Writing being paired with history to create a theatre script

By Lauren Radomski (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Monday, February 25, 2008

Calling all young playwrights: The Otter Tail County Historical Society and Fergus Falls school district are partnering to give area students a lesson on scriptwriting and local history.

A June workshop will give students in grades seven through 12 an opportunity to learn about history theater writing — and put what they’ve learned into practice. In honor of Minnesota’s 150th anniversary this year, students will create a play focused on themes from Otter Tail County history.

“They’ll be selecting people and events from county history that they can develop into a theater script,” said Historical Society Director Chris Schuelke. “And that script will be the basis for (a) Fergus Falls High School theater department play.”

The Historical Society hosted a similar event in 1997 in honor of Fergus Falls’ 125th anniversary. Part of the process involves using primary and other sources to research county history and select a focus. When it comes to actually writing the script, Roger Neibor, a playwright from the Twin Cities, will help guide students as they bring their ideas to the stage.

“It’s a creative, fluid process that’s really very interesting,” Schuelke said. “It’s not just taking another script and developing it.”

Participants learn “that history isn’t just a dull topic,” he said. “It’s fluid and it has relevance today. The more we know about our past, the more we can predict the future.”

As the end of the school year draws closer, students will be able to register for the workshop through Community Education. Workshop dates are June 9-13 and 15-17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Historical Society. The cost will be roughly $40. The workshop is made possible by grants from the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission and the 544 Education Foundation.

---

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?

---