Social Thinking at the Theater

Using My Social Filter
at the Theater

Focusing on being the best performer I can be

The Theater System

• A Theater Group is a system because it involves a group of parts that work together to do a job.

• The function of the theater group is to present a successful play.

• Each person in a theater has their own function to make a play a success.

The Director's Function

• The function of the director is to tell the actors how to perform.

• The director gives feedback to the actors to help them to do their best.

• Only the director should perform the director's function.

Multiple Choice

Whose job is it to tell other actors how to perform?

• The director

• The other actors

• The tech crew

Multiple Choice

The director is busy with one actor, and I notice another actor made a mistake.

I should ...

• Give the actor feedback myself

• Tell the director about the actor's mistake

• Assume the director will handle this situation themself when they have time

The Actor's Function

• The function of the actor is to sing, dance, and perform the best they can.

• The actor needs to listen to feedback from the director to improve their performance.

• The actor's job is never to give feedback to other actors.

• When I have a thought about another actor's performance, I need to use my social filter.

Multiple Choice

What is the actor's function?

• To be the best actor they can be

• To make sure the entire play is as good as it can possibly be

• To tell all the other actors and dancers how to do their job

• To keep the director informed about everyone else's performance

Review - My Social Filter

• Every day I have many thoughts.

• Some of my thoughts will help people think I'm cool.

• I can say these thoughts out loud.

• The rest might give people weird thoughts.

• I need to keep these thoughts in my brain.

Multiple Choice

I see a performer make a mistake with their lines on stage.

I have a great strategy for remembering your lines.

I should...

• Tell the actor that they messed up and I have a better strategy

• Focus on using my strategy to remember my own lines

• Roll my eyes and make an annoyed sound every time the actor messes up

Multiple Choice

Everyone is learning some new choreography.

I see one dancer who is slightly off beat.

I should ...

• Point out the dancer to the director so they can give feedback

• Yell out to the dancer that they need to speed up

• Wait for the dancer to finish and then tell them later that they need to work on being on beat

• Focus on mastering my own steps so I can be the best dancer I can be

Effects of Feedback

• When I tell other actors what to do, my goal is to make the play better.

• But really, I make the play worse because I make the other actor's nervous about my feedback.

• They also get annoyed at me for getting involved and wish I would focus on myself.

• The director also feels frustrated, because they have their own feedback for the actors and do not want me involved.

Multiple Select

When I give feedback to other actors, the other actors feel ___.

(Pick 2!)

• Happy to be getting attention

• Nervous because they don't know what I am going to say

• Annoyed because they want me to mind my own business

• Thankful to hear the right thing to do

Multiple Select

When I give feedback to other actors, the director feels ___.

(Pick 2!)

• Grateful because then they don't need to handle it

• Frustrated because they have their own ideas of what the actors should focus on

• Annoyed because they want me to mind my own business

• Excited to see me so interested in the performance

Open Ended

"I might want to give feedback to other actors because ___,

but I keep my thoughts in my brain because ___."

What if someone asks?

• If another actor asks for feedback, I should find something positive to comment on.

• "I loved the way you smiled!"

• "That jump was so high!"

• "Your line was so clear."

• I should only give this positive feedback if someone asks for my opinion.

• I should keep any negative or critical feedback in my brain.

Multiple Choice

Giving positive feedback on people's performance is okay when ___.

• Whenever I want to

• When they ask for feedback

• Positive feedback is never okay

Multiple Choice

Giving negative feedback on people's performance is okay when ___.

• Whenever I want to

• When they ask for feedback

• Negative feedback is never okay

Multiple Choice

Someone finishes their scene and says, "So, what did you think?"

I noticed they were off-beat and off-key but they had a great smile.

What should I say?

• "You should listen carefully to the beat next time."

• "I think you need to practice the notes a little more."

• "You looked so happy up there!"

• "I think I could have done it better."

Open Ended

"Next time I am at Theater, I will have more expected behavior by ___."