Bringing it all together online: Performance, outreach, and education. The model of the German Theater Project at Indiana University

Abstract

Every year, the Department of Germanic Studies at Indiana University hosts a theater project for high school students from across the state. 2021 was the 8th consecutive successful year of the festival, and the second time it was held online. The main incentive of the project is to give German students of all levels a creative way to engage with the language through performance. In our article, we explore how to move the festival to a digital space during the pandemic, as well as how the project is organized in general. We write about difficulties and successes with the format, and show examples of student projects and educational workshops. The festival has thrived as an outreach program for the department, attracting more and more learners to German. Even though the project was switched to an online format, every year, an increasing number of high school students enthusiastically participate and use it as an outlet to show their love for language, culture, and performance.