If you haven’t been involved in theater, you may lack appreciation for all that teaching drama entails. Theater teachers are construction workers that teach kids how to build sets. They become makeup artists that transform teens into the elderly. Drama teachers need to be seamstresses, creating costumes from thrift store finds. They are also required to be experts on sound and lighting. On top of this they must teach breathing techniques, voice projection, and break down accents. And of course, they focus on the obvious skill, acting. Not only that, but after teaching class all day they have endless hours of directing rehearsals.
When it comes to gifts, they deserve something special. These gifts for drama teachers will be a hit whether for fun or as useful presents to inspire the next generation of stars.
Imagine how excited they will be to receive a copy of a signed script.
How about a bouquet of flower cookies? It will double as a snack in between acts!
Give a book of monologues to them for some fresh material.
1. Signed Script Reprint
Best drama teacher gifts
Imagine how excited they will be to receive a copy of a signed script. Choose from TV shows, plays, or movies such as Modern Family, It, or Home Alone. Giving this gift will make you a star in their eyes.
Or get them a replica of film license plates, such as the one from Billy’s Camaro in Stranger Things or Stephen King’s Christine.
Another great memorabilia gift is a collection of film cells from their favorite movie. Some come as bookmarks or as decor for their wall. Either way, this is not your everyday gift.
2. Cookie Bouquet
Gifts for a drama teacher on opening night
It is a tradition to give flowers to actors and production staff on opening night. Instead of a boring floral bouquet that will end up in the trash in a day or two, try a gift with a twist. How about a bouquet of flower cookies? It will double as a snack in between acts!
Too feminine? If you want something more manly, try a beef jerky bouquet.
For another edible bouquet, try some chocolate roses.
3. Stage Makeup Kit
Present for a master of disguise
Another hat theater teachers wear is that of a makeup artist. We are not talking basic star studded glamor. A theater teacher needs to know how to make a 15 year old look 70, a girl look like a young man, and create the illusion of ghosts, monsters, and other creatures, all with makeup. This stage makeup kit will be a great addition to their dwindling supplies.
If you want makeup minus the scary effects you can get a more basic makeup kit.
4. Costume Racks
Storage gifts for a drama teacher
Drama teachers are also talented costume designers, skilled at recycling last season’s ball gown into a wedding dress or turning a dog costume into a werewolf for the current production. However, at the end of the day, these costumes need a place to be stored. Sturdy rolling racks allow teachers to peruse costumes for inventory while easily tucking them away when not in use.
If they already have rolling racks, you can get them some garment bags to keep clothes safe from dust.
Another useful gift for drama teachers is a cordless clothes steamer. Then they can easily ditch those last minute wrinkles before performers take the stage.
5. Playbill Binder
Musical theater teacher gifts
Playbills are to the theater world what baseball cards are to sports fans. Keep these treasured collectibles protected with a binder.
For a fun evening in, give hours of enjoyment with Be a Broadway Star, a classic theater trivia game. This game encourages folks to ham it up with singing and dancing thrown in the mix.
Or get them a Hollywood Star with their name in it. They can display it in the classroom or at home.
6. Set Design Book
Lifesaving gift for a drama teacher
Drama teachers are jacks of all trades. They are not just drama queens. They need to be engineers as well. Sets don’t miraculously appear on production night. My teen was involved in the stage crew at his highschool a few years ago. The drama teacher had them using saws, screwdrivers, hammers, and drills to manufacture the set for each show. Not only that, but the teacher needs to come up with creative ideas on an almost nonexistent budget. This book is written specifically for set design with limited resources making it a perfect gift for a drama teacher.
You can also try Technical Theater for Nontechnical People or The Perfect Stage Crew which is a guide for highschool, college, and community theater.
7. 100 Movies Scratch-off Poster
Fun gifts for drama teacher
Scratch off posters provide a fun challenge. Choose from a wide selection of 100 top films of all time posters, including 100 horror films and 100 comedy films. See how long it takes for them to watch them all.
Another cool gift for theater teachers is a Musical Theater scratch off poster which includes a bucket list of must see musicals.
As a funny theater teacher gift, get a chart of Shakespearean insults. Shakespeare fans will love this! It makes a creative way to verbalize their frustrations without actually using profanity.
8. Rocket Notebook
Useful drama teacher gift ideas
Drama teachers may need to take notes for casting plays, grading performances, or scribbling blocking for a show. Consider giving them a digital notebook. These come with numerous pages that can be uploaded to cloud storage. Once they’re done, the pages wipe clean with a damp cloth. Reusable notebooks save trees! You can buy additional pens separately.
A Master Class will fill them with inspiration for teaching ideas. Each online class has about 20 video lessons that are approximately 10 minutes in length. Sessions can be watched on a computer, smart TV, or smartphone. Yearly membership allows access to all classes so they can take as many as they would like. Plus or Premium memberships allow classes to be downloaded for offline viewing, making it convenient for classrooms that are often dead zones.
A wagon for lugging props, costumes, and scripts back and forth might not seem exciting, but will be greatly appreciated. These are also a useful gift for filmmakers for lugging equipment.
9. Practice Monologues
Helpful gifts for theater teachers
Drama teachers often assign monologues for a class exercise or will ask for students to recite one for an audition. Give a book of monologues to them for some fresh material.
You can even buy a book of monologues for kids and teens for teachers with those specific age groups. Or for more interaction, get a book of acting scenes. These make good gifts for actors as well.
10. Shadow Box
Keepsake presents for drama teachers
A shadow box is a great way to keep special memories alive. You can give one to your drama teacher to collect mementos, such as ticket stubs. Another idea is to get the cast of your show together and fill it with souvenirs from the performance as a keepsake for your teacher.
Another unique gift for a drama teacher is a custom playbill keychain. Choose their favorite musical or play.
Or you can choose a piece of jewelry with theater masks. This makes a nice thank you gift for a theater teacher.
11. Clapboard Kit
Cool gifts for theater teachers
Director is just one of the hats drama teachers wear. This clapboard comes with dry erase markers and an eraser so they can easily change scene numbers, takes, and other information while directing a play.
For those rare times when they are not on their feet, give them a personalized director’s chair. This makes a great end of the year gift from seniors.
You can also get them a professional megaphone so their voice can be heard across the auditorium and above the din of loud theater students.
12. Film Themed Cufflinks
Gift idea for male drama teacher
Film themed cufflinks will make him feel like a Hollywood star. You can choose from specific movies such as The Shining, Predator, or The Godfather if you don’t want movie reels.
You can even get him a black and white film themed tie. Don’t forget his feet! Add some horror movie socks to the gift.
13. Foot Massager
Theater teacher gifts for well being
Teaching theater is not something a person can do from behind a desk. They need to show students how to build scenery, demonstrate acting exercises, and work long hours directing performances after classes are done for the day. After long hours on their feet, drama teachers will appreciate a foot massage. These have kneading action as well as heat. For other muscles, give them a back massager.
While those will help sore bodies, what about a sore voice? A tea gift set will help them with any throat ailments.
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