Horizon Theatre
Horizon Theatre has been providing its Playwriting Residency program to high school and middle schools for over two decades. Our Playwriting Residencies offer schools an opportunity to expand curriculum and increase students’ writing and critical thinking skills in a fun, challenging and participatory format. The residency brings professional playwriting teaching artists into the classroom to teach students to write their own short play. The Playwriting Residency is designed to introduce playwriting skills which are applicable to many disciplines, and also to encourage submissions to Horizon’s New South Young Playwrights Contest and Festival. No prior knowledge of playwriting or theatre is required. Our curriculum uses hands-on techniques that take participants through the steps (e.g., format, character development, plot, resolution) that lead to each student writing their own short play by the end of the residency. Throughout the residency, teaching artists lead students through writing and acting exercises to build an ensemble environment, spur creativity and teach storytelling techniques. Peer critique techniques are taught and used in the development of each script. At the end of the residency, short plays created will be shared as a live or virtual reading. These may be performed by fellow students or professional actors and presented for the class only or for additional student audiences, as teacher goals and schedules allow.
The program cultivates writing skills, creativity, collaboration, self-awareness, confidence, and knowledge of theatre as an art form in participating students. The program gives access to the arts and teaches discipline, teamwork, analytical thinking, and problem solving to young people. The Playwriting Residency also introduces playwriting as a writing form that many students are not familiar with through standard curriculum. The Residencies also allow students to engage in an art form that encourages and develops group work, collaboration, and decision making—key components to a 21st-century education and workplace readiness.
Horizon Theatre Company’s mission is to connect people, inspire hope, and promote positive change through the stories of our times. We seek to inspire, celebrate, and build bridges between diverse audiences and to ignite new artists and audiences with a passion for theatre that connects to their lives.
Arts Disciplines: Theatre/Drama
Core Content Curriculum Areas: Theatre/Drama, Media Arts, English/Language Arts, Creative Writing, Storytelling, Media Writing
Specialized Content Areas: Arts Integration, STEAM, ELL (English Language Learners), Literacy, Character Education
Grade Levels: 6-8, 9-12
Special Populations:ELL (English Language Learners), At-Risk Students, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) students, LGBTQI+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex) students
Geographic Availability: Metro Atlanta, Remote to other parts of Georgia
Program Types:
School-based Classroom Workshop(s), School-based Afterschool Program, School-based Residency Program
Community-based Workshop(s)
Hybrid Online and In-Person Content for Schools, Hybrid Online and In-Person Content for Communities
Program Fees:
- 5-6 80-90-minute sessions or 8-10 50-60-minute sessions (8-10 contact hours).
- Residency Fee: $750, may be in person in Metro Atlanta or remote in other parts of Georgia. For in-person residency outside of Metro Atlanta, housing, travel and per diem are negotiated.
Artistic Profile:
Horizon Theatre Company’s mission is to connect people, inspire hope, and promote positive change through the stories of our times. We seek to inspire, celebrate, and build bridges between diverse audiences and to ignite new artists and audiences with a passion for theatre that connects to their lives. Horizon Theatre is committed to connecting diverse communities, while empowering the next generation of artists and art supporters. The program cultivates writing skills, creativity, collaboration, self-awareness, confidence, and knowledge of theatre as an art form in participating students. The program gives access to the arts and teaches discipline, teamwork, analytical thinking, and problem solving to young people regardless of their chosen career path, extracurricular activities, or hobbies. Our teaching artists have experience with creating safe spaces where students are comfortable working as an ensemble, sharing ideas, participating in group exercises, and giving constructive feedback on peer writing. The Playwriting Residency also introduces playwriting as a writing form that many students are not familiar with through standard curriculum. Playwriting is an easily accessible way to teach dramatic structure, plot, and character development—all of which are key components of good storytelling, writing, and public speaking. These are also areas addressed in national and state of Georgia performance standards. The Residencies also allow students to engage in an artform that encourages and develops group work, collaboration, and decision making—key components to a 21st-century education and workplace readiness. A long-term objective of the program is to identify and encourage young writers who will be our future writers for television and film, playwrights, journalists, theatre artists, and audiences, and to teach discipline, teamwork, creativity, empathy, analytical thinking, writing, and problem solving through playwriting.
Teaching Experience:
Amelia Fischer, Producing & Education Manager, joins Horizon after 10 years of freelance work as an actor, director, and theatre educator. She earned an M.F.A. from the University of Houston PATP, a B.A. from Coastal Carolina University, and trained with the Gainesville Theatre Alliance. Central to her dedication to theatre is Amelia’s belief in its value to our development as successful, empathetic, and fulfilled people. Amelia has created curricula and executed programming for aspiring artists in schools and in professional theatre conservatories. Her experience covers a wide range of ages including middle school, high school, university, and early professionals. Directing and assistant directing credits include shows with Tennessee Shakespeare Company, Rice University, Lamar University, and St. John’s Upper School. Amelia is the lead teacher for an outstanding team of professional teaching artists who facilitate our Playwriting Residencies throughout the metro Atlanta area.
Sample Programs:
- Playwriting Residency Program: Our Playwriting Residencies offer schools, arts centers, and organizations serving youth an opportunity to expand their curriculum/offerings and increase their students’ writing and critical thinking skills in a fun, challenging, and participatory format. The program is taught by one of our teaching artists who are also professional playwrights. The goal is to teach a group of students the necessary skills to write a short play. This program serves students in middle school and high school. It is designed to introduce playwriting skills and techniques which are applicable to many disciplines, and it will also raise awareness about and encourage submissions to Horizon’s New South Young Playwrights Festival (see info below). No prior knowledge of playwriting or theatre is required. Our curriculum, based on the National Young Playwrights Program, uses hands-on techniques that take participants through the necessary steps (e.g., format, character development, plot, crisis, resolution, and organizing concept) that lead to each student writing their own play by the end of the residency. During the sessions, students learn warm-up exercises, participate in lectures on dramatic structure, and learn to unleash their artistic voice. After discussing the basics of conflict, dialogue, and creating characters, students will begin writing an outline for their own short play or scene. Working with the playwright, students will continue to finesse their work as the program progresses. By the end of the sessions, the students can participate in either a class reading or a public reading of their work, as determined by each individual school.
Sample Lesson Plan:
- Listing ID: 6016