Theater Essentials Online is a library of video lessons for grades 7-12 led by local theater professionals. Designed to be completely flexible for in-person, hybrid or fully remote models of learning, each video lesson connects with state standards and includes study guides, student worksheets and other resources. 

Theater Essentials Online videos are designed to support select Nebraska state standards for the fine arts. Connections to standards vary according to the grade level and how teachers incorporate videos and accompanying worksheets into their existing curriculum goals. Please visit education.ne.gov/finearts for a full listing of Nebraska state standards for the fine and performing arts and glossary terms.

 

available lessons


The 5 Things You Need to be a Successful Working Choreographer with Ray Mercer


Join Ray as he shares the five key components that every emerging artist should have in their pocket to become a successful work choreographer. These five tools will help you navigate through expanding ideas, thinking outside the box, and finding way that your work can be seen!


View Worksheet

Nebraska Standards for Education, Dance:


FA 8.1.1
FA 8.1.4
FA 8.3.1
FA 8.3.2
FA 8.5.3
FA 8.5.4
FA 12.1.1
FA 12.1.4
FA 12.3.1
FA 12.3.2
FA 12.5.3
FA 12.5.4

About Ray Mercer
Ray Mercer, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, has been a member of the Tony Award-winning cast of Disney's The Lion King for over 16 years. Throughout his ongoing Broadway run, he has simultaneously emerged as one of New York City's most prolific choreographers. Mercer is Resident Choreographer for the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program. Mercer is the recipient of many awards including a 2012 Joffrey Ballet Choreographers of Color Award, a Pensacola Ballet Choreographers Award, and he is a five-time winner of Broadway’s Gypsy of the Year Award for best onstage performance. Mercer has set works on various companies across the country including Philadanco, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, New Jersey Ballet, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Ballet Pensacola, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, and DRA (Dancers Responding to Aids). He has performed with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater and as a guest artist with Boston Ballet. Recently acknowledged for his choreography in The New York Times, Chicago Sun Times, and Movement Magazine, Mercer has also been commissioned to choreograph a work for the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC.

Ray Mercer Headshot

 

For questions or more information, please contact the Education Team at Education@O-pa.org

Sponsored by the Nebraska Arts Council, Nebraska Cultural Endowment, Sunny Durham Foundation and the Producers of Moulin Rouge! The Musical.