Thanks to support from the Sheldon Reese Foundation, BHCT is pleased to be able to offer, at no cost, workshops and short-term residencies to our local schools. ​The cross-curricular benefits of drama in the classroom are well-documented, and include improvement in critical thinking, collaboration, listening, communication, and emotional awareness. Our residencies are tailor-made to address the specific requests and needs of educators and their students. Teachers interested in inviting a BHCT teaching artist into their classroom should email [email protected] to start building a lesson plan custom made to fit their needs and goals.  In addition to visiting classrooms, BHCT has also hosted classes and homeschool pods at the Performing Arts Center for on-site workshops.

Bring Antigone to Your Classroom!

Dive into one of the most powerful stories from classical Greek theatre with our Antigone classroom workshops! Our teaching artists will visit local classrooms to lead interactive workshops exploring the timeless themes of family, justice, and civic responsibility. Through short, hands-on activities, students will connect with the play’s characters, conflicts, and historical context. These workshops are designed to inspire discussion, critical thinking, and creativity, bringing the stage directly to your students.
 
Tailored Workshops for Every Classroom:

• History Classes: Explore the political and social context of Ancient Greece, the role of law and power, and how these themes still resonate today.
• English Classes: Analyze character, conflict, and themes while practicing critical reading and discussion skills.
• Drama Classes: Engage in interactive exercises that bring the story to life on stage, exploring voice, movement, and ensemble work.

 
Each workshop is flexible and hands-on, making Antigone exciting and accessible for students.
 
And why not pair a workshop with a chance to see the show itself! Participating classrooms will get access to $10 student tickets – or bring the whole class and take advantage of BHCT discounts for groups of ten or more!

For more details contact Artistic Director Merlyn Q. Sell at [email protected].

SCHOOLS WE HAVE SERVED

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
CHILDREN’S HOUSE MONTESSORI
EAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
GENERAL BEADLE ELEMENTARY
GRANDVIEW ELEMENTARY
HERMOSA ELEMENTARY
HORACE MANN ELEMENTARY
MEADOWBROOK ELEMENTARY
​NEW UNDERWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
PINEDALE ELEMENTATY
​CUSTER HIGH SCHOOL
RAPID CITY YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES

RAPID CITY CHRISTIAN
ROBBINSDALE ELEMENTARY
SOUTH CANYON ELEMENTARY
​SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL
​SOUTHWEST MIDDLE SCHOOL
ST. ELIZABETH SETON ELEMENTARY
ST. THOMAS MORE HIGH SCHOOL
ST. THOMAS MORE MIDDLE SCHOOL
STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL
WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL
​ELIZABETH SETON ELEMENTARY

TEACHING ARTISTS

Dave DeChristopher: During his twenty-four years in New York City, he was a prolific artist-in-the schools, teaching with DreamYard, L.E.A.P., The Sewanee Writers Conference, Young Playwrights, and the Greenwood Theater Company. Before coming to Rapid City, Dave spent more than a decade in his native Toledo, Ohio, where he taught acting classes at the University of Toledo and led the International Baccalaureate in Theatre at Notre Dame Academy, also coaching its nationally ranked speech team. 

Morgan Wilson  is the Interim Education and Outreach Director for BHCT and instructs the Musical Theatre course at Fusion Dance Studio. She has a bachelors degree in Musical Theatre, a minor in Music, and a certificate in Arts Administration. Morgan enjoys facilitating a creative environment, with a focus in collaboration, for students to grow through a variety of exercises to build on their skills in improvisation, devising, and the writing of theatrical scenes.

Merlyn Q. Sell is the Artistic Director for the Black Hills Community Theatre and has a Bachelors in Theatre and an M.F.A. in Shakespeare & Performance. Besides bringing the works of Shakespeare to life through performance, Merlyn specializes in workshops that emphasize reading comprehension, creative writing and problem solving, collaboration, and focus.

Heidi Dehn has a background in technical design and stage management. She has an exhaustive knowledge of the inner workings of a theatrical production and can walk students through the logistical requirements of theatre-making as well as the creative thinking required backstage.

Interested in a BHCT School Residency?
Contact Us
By phone 605-394-2250 or email morganbhct.org