Character Forge Slides BACKSTAGE PASS
Character
Blueprint
Building People from the Inside Out
[Imagine a mysterious person here...]
The Secret Pocket
Every character you see on stage is hiding something.
The Challenge:
Look at the person in the photo. If they had one small item in their pocket that told their biggest secret, what would it be?
The Two Layers
External Traits
What the audience sees immediately.
Physical Appearance
Clothing & Style
Physical Quirks (a limp, a twitch)
Age & Occupation
Internal Traits
What drives the character's choices.
Deepest Fears
Greatest Desires
Hidden Secrets
Moral Compass
Why go deep?
1
Characters with secrets are more interesting for actors to play.
2
Internal traits create conflict (Drama's best friend).
3
Motivations help the audience care about the character.
"A character is what they do in a crisis, and they only act because of what they want."
Inside Out Profile Worksheet Inside Out Profile
Stage Soul Character Quest // Phase 01
NAME: ________________________________
DATE: ________________________________
Character Name
Age
Occupation
Visual Appearance (Hair, Eyes, Outfit)
Character Portrait / Symbol
The Inner Engine
The Greatest Desire
What is the one thing they want more than anything else in the world?
The Biggest Fear
What keeps them up at night? What are they running away from?
The Hidden Secret
What is the one thing they don't want anyone to know about them?
A Catchphrase or Habit
Something they say often or a physical movement they do when nervous.
The "Pocket Secret" Challenge
You are writing a play where your character walks onto the stage for the first time. They have an object in their pocket. What is it, and why is it important to their secret?
Director Notes Teacher Guide Director Notes
Lesson 1: Character Blueprint Phase
Grade Level
5th
Lesson Overview
The objective is to move students beyond "flat" characters (e.g., "a happy dog") toward multi-dimensional figures with internal logic. By the end of this lesson, students will have a completed profile that serves as the foundation for the rest of the unit.
The Hook: The Secret in the Pocket
Display a high-resolution, interesting portrait (a weary traveler, a child with a messy face, an elegant woman in a library). Ask students:
"What does this person want right now?"
"What is the one thing they are hiding in their pocket that would shock everyone in this room?"
Step-by-Step Facilitation
1. External vs. Internal (15 min)
Use the slides to define the two layers. Emphasize that while the audience sees the external, they feel the internal. Provide examples: A character who wears a suit (external) but is secretly terrified of public speaking (internal).
2. Drafting the Profile (25 min)
Distribute the Inside Out Profile Worksheet . Circulate as students work. If a student is stuck, ask: "If your character had to save only one item from a house fire, what would it be?"
3. The Secret Pocket Reflection (10 min)
Have students share only the object in their character's pocket with a partner. The partner must guess what the secret is based only on the object.
Extensions
Challenge advanced students to define a "Flaw" - a trait that actively gets in the way of their character's desire.
Support
Provide "Emotion Word Banks" or "Secret Idea Cards" (e.g., "I lost a lucky coin," "I'm afraid of the dark") for students who struggle with abstract internal traits.
Spotlight Soul Slides Live on Air
Spotlight
Soul Sessions
Finding Your Character's Voice
The Hot Seat
The Rule:
"You are no longer yourself. You are the character you created."
You don't need to think of a "correct" answer. You just need to think of how THEY would answer.
Listen to their word choices.
Adopt their posture.
Let their secrets guide you.
The Art of the Interview
If you are in the audience, you are a investigative journalist. Ask deep questions!
Surface Questions (Easy)
"What is your favorite food?"
"Where do you live?"
"How many siblings do you have?"
Soul Questions (Hard)
"What is the one thing you are most ashamed of?"
"If you could change one thing about your past, what would it be?"
"Who do you trust more than anyone?"
What did you find?
Sometimes your character will say something you didn't plan.
New History
Unique Voice
Motivations
Backstage Discovery Reflection Backstage Discovery
Stage Soul Character Quest // Phase 02 Reflection
NAME: ________________________________
DATE: ________________________________
You've just stepped out of the spotlight. While your character was in the "Hot Seat," they may have said things you didn't expect. Use this sheet to capture those discoveries.
The Unexpected Answer
What was one thing your character said during the interview that surprised even you? Why did they say it?
