Julia Magnasco keynote speaker at 9th annual Before School Workshop

By Karyn Elliott, First Stage Children's Theater

First Stage Education Director Julia Magnasco likes to get down to business.  Within moments of taking the stage at the 9th Annual Before School Workshop, Magnasco had 350 teachers out of their seats, attempting to express their emotions in an outward physical way.  She was illustrating a point:  "The number one rule in making creative drama work in your classroom is that you can’t ask your students to do something that you’re not willing to do. So stand up!  Try it!" urged Magnasco.

Over 350 teachers gathered for the 9th Annual Before School Workshop, held at Hales Corners Lutheran Church.  Photo courtesy of LSSES.

First Stage Company Manager Desi Rosas with students.  Photo courtesy of LSSES.

First Stage Teaching Artist Angel Mullen in a breakout session.  Photo courtesy of LSSES.

Every August, Lutheran Special School & Education Services hosts a workshop designed to invigorate and inspire teachers from south Wisconsin districts.  Judy Schultz, area principal, invited Magnasco to give the keynote speech after participating in Magnasco's professional development class for educators through Alverno College.  Said Schultz, "Our teachers are always appreciative of the diverse and informative topics we cover at the Before School Workshop.  They are able to walk away with some fresh new perspectives to bring into their classrooms.  First Stage is a great benefit to our program!"

Julia Magnasco (back row, fourth from left) with First Stage teaching artists.  Photo courtesy of LSSES.

Magnasco grew up in Milwaukee and spent a lot of time at First Stage both as a student in the Academy and as a young performer.  Her love of theater led her to a master's degree in child drama from Arizona State University.  Today, as First Stage's education director, Magnasco heads up a staff of educators, and together they go into dozens of area classrooms, using creative drama as a new way to teach traditional curriculum.  

To learn more about bringing a First Stage teaching artist to a classroom, contact workshops@firststage.org or (414) 267-2962.

To learn more about the Alverno professional development class, contact julia@firststage.org or (414) 267-2971.