Dialogue, Discussion, Drama:
Dealing with Bullying, Peer-Pressure
and Prejudice in Children Ages 8-12
TEACHER TRAINING SCHEDULE
8:30 - 9:00am: Coffee & Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 9:45am: Introduction
to Urban Improv and Warm Up
9:45–
11:00am: Bullying
• Role play with Urban Improv actors
•Group discussion
11:00–
11:15am: Break
11:15 -
12:30pm: Peer Pressure
• Role play with Urban Improv actors
•Group discussion
12:30 -
1:15pm: Lunch
1:15–
2:30pm: Prejudice and Homophobic Language
• Role play with Urban Improv actors
•Group discussion
2:30–
2:45pm: Break
2:45 -
3:30pm: Introduction to UI 4th Grade Teacher-Administered
Supplemental Curriculum
• Presentation by the Trauma Center
3:30 -
4:15pm: Discussion, Wrap-Up & Evaluation
The
Urban Improv Training Team
Toby Dewey holds
a B.A. in English from Beloit College and a M.Ed. from
Antioch College. Dewey also is director of the Charles
River Creative Arts program, a multi-arts summer program
for children ages 8-15.
Ron Jones, a founding member of Urban
Improv, has been an actor, improv artist and educator
in the Boston area for over 15 years. Ron has been a cast
member and director of ImprovBoston and the U.S.
Improvisational Theatre League as well as an actor in
numerous stage and
industrial productions.
Merle Perkins has been with Urban Improv
since its founding in 1992. She has performed with Wheelock
Family Theatre, Lyric Stage and other Boston theater companies,
and recently appeared in the last season of Six Feet
Under. Merle is an alumna of Boston University and
Walnut Hill School of Performing Arts.
Kevin Smith is a graduate of the Hollywood
High School of the Performing Arts in Los Angeles and
the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In addition to
music, he has worked with many local theater troupes and
teaches at Creative Arts at Park.
Faith Soloway, musical director, writes
and performs in original musical productions and is a
resident artist with The Freelance Players. She also works
at Charles River Creative Arts program during the summer,
where she composes and musically directs.
Joseph Spinazzola, Ph.D. is the Executive
Director of the Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute.
He has overseen the evaluation of Urban Improv for the
past four years and is currently is involved in co-developing,
with Urban Improv, new curricula to enhance programming
for elementary school teachers as well as middle-school
students exposed to violence and trauma.
Dr. Marla Zucker, Ph.D. is the Assistant
Director of the Trauma Center. Dr. Zucker is currently
the project coordinator of the youth violence prevention
program, collaborating with Urban Improv, and works clinically
with traumatized children, adolescents, and adults.
