The New Albany High School Robot Theater, known for its pioneering works that feature robots grappling with human problems, was profiled in a recent New York Times article, earning the distinction of being the only high school group among several college and professional theater programs from across the country that were referenced.
A collaboration between the school’s drama and computer sciences departments, Robot Theater gives students the emotional freedom to handle sensitive subjects, from romance to bullying, notes teacher David Herman.
“When you have a little 40-centimeter robot experiencing those things onstage, it’s suddenly safe to talk about them,” says Herman.
The 2012 Robot Theater skits, Runaway Robot and Rumor, were selected by a middle school focus group for relevance and written by high school theater students, with robot behaviors and video editing completed by robotics students.
View Robot Theater skits here. See the New York Times article here.
