TAKE A BOW
Now that you've seen the show, let's unpack.
Evaluating works of art can be challenging. Let's walk through some guided questions and activities to round out your experience.
1. ON THE BUS
Here are some questions that you can use to guide conversation on the way back to school:
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Is there an antagonist? Who is it? Why? (Is there more than one?)
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What was your favorite part of the story?
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Was there a particular technical element that stuck out to you?
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If you have never seen A Christmas Carol before- was it what you expected? Why or why not? If you have seen it- was this version better than others? How?
If you want to go more in depth with your students, here is an activity that invites deeper critical thinking.
2. CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
EXPLORING THEMES
Guide a classroom discussion on the themes of A Christmas Carol, some of which are listed below. Then, use the attached lesson plan to explore these themes in more depth.
Body Image & Self-Acceptance
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The title itself challenges societal beauty standards.
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Ana, the protagonist, learns to embrace her body and reject the pressure to conform to unrealistic ideals.
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The play celebrates the idea that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
Possible activity just on this theme
Female Empowerment & Solidarity
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Set in a garment factory, the story highlights the strength and resilience of working-class women.
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The women support each other through personal and professional struggles.
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Ana’s journey is one of finding her voice and asserting her independence.
Family Expectations vs. Personal Dreams
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Ana faces tension between her Mexican-American family’s traditional values and her own aspirations.
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Her mother wants her to stay home and help the family, while Ana dreams of going to college.
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This theme reflects the generational and cultural conflicts many first-generation children experience.
Class & Labor
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The setting in a sweatshop underscores issues of economic inequality, immigrant labor, and workers’ rights.
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The women’s labor is undervalued, yet they take pride in their work and support each other.
A DEEPER LOOK
Behind the scenes: Visit the show page on our website for more.
Discover videos, photos, and press coverage about the show, as well as more information about the creative team (playwright, director, and designers), and behind the scenes photos and stories at the bottom of the page!
Visit the A Christmas Carol show page for more about the show.
Follow us on Instagram @alleytheatre for updates and behind the scenes about each upcoming production.
THANK YOU!
"HOUSTON, THIS IS YOUR THEATRE!"
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