Physical Presence
How did your body language change when you were in character? (Did you slouch? Tap your fingers? Look away?)
Word Choice
What are three words or phrases your character used that you don't normally use?
A New Detail
Did a classmate ask a question about your character's past that made you invent a new detail on the spot? Write that detail here.
The Heart of the Matter
Based on today's simulation, what does your character want more than anything else in the play?
Talk Show Toolkit Teacher Guide Talk Show Toolkit
Lesson 2: Spotlight Soul Sessions
Activity Type
Simulation
Environment Setup
To make the simulation effective, transform the space. Place a single chair (The "Hot Seat") in the front of the room. If possible, use a floor lamp or a spotlight to physically separate the actor from the audience.
PRO TIP: Play soft "talk show" intro music when a student walks to the chair to build anticipation and lower performance anxiety.
Class Roles
Host: The Teacher (initially)Guest: Student in characterAudience: Investigative Reporters
Host Script & Rules
"Welcome to the Spotlight Soul Sessions! Tonight we are joined by a very special guest. Please, tell the audience your name and what you do."
Golden Rule #1: No "breaking" character. If they don't know an answer, they must answer as the character would when they are confused.
Golden Rule #2: No judgment. Every answer the guest gives is now "canon" (true) for their character's story.
Question Bank for Reporters
"What is the most expensive thing you own?"
"When was the last time you cried, and why?"
"What is a lie you told recently?"
"Who is your hero?"
"What do you want to be doing ten years from now?"
"What is the first thing you think of when you wake up?"
"If you found $100 on the street, what would you do with it?"
"What is your biggest regret?"
The Cool Down (Reflection)
After each interview (or at the end of the session), facilitate a short debrief. Use the Backstage Discovery Reflection sheet. Ask the "actors" how it felt to speak as someone else. Did they feel the character's heartbeat? Did they feel their fear?
Voice of One Slides Heartbeat
Monologues
The Power of the Solo Voice
The Monologue
A long speech given by one character to another character, the audience, or themselves.
Think of it like...
A window into the character's deepest thoughts and feelings.
It's not just talking. It's revealing.
The Super-Objective
The ONE BIG THING your character wants in the entire play.
Example: "To find my way home," "To prove my father wrong," "To win the championship."
The Hook Question
In a monologue, the character is working to get what they want through words.
Who am I talking to?
Writing Strategy: The Arc
1
Start Strong
The character starts with a specific emotion or problem.
2
The Struggle
They try different ways to explain or persuade.
3
The Realization
They reach a point of truth or a final plea.
Soul Speech Worksheet Soul Speech
Stage Soul Character Quest // Phase 03 Monologue
NAME: ________________________________
DATE: ________________________________
The Super-Objective
What is the one thing your character wants most in the world?
"I want __________________________________________________________________"
Audience
Who is the character talking to?
Draft Your Monologue
Focus on your character's unique voice. Use the words and secrets you discovered in the Hot Seat!
[Character Name enters and begins to speak]
Stage Directions
What is your character doing physically while they speak? (Pacing, sitting, fidgeting?)
The Shift
How does your character's emotion change from the beginning to the end?
Famous Voices Reference Sheet Famous Voices Reference
Mentor Texts for Monologue Writing
Use these examples to show students how a monologue reveals a character's desire and voice.
Example 1: The Determined Hero
Context: A character preparing for a journey
"I don't care if the maps say the bridge is out. I don't care if the wind is howling loud enough to wake the dead. I’m going. Do you hear me? I’m going. Because for ten years, I’ve sat on this porch and watched the sunset, and every single time, I’ve wondered what was on the other side of that hill. Tonight, I stop wondering. I start walking."
Analysis: The super-objective is freedom/discovery. The voice is repetitive and forceful.
Example 2: The Guilty Secret
Context: A character who made a mistake
"It was just a small box. Not even locked. It was just... sitting there. And I thought, if I just look inside, I'll know. I'll know why she never lets anyone in that room. But now? Now that I've seen it? I wish I was still outside. I wish I was still sitting on the floor waiting for the tea to boil. You can't un-see something, can you? You can't put the secret back in the box."
Analysis: The super-objective is to find the truth (which they now regret). The voice is nervous and questioning.
