The most effective way is to use a structured, step-by-step approach that helps students gradually build confidence and skills. Teachers should focus on helping students understand their characters, speak clearly, and move.

Stage It provides a complete system that guides teachers through every step of the directing process.

Yes. Many successful school plays are directed by classroom teachers with no formal theater training.

Stage It was specifically written to help teachers without theater backgrounds produce excellent student performances.

When students move, speak, and interact as characters, they naturally grasp meaning. Tone, gesture, and intention clarify Shakespeare’s language in ways worksheets cannot.

Stage It scripts are written to:

Preserve Shakespeare’s original stories and themes
Reduce the amount of language to focus on action
Allow large groups of students to participate
Be staged successfully by non-actors

Teachers using performance-based Shakespeare instruction report higher student engagement, stronger comprehension, and increased confidence with complex texts.

Stage It provides short versions of Shakespeare’s plays edited specifically for students ages 9–12 and classroom performance based on research that shows that acting is a “developmental imperative” for this age group. If you’ve ever wondered why students are “natural born actors” during this stage of development, then Stage It helps to answer this question.

The techniques can also be adapted for slightly younger or older students.

Traditional Shakespeare scripts are written for professional adult actors. They are rarely practical for elementary or middle school classrooms.

Shakespeare adaptations focus on:

Clear storytelling
Manageable scene lengths
Flexible casting
Minimal technical requirements

The plays are designed so teachers do not need drama training. Blocking, pacing, and student comprehension are built into the structure of each script.

These adaptations are especially effective for:

Reluctant readers
English language learners
Students who learn best through movement and collaboration

By the end of the process, students understand Shakespeare because they have lived inside the story.

You will find a detailed breakdown under Outcomes & Standards. To summarize, students who participate in plays develop:

Confidence
Public speaking skills
Teamwork skills
Responsibility
Creativity

These skills help students succeed both academically and personally.

Yes! The scripts and resource material were created so you have control over how much material you would like to do. You could choose from four to forty minutes. You could choose to do a whole play, an Act, or even to collaborate with colleagues across a grade with each teacher doing one Act. It’s entirely up to you.

No. Once you’ve purchased the Stage It guide, then you will be provided with a code to download and use the materials, including four abridged plays, any way you like. There are no additional or hidden fees. Stage It has intentionally been priced as low as possible to make it easily accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions