Raves, Craves, and Not So Faves – Dramatic Fanatic
July 30, 2007 by Polly
Filed under Family Fun
This week I am raving about Dramatic Fanatic, a whodunit mystery theater kit for birthday parties, classrooms, or just fun. Each kit comes complete with a mystery game in which each child plays a wacky character involved in a silly crime. Each child acts out an assigned role and the object of the game is for the kids to figure which one of the characters committed the crime. The kit comes complete with a script and roles for up to 16 children and are available for either boys or girls. A minimum of 8 children are required for the game.
Recently used at my daughter’s 9 year old birthday party, this was a huge hit. The girls loved coming dressed in character, acting out the mystery, and solving the crime. A truly original idea that offers loads of fun.
SHAKEARA on Thu, 15th Jan 2009 9:24 pm
i love this.. im in drama n we r doing it rite now ..well diz week… cant wait
Dafna on Wed, 7th Jul 2010 4:43 pm
Yes, I went to the Dramatic Fanatic website and I agree this is an amazing drama activity to do with children at a birthday party or even in a drama class from week to week. I am a drama teacher and I recognize many sound drama skills in it. Bravo to its creators!
I want to tell you about another kind of drama activity that can be “stood up” with dialogue and costumes but begins as an interactive storytelling game. This too has great potential for birthday party fun.
Co-authored by me, a drama educator and my partner an educational psychologist, Pass-Around Storytelling:The Shared Storytelling Game comes as a card deck that you can fit in your pocket and play with two or more players anywhere. Each card has a storystarter which sets up the story with an obstacle the characters have to overcome. Also listed on the card are “Think Abouts” that suggest many directions the story can go in. The story is passed from player to player until it is complete.
All the players become storytellers together, making up the story is a shared group experience. No one person is responsible for the success of the story it is a group effort. The game has clear rules and instructions for sharing the fun. The directions even explain how interactive storytelling play reinforces all kinds of important life skills. After the story is created it is so much fun to stand it up and act it out! See for yourselves at http://www.passaroundthemagic.com.