education

We believe that arts education is a two-way conversation.

Whether we’re offering a traditional acting class, a theater talk, or one of our unique learning experiences, RealTime’s practices are rooted in collaborative, cooperative generative methods; clear + kind communication; and mutual respect. RealTime Arts’ founders have over 15 years’ collective training and experience teaching performing arts to learners of all ages– from elementary and middle school children to adults to seniors– and over 20 years' experience teaching at the high school and college level.

The RealTime Arts Education Program includes:

  • experiential, hands-on classes in devised theater, community-engaged theater, playwriting, acting, songwriting, producing your own work, and directing

  • lecture- and discussion-based classes on various performance topics

  • learning experiences centered on touring performances of our works about real people and real places, like People of Pittsburgh, Khürākī, and The Birth of Paper

  • experiential workshops for corporate teams and community groups

RealTime Learning Experiences

Below are some examples of our unique learning experiences.

SPORT Invention Workshop

For children, youth and adults of any age

In honor of humanity’s (& particularly Pittsburgh’s) passion for sports, RealTime’s SPORT workshops use devised theater practices to guide groups in the creation of a new and unique sport, while unearthing questions of social justice, equity, ethics, morality, cultural power structures, and more.

Working collaboratively, while taking into account all skill and ability levels in the group, participants grapple with questions like:

  • What type of sport does the world need now?

  • How do certain kinds of rules lead to certain kinds of outcomes, and how might that apply to the world you live in (diversity and equity in society, history, economics, politics)?

  • Who should be the winners and losers of your sport—and how should the group decide?

  • What type of situations do YOU want to see rehearsed in the world through the practice of your sport?

Program Type(s): Out-of-School and/or Summer, Performance / Workshop, Residency

Sub Disciplines: Creative Movement, Immersive Theatre, Improv, Performance Art, Storytelling, Theatre for Social Causes / Identity

Qualities & Intended Outcomes: Academic Goals, Anti Racist Anti Bias, Critical Thinking Problem Solving, Culturally Responsive, School Culture And Climate, Social Emotional, Social Justice

The Birth of Paper: Letter-Writing, Lebanon, and Humanitarian Theater

For high school + college students

The Birth of Paper was a transcontinental, live virtual theater piece involving over 60 pen pals, makers, artists, and volunteers in the cities of Beirut, Lebanon and Pittsburgh, PA in June of 2021. The project began with a letter exchange between strangers on two continents; continued with the creation and mailing of “gift packages” made by Pittsburgh artisans for the people of Beirut (packed by Pittsburgh volunteers); and ended with a series of live shows centering on this transmission of goods and goodwill among potential friends.

RealTime offers The Birth of Paper as an educational experience that connects two learning communities. Students from two different schools or universities engage in an analog pen pal exchange, leading to an interactive screening of the show that includes live chat with all participants and live commentary from the original actor, writer and director.

Program Type(s): Online / Virtual, Performance / Workshop

Sub Disciplines: Acting, Creative Writing (Fiction, Creative Nonfiction), General Music, Performance Art, Playwriting, Storytelling, Textile / Fiber, Theatre Appreciation, Theatre for Social Causes / Identity, Video

Qualities & Intended Outcomes: Academic Goals, Anti Racist Anti Bias, Critical Thinking Problem Solving, Culturally Responsive, Social Emotional, Social Justice

A Doll House (in a doll house)

For high school + college students

A Doll House (in a Doll House) is an online toy-theater rendition of Henrik Ibsen’s masterpiece A Doll House. Adhering tightly to Ibsen’s original text, the piece uses a slideshow platform and 3-inch-tall fuzzy Calico Critters dolls to bring the play to life in a tiny dollhouse. This makes this 1850's classic (required reading for many high school English programs) less intimidating, a little funny, and completely on-demand, unfolding at the student’s own pace.

RealTime has developed a live educational version that brings professional voice actors into the classroom to accompany the slide-based show.

Add-ons include a discussion of the history of realism, Ibsen, and the original play as a Western classic; and/ or a creative, hands-on workshop in unconventional adaptations, including elements of screenwriting, media and puppetry.

Program Type(s): Online / Virtual, Performance / Workshop, Residency

Sub Disciplines: Acting, Creative Writing (Fiction, Creative Nonfiction), Film, Media Arts Club, Playwriting, Puppetry, Screenwriting, Storytelling, Theatre Appreciation, Theatre History, Theatre for Social Causes / Identity

Qualities & Intended Outcomes: Academic Goals, Critical Thinking Problem Solving, Other, Social Emotional, Social Justice, Technical Skills

Financial Support: Information Not Provided

Khuraki: A Celebration of Afghanistan in Pittsburgh

For high school, college, + adult learners/ audiences

A 2019 nominee for Pittsburgh’s Mayor’s Award for Public Art, Khūrākī is a live cultural/ culinary performance designed to challenge Americans’ perceptions about Afghanistan, while supporting a group of Afghan female refugees in their goal to start a collectively-owned food business in Pittsburgh.

Performances feature the Afghan women’s personal stories performed live, Afghan food prepared by the women, live Afghan and Western music, and moments of immersive cultural experience.

Khuraki is a scale-able performance with a length between 20 minutes to 90 minutes, accompanied by one Afghan dish or a full meal, depending upon the needs of the host school or organization.

Add-ons include post-show discussions with members of the refugee resettlement, public art and/or Afghan communities; “behind-the-scenes” discussions with the creative team and the Afghan collaborators; and even inclusion of students as actors, musicians, stage managers or designers in the production itself.

Program Type(s): Performance / Workshop

Sub Disciplines: Acting, Creative Writing (Fiction, Creative Nonfiction), General Music, Immersive Theatre, Music Appreciation, Playwriting, Storytelling, Theatre Appreciation, Theatre for Social Causes / Identity

Qualities & Intended Outcomes: Anti Racist Anti Bias, Culturally Responsive, Social Emotional, Social Justice

Musical Theater: Song, Story, Swag and Society

For high school, college + adult learners

A fun, informative and eye-opening look at how American Musicals and music theater have developed throughout history to thrill, entertain, make money—and raise questions about serious social issues, from racism to sexism to homophobia.

We'll look at how theater, music, and civic discourse have worked together from the very beginning of Western performance history, from Greek Classical times through vaudeville through Musical Theater's golden age in the 40's-50's, all the way up to Hamilton.

Classes may include live performances and guest artists. Taught by RealTime co-founders Molly Rice and Rusty Thelin, who met while working on a new musical in NYC in 2010.

Program Type(s): Online / Virtual, Out-of-School and/or Summer, Residency

Sub Disciplines: Acting, Creative Writing (Fiction, Creative Nonfiction), Criticism / Critique, Dance Appreciation, Dance History, Drama Club, General Music, Music Appreciation, Music History, Musical Theatre, Playwriting, Songwriting, Theatre Appreciation, Theatre History, Theatre for Social Causes / Identity

Qualities & Intended Outcomes: Academic Goals, Critical Thinking Problem Solving, Culturally Responsive, Social Justice

Learn more about our Education offerings

Photo Credits

RealTime Arts; Matt Metrovich; Heather Mull