The Wizard of Oz & the ISY Learner Attributes
If you attended our students’ recent production of The Wizard of Oz, you would have been impressed by our students’ confidence, poise and sense of fun on stage. Their final Sunday night performance saw everything come together just as our students had hoped it would when they were introduced to the script less than three months earlier.
We obviously have a lot of talented actors, singers, and dancers but it takes more than talent to achieve what our students were able to achieve together in such a short space of time.
The Wizard of Oz was, in part, chosen as this year’s production as the main characters all demonstrate our ISY Learner Attributes of Compassion, Collaboration, Communication, Courage, Creativity, Critical Thinking and Reflection. Last week, we asked some student performers and Ms. Bekka Jensen, one of our directors, how focusing on these attributes contributed to the success of the production.
Compassion
Students: In theater you need to have a lot of compassion because it is a very non judgemental space. Everyone embarrasses themselves, but we didn’t tease each other for it or give people trouble for it, we just helped each other improve. Everyone had fun with it and everyone was very supportive. Having this kind of environment allowed people to not be afraid and feel comfortable to do their best. Everyone had patience and did not get angry or frustrated but helped each other, like helping others know where they need to be or what they need to be doing. We were especially compassionate with the younger kids. The teachers also set up a supportive environment. They told us from the beginning that we needed to help each other and support each other. People stepped in for each other when there were glitches in the music or sound and we looked out for each other in many other different ways.
Director: As directors, we made an effort to model compassion. We checked in with everyone and had mindfulness breaks. The students were very understanding, patient and helpful with each other. The older students were encouraged to support and help the younger students and the students did a great job gently guiding and supporting them, as well as their peers.
Scene from the Wizard of Oz
Communication
Students: We communicated a lot! Our communication was very fluid, respectful and clear which had to do with our compassion for each other. This was important when we were performing under pressure. We were good at listening to each other and we were able to understand if someone was stressed so we could help them.
Director: The physical part of communicating, projecting our voices was something students had to learn to do. In a play our body is a major communicator and that was important to understand too. A production like this is a great way to learn different ways of communicating.
Collaboration
Students: Everyone was having fun with each other. It was fun to get to know more people. Good collaboration requires good relationships and we enjoyed working together. High school students reached out to the younger children to make sure they felt involved. In many ways, the older kids showed leadership in the way they looked after and helped other students. We understood others’ roles as well as our own so we could help each other. We prompted each other if we forgot our lines and everyone was helping each other out so everyone could do their best work.
Director: This production was a collaboration in so many different ways; cross collaboration in ages, collaborating with the backstage crew to coordinate the movement of the props, as well as small groups working together to get things done and bring the play together. Teachers and students were stepping in to help others out however they could.
Courage
Students: Practicing so much helped us get the courage to get up on stage in front of the audience. We felt prepared. We also got courage from the people around us because we knew they would help us. Knowing everyone was there to support you and not laugh or make fun of you allows you to have the courage to be yourself and do your best. Our teachers encouraged us a lot. It didn’t feel like there was pressure to perform for them. It felt like the teachers were there to support us.
Director: The audition process can be intimidating. Singing is very personal. It takes courage to do something new. Most of the students had not been in a play before and it took courage to just choose to be a part of it. They had to audition and get onstage and do this alone. It also takes courage to be something other than you are and show emotions like the guard crying and the lion roaring. Acting takes a lot of courage.
Critical Thinking & Creativity
Students: Just the act of being in the play and having to play a different character takes a lot of creativity. We realized there were some things we couldn’t control so we had to think on our feet and just do what we could do. For example, we had to improvise when the mics were not working or there was a gap. We had to adapt but still stay in character. That took critical thinking. With all the practice we did we were immediately aware if something was wrong and that allowed us to adapt better. We also need to be creative when working with the younger students. Sometimes they would walk off stage or wander around the stage and we had to think how to bring them back while staying in character and not distract them.
Director: You are given a set of words, but you have to infer and create the context. What the words say is not exactly what they mean. You have to make the words come alive. The whole process of taking something that is on paper and making a world takes creativity and critical thinking. You are adapting to situations which show you have a good understanding of your character and your story. Acting requires a lot of critical thinking and creativity.
The cast and crew of the Wizard of Oz
Reflection
Students: We took time to reflect throughout the process as well as before and after rehearsal. We were always thinking about our performance and how we could improve it. We reflected after every scene and everytime we walked off the stage. That’s why our final performance was our best performance – everything we did we improved along the way.
Director: Reflection is such a big part of the process. We have to be reflecting throughout to move the play to a higher standard and continue to improve until we are happy with the performance. As directors, we encouraged and modelled reflection and the students ended up reflecting on their own.
Thank you to Hanni, Ty, Let Ya, Yunn, Harry, and Ms. Bekka for taking the time to speak with us about their experience in The Wizard of Oz. We are very proud of them and their castmates and everyone who was involved onstage and behind the scenes. Their insights into what made this production successful confirms that school productions are wonderful ways for students to develop an appreciation of the attributes that will help them be successful on and off stage and well into the future. We look forward to the next one!
The International School Yangon
20 Shwe Taungyar Street
Bahan Township
Yangon, Myanmar
+95 (0) 9 880 441 040