Building Confidence and Connection Through Drama at USM

By Michael Tauscher

Laughter and motion fill the Lower School drama room at University School of Milwaukee. Children stretch, mirror one another’s gestures, and act out emotions without saying a word. It looks playful—and it is—but there’s also deep learning taking place. Beneath the fun lies a thoughtfully designed program that helps children grow in confidence, empathy, and creativity.

At the center of it all is Christopher Vance, who teaches music to Preschool and Lower School children and theatre to children in kindergarten through 4th grade at USM. He also is the choreographer for the Middle School and Upper School musicals, creating continuity across divisions. His work brings imagination to life and helps children discover that performance is about much more than being on a stage—it’s about expression, collaboration, and learning through play.

Laying the Foundation

Theatre at USM is intentionally structured to evolve as children grow. Each grade level builds upon the last to develop a full range of creative and communication skills. “In kindergarten, we begin with body awareness,” Vance explained. “We talk about mirroring, slow versus fast movement, and how to move safely in a shared space. From there, we begin exploring storytelling and the foundations of character work.”

By 1st grade, children begin to explore familiar characters from stories and experiment with bringing them to life without scripts. In second grade, they work with short two-character scenes, learning to collaborate, use body language effectively to create unique characters, and understand basic stage blocking.

As they move into 3rd and 4th grade, the program expands. “Third graders study theatrical design and behind the scenes work,” Vance said. “They learn about lighting, sets, and props—and we introduce a tap-dance unit that carries through both 3rd and 4th grade. In 4th grade, we also add in a public-speaking unit to prepare them for their Tower Projects.”

Each stage is purposeful, connecting developmental growth with creative exploration. By the time children complete Lower School, they have experienced nearly every part of what makes a performance come together.

Beyond the Curtain Call

Theatre at USM is about far more than memorizing lines—the focus is on building confidence. Public speaking and presentations are a large part of the USM experience, and drama offers a natural foundation for both. When children have spent years performing small skits or sharing original stories with their classmates, standing up to give a presentation in 4th grade, or later in Middle School, feels far less intimidating. They already know how to project their voice, hold their posture, and make eye contact.

Each grade level includes opportunities for children to share their learning in front of peers, whether it’s a pantomime performance, an original character study, or a short scene. These moments reduce the anxiety that often comes with public speaking and replace it with confidence and excitement. Theatre gives children the freedom to experiment, to fail safely, and to learn through the process.

“It’s a safe space to fail—and that’s not something children always get in other subjects,” said Vance. If they don’t get it the first or second time, that’s okay. Everyone learns at their own pace.” That idea—embracing mistakes as part of learning—aligns perfectly with USM's broader philosophy.

Why Drama Matters

In a school day filled with reading, writing, and math, some might wonder where drama fits in. But for Vance, and for all of us who see his classes in action, the answer is clear: drama connects learning to life. It teaches children how to observe others and themselves. They learn to notice how people move, speak, and react—to read body language and respond appropriately. Those lessons go far beyond the stage; they are essential life skills that lead to empathy and understanding.

“Theatre builds communication and people skills,” Vance shared. “It’s about connecting with others.” Those connections reach across subjects. Children practice literacy as they read and write about characters, math as they count beats in dance, and social studies as they explore stories from different cultures and times. It’s a multidisciplinary experience wrapped in movement and creativity. “Everyone can find their place in the theatre,” said Vance. “Some children love performing, others enjoy designing sets or building props. There’s a role for every interest and every personality.”

The Process Over the Performance

One of the most distinctive aspects of USM’s Lower School theatre program is that it isn’t built around a single large production. While other schools may focus on an end-of-year play or musical, our focus remains on the process—the learning that happens along the way.

This approach allows every child to engage meaningfully, regardless of comfort level or experience. It also emphasizes collaboration over perfection. When I observe Vance's classes, I often see children laughing, improvising, and playing games that appear simple at first glance. But each one is intentionally designed to build critical skills: communication, teamwork, and creative thinking.

The method is rooted in how young children learn best—through play. “Play is how we learn when we’re young,” Vance said. “I could stand in front of them and teach body language through a lecture, but they’ll remember it better when it’s part of a game.”

Each class follows a consistent rhythm: a warm-up to prepare the mind, the voice and the body, followed by an activity that encourages movement, creativity, and reflection. That structure helps children feel secure and ready to take risks. The atmosphere is fun, loud, and full of energy—but that joy is precisely what makes learning stick. Theatre at USM proves that rigorous learning and joyful play are not opposites; they’re partners.

The Joy of Play and Performance

Whenever I visit Vance’s classroom, the first thing I notice is the energy. The room buzzes with laughter and excitement. The children are fully engaged—acting out emotions, inventing stories, and supporting one another.
It’s clear that joy drives the learning. The class feels like an invitation to participate, to express, to belong. He has created an environment where children can be playful and serious at the same time—where joy and learning coexist naturally.

“When children are laughing, they’re learning,” he said. “They’re open to taking risks, trying something new, and expressing themselves.” That sense of joy and connection is the heart of the program. It’s what makes children look forward to drama class each cycle and what stays with them long after they leave the Lower School.

From Theatre Class to the World Stage

The program's influence extends beyond the Lower School. “I love seeing former students of mine from Lower School audition for Middle School productions,” he said. “They’re confident, expressive, and they know how to collaborate.”

These benefits extend far beyond theatre. Children connect lessons from drama to their academic studies in reading, writing, and math. They also build the self-awareness and social-emotional intelligence that support leadership and teamwork. “They start to connect the dots,” Vance shared. “They realize that when they’re reading in class, those same storytelling elements appear in theatre. Or when they’re dancing, they’re counting beats—that’s math. Theater connects to everything.”

Drama also encourages empathy. By stepping into different roles and perspectives, children learn that people experience the world in diverse ways. This perspective-taking helps them understand others and practice kindness—core values of USM’s Common Trust. “When a child learns to step into a character,” Vance explained, “they learn perspective. They understand that people think and feel differently—and that’s a powerful lesson.”

Expanding Opportunities for the Arts at USM

As the program continues to thrive, Vance envisions more cross-grade projects, after-school theatre experiences, and integrated connections between theatre, music, and movement. “I’d love to keep building our Summer at USM Theatre Camp,” he said. “It’s amazing to see children memorize and perform a 60-minute show in just four weeks. Those experiences build confidence and community.”

He also hopes to strengthen the bridge between the Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School performing arts programs. “Seeing a child who once loved acting out scenes in 2nd grade performing in the Virginia Henes Young Theatre—it’s really meaningful,” he said. “It shows how those early experiences stay with them.”

Ultimately, Vance’s goal is simple yet profound: to help every child see that there’s a place for them in the arts. Whether that’s on stage, behind the scenes, or in the audience, drama teaches that creativity has many forms and every contribution matters. “Theatre fortifies all the great skills children learn in the classroom. It helps them see themselves—and others—with new understanding,” said Vance.

That understanding—of self, of others, and of the power of expression—is what truly takes center stage at USM.

About Michael Tauscher:

Michael Tauscher has served as the head of Preschool and Lower School at University School of Milwaukee since 2015. Born and raised on a family-owned farm in Pulaski, Wisconsin, he holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in educational leadership. With 24 years of experience as an educator, including 17 years as an administrator, Tauscher has worked in early childhood, elementary, and middle school settings, including teaching 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades and gaining international teaching experience in Kyoto, Japan.