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Acting Antics
A Theatrical Approach to Teaching Social
Understanding to Kids and Teens
with Asperger Syndrome
Cindy B. Schneider
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia
“Lesson from the Coach” (pp.138–39), “The Conversation” (pp.150–51) and “The Bully” (pp.152–53) copyright © Susan
March 2007. Reproduced with permission.
Extract on p.19 from Social Skills Training for Children and Adolescents with Asperger Syndrome and Social Communication Problems,
copyright © Jed Baker 2003. Reproduced with permission.
First published in 2007
by Jessica Kingsley Publishers
116 Pentonville Road
London N1 9JB, UK
and
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
www.jkp.com
Copyright © Cindy B. Schneider 2007
Foreword copyright © Tony Attwood 2007
Illustrations copyright © Shaan Pickett 2007
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing
it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication)
without the written permission ofthe copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions ofthe Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms ofa licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, 90 Tottenham Court
Road, London, England W1T 4LP. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce any part ofthis
publication should be addressed to the publisher.
Warning: The doing ofan unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work may result in both a civil claim for damages
and criminal prosecution.
Library ofCongress Cataloging in Publication Data
Schneider, Cindy B., 1952-
Acting antics : a theatrical approach to teaching social understanding to kids and teens with Asperger syndrome / Cindy
B. Schneider ; foreword by Tony Attwood ; illustrations by Shaan Pickett.
p. ; cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-1-84310-845-0 (alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 1-84310-845-3 (alk. paper)
1. Asperger’s syndrome—Patients—Education. 2. Asperger’s syndrome—Social aspects. 3. Drama—Therapeutic use. 4.
Social skills in children. 5. Social skills in adolescence. I. Title.
[DNLM: 1. Asperger Syndrome—therapy. 2. Adolescent. 3. Child. 4. Drama. 5. Psychodrama—methods. 6. Social
Adjustment. WS 350.6 S358a 2007]
RJ506.A9S388 2007
618.92’858832—dc22
2006036354
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN-13: 978 1 84310 845 0
ISBN-10: 1 84310 845 3
ISBN eBook pdf:1 84642 589 1
Printed and bound in Great Britain by
Printwise (Haverhill) Ltd, Suffolk
I would like to dedicate this book to the memory
of Marilyn Gerold, who inspired me as a young child
with the beauty and power of theater
Acknowledgments
I would like to acknowledge many people who have encouraged and supported me
throughout the writing of this book. My hubby and best friend, Ray, is my “roadie,” my
stagecrew,andmyconstantsupport.MydearsisterSusiehasbeenmysoundingboard,my
proofreader,andmycheerleaderallthroughthewritingprocess.Ialsowanttothankmy
sistersDennyandChrissyfortheirunwaveringloveandsupport.ThankstobrotherMike
forbelievinginme,andwishingthatbrotherHardywereheretoseethebookpublished.
ThankstoSusanMarchforbeingmytrustedpartnerintheAnticsadventure.Iwouldalso
liketothankJackieAurisandCathyWeissforbeingmy“readers”andgivingmeconstruc-
tive feedback and ongoing support. Thanks to my many friends and colleagues at the
Chester County Intermediate Unit for their confidence and support. I would also like to
thankCatherineFahertyandDr.JedBakerforofferingencouragementthroughthepub-
lishingprocess.AveryspecialthanksgoesouttoalloftheactorsintheAnticsprogramfor
allthattheyhavetaughtme,andtotheirfamiliesforbelievingsostronglyintheprogram.
ThankstoShaanPickettforsharinghistalentbydoingtheillustrationsforthebook.
Shaan is a 16-year-old artist and Antics actor who lives with his family in West Chester,
Pennsylvania.
Contents
Foreword by Tony Attwood 9
Preface 11
1. Introduction 15
2. Who? What? Where? 21
3. Getting Started 27
4. Paired Activities 36
5. Scripted Partner and Group Scenes 43
6. Whose Line Is It Anyhow? 53
7. Starting Your Own Troupe 69
8. Ready or Not,Here They Come! 75
9. Antics Summer Camp 80
10. The “Really Big Show” 87
11. It’s a Wrap! 91
Appendix A:Sample Schedules and Activity Lists 93
Appendix B:Photocopiable Forms 109
Appendix C:Photocopiable Partner Scripts 123
Appendix D:Group Scripts 161
References 182
Resources 183
Subject Index 187
Author Index 191
Figures
3.1 The Big 3 28
3.2 Rules of acting 33
3.3 Posters 35
4.1 Christmas tree 38
5.1 Rotation for joke activity 45
6.1 Diagram for rotation in “Taxi Driver” 56
6.2 Visual representation of scenes in “Freeze” 61
7.1 Sample letter 73
8.1 Sample schedule 77
9.1 Scenic design form 83
9.2 Example of completed scenic design form 83
9.3 Sample list 86
10.1 Sample program pages 89
