready.
Week 8 – Performance Week
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Day 1: Dress rehearsal (costumes, props, entrances, exits).
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Day 2: Final run (no stopping, treat as a show).
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Day 3: Performance! Invite another class, families, or record it. End with a cast celebration.
Goal: Students share their work proudly.
✨ Tips for this play
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It’s written as a variety show style (different skits about school), so you can easily split rehearsal into chunks.
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If you have a large class, you can double-cast certain roles or give students cameo bits.
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Keep rehearsals fun—some scenes are silly and work best when students exaggerate.
Student Rehearsal Calendar
Play: The Weird, Wild and Wonderful Days of School
Performance Date: Week 8
Week 1 – Getting Started
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🎲 Icebreaker games & improv fun
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📖 Read the play together
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🎭 Casting – everyone gets a role!
Week 2 – Meet Your Character
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📖 Read scenes with your part
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🎭 Talk about your character (What are they like? How do they act?)
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🎤 Practice voices, expressions, and emotions
Week 3 – Blocking (Part 1)
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🎭 Learn where to stand, sit, and move for the first half of the play
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🤸 Try out gestures and movement
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🔁 Run the first half together
Week 4 – Blocking (Part 2)
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🎭 Stage the second half of the play
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🔁 Run through from beginning to end (with stopping)
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🎤 Practice using louder voices and bigger emotions
Week 5 – Becoming Your Character
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🚶 Walk and talk like your character
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🎭 Practice Act 1 with character voices and actions
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🎭 Practice Act 2 with character voices and actions
Week 6 – Full Play Run
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🎬 Run the whole play (with scripts)
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📝 Fix entrances, lines, and timing
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🔁 Do another full run with improvements
Week 7 – Adding Props & Costumes
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🎒 Bring simple props (notebooks, backpacks, hats, etc.)
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🎭 Practice tricky scenes (comedy timing, group scenes)
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🎬 Full run with props and costumes
Week 8 – Showtime!
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🎭 Day 1: Dress Rehearsal (full costumes + props)
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🎬 Day 2: Final Run (no stopping!)
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🌟 Day 3: Performance Day – Have fun, do your best, take a bow!
✨ Student Tips
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Always bring your script.
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Highlight your lines.
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Practice 5–10 minutes at home.
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Be supportive—cheer each other on!
