What kinds of summer work make sense for a drama class?

The most effective summer drama assignments build both knowledge and active skill. Reading a play script and completing a brief character analysis is strong for higher-level drama students. Preparing a one-minute monologue to perform on the first day of fall class keeps performance skills active. Watching three to five professional productions, live or filmed, develops an eye for what strong acting looks like. Journal writing about performances observed over the summer develops critical vocabulary. Match the assignment to the level of the course students are entering.

How do you make a summer drama assignment feel worthwhile rather than like extra work?

Give students genuine choice. Instead of assigning a specific play, provide a list of 15 plays and let students choose one that interests them. Instead of requiring a traditional essay, let students record a five-minute spoken reflection on what they observed in a filmed production. Frame the assignment around curiosity: 'Choose a role you would love to play someday, find a monologue from that character, and spend the summer making it yours.' Students who feel agency over the work invest in it differently.

Should summer drama work be graded in the fall?

That depends on the school's policy and whether you can assess the work meaningfully. If students prepare a monologue over the summer, a first-day performance gives you something to assess. If students read a play, a short written or spoken reflection is assessable. If the assignment is observation-based, a structured discussion on the first day can reveal who engaged seriously with the work. Ungraded summer work is fine if it is framed clearly as preparation rather than obligation.

What resources should a drama teacher include for students who cannot attend live theater over the summer?

Stream-based theater is widely available. The National Theatre at Home has filmed productions of high-quality UK theater. PBS Great Performances archives many filmed stage productions. BroadwayHD offers streaming Broadway productions. The Globe Theatre's YouTube channel has full-length Shakespeare productions. Most public libraries have access to Kanopy, which includes filmed theater. Families who cannot afford or travel to live theater can still watch professional productions through these free or low-cost options.

How does Daystage help drama teachers send summer work newsletters?

Daystage lets you send a formatted summer newsletter with clickable links to streaming resources, a list of recommended scripts, and the fall first-day assignment details. You can schedule the send for the last week of school so it arrives when students are transitioning out of the school mindset and into summer. The format is easy to save and return to, which matters when students pick up the assignment weeks after receiving the newsletter.

Drama Teacher Newsletter: Summer Work Newsletter

Summer is when drama students either maintain and deepen their theater knowledge or let it sit untouched for three months. A thoughtfully designed summer work newsletter gives students a reason to stay engaged with theater over the break, whether through reading scripts, watching professional productions, or preparing a monologue they actually want to perform. Done well, it produces students who arrive in September visibly further along than they were in June.

This guide covers what summer drama assignments are worth assigning, how to write the newsletter that communicates them, and how to frame the work as an opportunity rather than an obligation.

Frame the assignment around something students actually want to do

Summer drama work succeeds or fails based on whether students see it as a genuine chance to develop rather than a last school assignment that chases them into July. The framing matters. "Over the summer, I am asking you to spend some time in the world of theater, on your own terms. The specific options are below, but the spirit of the assignment is this: pick something you are genuinely curious about, engage with it seriously, and come back in September with something to say about what you experienced." That kind of invitation produces different summer engagement than a checklist.

Offer two or three assignment options at different commitment levels

Not all students have the same access to time, resources, or space over the summer. Offer options. Option A, the most intensive: prepare a two-minute monologue to perform on the first day of class. Choose a character from any play written after 1980. The monologue must be fully memorized. Option B, the intermediate option: read one full-length play from the recommended list and complete a one-page character analysis of the protagonist. Option C, the observation option: watch two professional productions (live or filmed) and write a two-paragraph reflection on each, describing one performance choice that stood out and why.

Provide a recommended script list organized by level

Students who are asked to read a play need a curated list, not a direction to "find something good." Provide a tiered list organized by complexity. For beginning drama students: "Annie," "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," "The Phantom Tollbooth." For intermediate: "Fences," "The Importance of Being Earnest," "A Raisin in the Sun." For advanced: "Angels in America," "The Children's Hour," "Copenhagen." Include one sentence about each play so students can choose based on genuine interest.

Recommend filmed productions for students who cannot see live theater

List free or low-cost streaming options with specific production titles. "The National Theatre at Home (stream.nationaltheatre.org.uk) has filmed productions of 'Hamlet' with Benedict Cumberbatch, 'Phedre' with Helen Mirren, and 'War Horse.' PBS Great Performances (pbs.org) archives filmed Broadway and off-Broadway productions. BroadwayHD (broadwayhd.com) offers a subscription service with hundreds of filmed Broadway shows. Most public libraries provide free access to Kanopy, which includes the Criterion Collection and filmed theatrical productions." Specific titles and platforms are more useful than a general suggestion to watch theater.

Give students a framework for observing productions critically

If students are watching a production as part of their summer assignment, give them specific things to notice. "When watching a filmed production this summer, observe three things: what the actor does with their body in the moments when they are not speaking; how the director uses the space to show the power relationships between characters; and one moment where the acting surprised you in a way you did not expect. Write down your observations immediately after watching, before the specifics fade." Students who watch theater with a framework learn dramatically more from each production than students who watch passively.

Include a monologue preparation guide for students choosing that option

For students who choose to prepare a monologue over the summer, include brief guidance on how to find and prepare one. "Choose a monologue that is approximately 90 seconds to two minutes in length, from a play rather than a film. It should be age-appropriate and within a range of emotion you can access genuinely. Once you have chosen it, read the entire play so you understand the context. Then work on memorization: first memorize the words, then work on meaning, then work on physical life. Running it for a family member or friend once you have it memorized is the most useful last step before September."

Share a sample summer work newsletter excerpt

Here is a brief example from an Advanced Drama summer work newsletter:

"This summer, choose one of three options. Option 1: prepare a two-minute memorized monologue from any play written after 1970. Bring it to class on September 8 ready to perform. Option 2: read one play from the list below and write a one-page character analysis. Option 3: watch two professional productions and write a two-paragraph reflection on each. Completed work is due September 8. The monologue option is the highest-impact choice for students who want to audition for the fall production, which begins the week of September 15. Questions? Email me at [email]. Have a great summer."

Close with fall start information and your contact

End the newsletter with the fall start date, the first-day agenda if you know it, and your email for summer questions. Students who know exactly what to expect on the first day of drama class return from summer more prepared and less anxious.