Since I started using drama in teaching over 40 years ago, I’ve found that drama builds personal character. This is done through many of its interactive processes such as planning, rehearsing, devising, evaluating, and critiquing others. During the acting process, actors must interpret, analyze, discuss, and imitate the character traits of the roles they play in a given story. Additionally, other skills such as making and keeping commitments, improving audience behaviors which impact the specific behaviors of others, listening, and responding with empathy are key to the art form. These skills apply to other areas beyond drama and serve to promote positive character development. You will find that drama tools will equip the students with valuable life skills. My latest blog post up on OneStopDRAMAShop.com contains a chart outlining drama’s use in building personal character.
