On February 22, 2010, I presented an “Introduction to Drama Therapy” lab for the talented and exuberant freshmen and sophomores from the University of Michigan Department of Musical Theatre.  Most had never heard of drama therapy, so this was their first real taste of how drama and theater techniques can be used not just for entertainment but for profound healing and life transformation as well.

Students did improvisational warm-ups to get their bodies, voices, and energy moving and to develop spontaneity.  They learned about expanding emotional range through expressing different emotions with their bodies.  They tried a Playback Theater exercise in which  people told personal stories and saw portions of them acted out by others in the group for insight and emotional validation.  Through psychodramatic techniques such as family sculptures (creating a snapshot of one’s family using actors from the group) and role reversal, students experienced how enactments can provide a lot of information to the therapist quickly and can elicit awareness, empathy, forgiveness, and deep healing on the part of the client.

Finally, students had fun acting as if they already were the people they desired to be in the future–in this case, Tony Award winners walking the red carpet.  Drama Therapy can be a powerful tool to help people practice desired behaviors, feelings, characteristics, and life circumstances in order to get the ball rolling in the right direction. It helps them to begin to not only imagine a new and better life situation but to experience the joy and relief of having what they wish for NOW.

Intrigued?  Then please enjoy this video of highlights from my Introduction to Drama Therapy class.  Remember, you just may be witnessing our future Tony Award winners!

Intro to Drama Therapy from Kristi Davis on Vimeo.