Roaring 20s Skit

The 20s was a decade of economic prosperity and social upheaval. The stock market boomed, cars reshaped the nation, an African-American arts scene profoundly influenced popular culture, and social norms were turned on their head as America became a youth-centered, consumer –oriented society.

Your assignment is to write (and perform) the script of a conversation between 1920s characters with the members of your occupational group. Everyone should have a part. Choose 20s names, a 20s setting and 20s language. Your skit should reflect information about at least twoof the following:

  • Prohibition (no skits that do focus only shoot-‘em-up scenes)
  • Sports craze (baseball, swimming, golf, boxing, tennis in particular)
  • New mass culture created by cars, movies, radio
  • The new woman
  • The youth culture
  • The Harlem Renaissance
  • The Red Scare
  • The economy (buying on installment, new products, advertising)
  • Fads/pastimes/dances
  • Aviation (the flying experience; Charles Lindbergh)
  • The arts (music, literature, painting)

Examples of 20s settings include:

  • in a motorcar
  • in a speakeasy
  • sitting around the radio
  • at a sporting event
  • at a rent party
  • at the movies

Timetable

Day 1 (Mon, 2/8)

  • Group selects at least 2 topics to investigate as subject matter for script. (For example, you might choose music and the youth culture or the new woman and aviation)
  • Each member of the group investigates a topic independently and takes notes on content that could be used in a skit.
  • Someone in the group should create a Google Doc titled:

SectionColor Occupation

Example: Blue Labor Representativesor Red Bankers

  • Share doc with all group members and Mrs. Milliken
  • All group members take notes on the page (use different colored type for each person)

Day 2: (Tues, 2/9))

  • Continue to research.

Day 3: (Wed, 2/10)

  • Start putting together your script.
  • Remember to use (but not overuse) slang.

Day 4: (Thurs, 2/11)

  • Finish up script for tomorrow.

Day 5: (Fri, 2/12)

  • Rehearse and/or create props. (You may project suitable images and/or play music for props. Put your images/music in Google Presentations and share with Mrs. Milliken so we can transition seamlessly between groups during performances.)

Day 6: (After vacation)

  • Perform (you’ll be graded on whether your script reflects interesting information on your topics, uses-- but does not overuse-- slang, and whether your performance is rehearsed and easily audible.
  • Hand in one copy of script with all group members’ names on it.