Education: In-School Touring Program

For the elementary school students, Lizard Lessons! — Delgado saw how fascinated children were with a lizard costume that had been used in the Playhouse production of Edward Albee’s Seascape, and she based this program of original staged plays based on a lizard character wearing that costume.

Presented in elementary schools, these age-appropriate “Louie the Lizard” plays focused on issues like love, acceptance, friendship and self-esteem. They also dealt with social issues that might be affecting children in this age group, such as bullying, self-image, problems faced by the physically challenged, expressing feelings in positive ways, conflict resolution, and having a single parent. Titles of just a few of these productions were “You Are What You Eat,” “Even Panthers Get the Blues,” and “It Takes Courage to be a Child.” Following performances, apprentices worked directly with the students in age-appropriate activities, asking questions about the play or teaching lyrics to a song tailored to their age group.

For the older students, Theater for a Difference –After an initial three seasons of presenting plays to Middle School and High School students, in 1991 Delgado initiated “Theater for a Difference” for this age group.

Apprentices performed in these specially-commissioned plays that were socially relevant and designed to help young adults make responsible choices. Issues covered included topics such as prejudice, peer pressure, familial violence, drug abuse, divorce, disabilities, school shootings. Following performances, apprentices engaged the students in a discussion about the play and the issues it addressed. A study guide was provided to teachers to continue these discussions in the classroom. The program’s impact in combating negative behavior in adolescents garnered ongoing financial support from the City of Miami’s police department community crime prevention funds. Additionally, the Miami affiliate of NBC frequently featured recordings of these plays on its program “The More You Know.” These plays were:

• 1987 Spoon River Anthology
• 1989 Willpower I
• Willpower Teacher Resource Guide
• 1990 Willpower II
• 1991 “Going for the Win,” a play dealing with drug and alcohol abuse in teens 
• 1992 “Agape,” an original musical dealing with teen friendship in an atmosphere of violence
• 1993 “Sweet Justice,” a drama about poverty and survival during Hurricane Andrew
• 1994 “BX Blues,” a play about gang violence, drugs, and inter-racial relationships
• 1995 “Breaking the Cycle,” a play exploring issues of domestic violence
  
• 1996 “Burning Dreams,” a drama focusing on teen sexuality, AIDS, and abstinence
• 1997 “All Colors of the Rainbow,” a direct look at racism
• 1998 “BX Blues,” repeat from 1994, by request
• 1999 “Breaking the Cycle,” repeat from 1995, by request 
• 2000 “Bang Bang You’re Dead,” a play focusing on teen violence and gun control
• 2001 “Never Nothin’ Again No More!” a play dealing with teen suicide
• 2002 “Romanza,” a play examining the events of 9/11
• 2003 “Boxes,” a play about teen decision-making
• 2004 “The Carriage,” a play focusing on teen self-discovery and responsibility

All these plays with the exception of “Bang, Bang You’re Dead” by William Mastrosimone were commissioned by the Coconut Grove Playhouse.

*Presented prior to initiation of “Theater for a Difference”

Workshops for Public School Drama Classes – Ms. Delgado invited drama classes from two schools to participate in a Greek tragedy as the chorus. She hired a professional director to work with them. Coming from two different schools, the students did not know one another. Each drama class was given options on how their chorus would be expressed (movement, song, rap, etc). The principal characters were performed by acting apprentices and professional actors. This was presented to an invited audience of teachers and staff in the theater’s mezzanine.

The “Young Playwrights Program” taught monologue writing to middle school and high school students