Questions for the Class
Q1
In Example 1, who is the character talking to? Why are they being so stubborn?
Q2
In Example 2, what physical movement would the actor be doing with their hands?
Q3
How does the sentence length (short vs. long) change the 'feel' of the character?
Friction Sparks Slides Friction
& Drama
The Magic of the Odd Couple
The Equation
Character A + Character B
×
Conflicting Wants
=
DRAMA
If two characters agree on everything, the play is boring.
"Drama is the sparks that fly when two people want different things in the same space."
Contrast Challenge
The Snowflake & The Fire
What do they argue about? Where are they meeting?
The Rule-Follower & The Chaos
How does the wind drive the clock crazy?
The Clash
Three Conflict Keys:
Opposing Goals
Opposing Personalities
Misunderstanding
"Two characters are stuck in an elevator. One has a phobia of small spaces; the other has a secret they MUST tell before the elevator starts moving again."
What happens next?
Odd Couple Clash Worksheet Odd Couple Clash
Stage Soul Character Quest // Phase 04 Conflict
NAME: ________________________________
DATE: ________________________________
Character A
(Your Character)
____________________
VERSUS
Character B
(Your Partner's Character)
____________________
Point of Contrast
How are these two characters opposites? (e.g., Brave vs. Cowardly, Loud vs. Quiet, Messy vs. Neat)
The Friction Point
What do they both want right now that they CANNOT both have?
The Scene Scenario
Imagine these two characters are in the same room. What is happening? Why can't they leave? What is the first line of dialogue that sparks the fire?
SETTING:
THE ACTION:
FIRST LINE:
"_____________________________________________________________________"
The Dramatic Question
If these two characters were left alone for five minutes, what would be destroyed? (A friendship? A vase? Someone's pride?)
Talk the Talk Slides Talk the
Talk
Diction, Voice, and Unique Speech
Diction
The specific word choices and style of speaking a character uses.
The Ultimate Test:
If I removed the names from the script, could I still tell who is talking?
Characters are built by what they say and how they say it.
Your Word Toolbox
1. Catchphrases
A word or phrase the character repeats when nervous, excited, or bored.
"Indeed..."
2. Sentence Length
Short sentences = direct/nervous.
"No. Stop. Go."
3. Vocabulary
Do they use big academic words or slang?
"Inconceivable!"
Who Said It?
"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."
Character: ____________
"I'm ready! I'm ready! I'm ready!"
Character: ____________
Diction Revision Worksheet Diction Revision
Stage Soul Character Quest // Phase 05 Mastery
NAME: ________________________________
DATE: ________________________________
The Voice DNA
Sentence Style
Short/Choppy? Long/Flowing? Questioning?
Favorite Words
3 words they use often.
Tone
Sarcastic? Hopeful? Angry? Grumpy?
The "Voice-Over" Revision
Take a boring, "plain" sentence and rewrite it in your character's unique voice. Use their diction tools!
Boring Original
"I am very hungry right now and I want to eat lunch."
Character Revision
__________________________________________
TRY IT
Boring Original
"I think you are lying to me about the secret."
Character Revision
__________________________________________
Final Polish Checklist
I have added at least one catchphrase or repeated word.
I have checked that my sentence lengths match the character's mood.
I have replaced at least three "boring" words with specific diction choices .
If I read this aloud without saying the name, someone could guess who it is .
Voice Match Cards Activity Voice Match Cards
Lesson 5: Talk the Talk Activity
Cut these cards out. Have students match the Character Name to the Dialogue Card based only on the diction.
"Patience you must have, my young Padawan. Strong is the Force in you."
Card A
"I'm ready! I'm ready! I'm ready for the best day ever at the Krusty Krab!"
Card B
"Elementary, my dear fellow. The mud on your left boot tells the entire story of your morning."
Card C
"Ahoy there, matey! Batten down the hatches before the storm swallows us whole!"
Card D
YODA
SPONGEBOB
DETECTIVE
PIRATE
Teacher Note
Use these as a warm-up. Ask students: "How did you know?" They will point to word order (Yoda), repetition (SpongeBob), complex vocabulary (Detective), or jargon (Pirate). This proves that words alone can build a character.
