Scene Makers:
Create a Play
An afterschool enrichment program where kids will write and perform their own production
Fridays for 3rd–6th Grade, March 13 – June 24
Led by performer and theatre educator Talli Basile
The focus of this afterschool enrichment program will be devised theatre. Devised theatre is a scriptless, collaborative, ensemble-based style of performance in which a group of theatre makers come together to create, produce, and perform original work. It includes research, improvisation, and in-the-moment workshopping to generate never-been-done-before material. In this afterschool version of a devised theatre workshop, kids will be able to explore the power of teamwork, collaborative play, and personal storytelling. We will first learn the individual components that make up a play. Students will walk away with an understanding of the elements of a dramatic arc, as well as the different creative roles in theatre, including writing, directing, and design. Next, we will practice improvisation skills through games and team prompts. These activities will be both constructive and a chance to let loose. Improvisation will not only strengthen young artists’ creative impulses, but also serve as a way to gauge storytelling topics of interest in the room. Finally, using their newfound theatre-making skills and sources of inspiration, the class—working as one big team and taking turns in different creative roles—will devise a short play. By the end of the workshop, the hope is that students walk away empowered to continue creating their own work, telling stories they want to see on stage—stories that feel representative of who they are—and ultimately developing a habit of looking inward to become the artists and art they want to see.
Makers United Clubhouse, 237 Hancock Street
Fridays March 13–June 24
3:00–5:00 with afterschool pickup from A&L 305 United
$750 with aid scholarships available
Limited to 10 students
About Talli
Talli Basile (she/they) is a NYC-based multi-disciplinary actor/singer from Washington, D.C. Since birth, the performing arts have consumed their interests. Growing up, Talli trained as a singer and dancer. Their formal acting training began at the prestigious Duke Ellington School of the Arts. The revelation that film and theater could serve as powerful tools for social justice crystallized their calling. In 2023, Talli graduated from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, earning their BFA Acting degree. There, they honed their craft through rigorous training in the Meisner, Williamson, and William Esper techniques. A transformative third year studying and performing at Shakespeare's Globe in London equipped them with the confidence to command any stage.
As an artist, Talli wants to get their hands dirty. They aim to utilize their craft to shift the social paradigm, amplify the voices of underrepresented communities, and catalyze long-overdue societal change. Talli thrives on challenge. They'll take on bold projects, especially if they scare them. Talli is a comedian at heart, a physically dynamic, uniquely passionate performer who gives every character they embody a blazing inner life.
Some of their credits include Wednesday Woman at the Black Spectrum Theatre, Perish In the Flood featured in Columbia University’s New Play Series, and Unidentified Female at the Tank. Talli is pursuing a long-lasting career chock-full of joy, play, and contribution.
