Activity: Pre-Show Viewing and Discussion
National Standards, Theatre (9-12)
Content Standard #2: Acting by developing, communicating, and sustaining characters in improvisations and informal or formal productions
Achievement Standard, Proficient:
a) Students analyze the physical, emotional, and social dimensions of characters found in dramatic texts from various genres and media
Have your students watch this short video on the life and times of George Seurat from YouTube.
Have them answer these questions while the video goes on.
Question 1: Who did George spend most of his time with as a kid, his mother of father? His Mother
Question 2: What art style is George Seurat best known for? Pointillism
Question 3: Where did George Seurat go after he left the military? Paris
Activity 2: Pre-Show Activity
National Standards, Theatre (9-12)Content Standard #6: Comparing and integrating art forms by analyzing traditional theatre, dance, music, visual arts, and new art forms
Achievement Standard, Advanced:
a) Students compare the interpretive and expressive natures of several art forms in a specific culture or historical period
What You Need:
enough note cards for entire class, the 5x8 kind work best
regular #2 pencils, enough for entire class
What You Do:
- Begin by discussing Georges Seurat with students. Specifically, his use of dots to make pictures.
- Hand out note cards and pencils.
- Tell students to make a picture only using dots and small dashes on the note card. It works best to do some kind of landscape but this is the time to let the kids be creative. Some amazing things can be done with just dots on a page.
- Have the students try to fill up as much of the paper as possible.
Activity: Pre-Show Reading and Discussion
National Standards, Theatre (9-12)
Content Standard #2: Acting by developing, communicating, and sustaining characters in improvisations and informal or formal productions
Achievement Standard, Proficient:
a) Students analyze the physical, emotional, and social dimensions of characters found in dramatic texts from various genres and media
(This a brief discussion between George, the main character of the play and Jules an older, well respected artist. Jules looks upon George as he is sketching in the park.)
JULES: Working on Sunday again? You should give yourself a day off.
GEORGE: Why?
JULES: You must need time to replenish - or does your well never run dry? Drawing my servants? Certainly, you could find more colorful subjects.
GERGE: Who should I be sketching?
JULES: How about that pretty friend of yours. Now why did I see her arm-in-arm with the baker today? She is a pretty subject.
GEORGE: Yes...
JULES: Your life needs spice, George. Go to some parties. That is where you'll meet perspective buyers. Have some fun. The work is bound to reflect -
GEORGE: You don't like my work, do you?
JULES: I did once.
GEORGE: You find it too tight.
JULES: People are talking about your work. You have your admirers, but you -
GEORGE: I am using a different brushstroke.
JULES: Always changing! Why keep changing?
GEORGE: Because I do not paint for your approval.
JULES: And I suppose that is why I like you.
Discussion questions:
What does this except tell us about how George spends his life? Would you say that his work consumes him?
From this excerpt what can you say about Jules as a person. Does he seem relaxed in his life and art?
From this excerpt what can you say about the art world of the time? Why would drawing servants be an odd thing?
Activity: Post-Show Class Discussion
Content Standard #5: Researching by evaluating and synthesizing cultural and historical information to support artistic choices
Achievement Standard, Proficient:
a) Students identify and research cultural, historical, and symbolic clues in dramatic texts, and evaluate the validity and practicality of the information to assist in making artistic choices for informal and formal productions
Discussion: Dot has a child outside of wedlock and gets together with another man.
Ask: What kind of life would you expect Dot to live with a child outside of wedlock? By going to America how her life might be easier of harder?
Discuss: Some characters in the musical are rather one-dimensional and in some cases are portrayed
by cut-outs made of cardboard.
Ask: Are we meant to care about these characters? Why or why not?
Discuss: In the second act, George is showcasing his artwork and campaigning for money. What does this say about the modern art world?
Ask: Why is it so important to get money to continue working on your art?
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