Theatre
General Course Description
The Theatre Arts concentration is designed to develop each student’s creativity, talents and skills to the highest possible level so they will be ready to excel in the area of theatre that is their particular passion or interest. This may mean entering a university theatre program, becoming a professional actor, working in the technical fields of theatre, becoming a director, playwright or starting a community theater.
The course will use hands-on participatory activities that involve the talents of individual students to explore and become proficient in the technical, creative and collaborative aspects of theatre. An audition will be required for admission to the program. Theatre is available for students in grades 6-8 in the a.m. program and grades 9-12 in the p.m. program.
Program Goals
• Students understand how technical aspects of a production are designed and combined to create an aesthetically pleasing production.
• Students participate in complete theatrical experiences that incorporate all elements into a polished product.
• Students learn how to control the voice and body for dramatic effect.
• form. A specific process is utilized to prepare and present auditions.
• Students will explore a variety of plays and will use their analytical skills and experiences to compose original scripts.
• Students understand that characters must be physically and emotionally developed to connect with audiences.
• Students apply technical knowledge and skills to collaboratively direct productions and to create functional scenery, props, lighting, sound, costumes and make-up.
• Students analyze the physical, emotional, and social dimensions of characters found in dramatic texts from various genre and media.
• Students explore and compare different techniques, employed throughout time, to develop characters for performance. They will analyze and evaluate in order to make sound artistic decisions.
• Students identify several methods of presenting a production, evaluate each, and select those they find most interesting and effective.
• Students explain and support opinions while evaluating a production of their personal preference.
• Dramatic literature reflects social, cultural and historical time periods. By viewing and performing a variety of pieces from several periods, students gain a better understanding of the world.
• Similar themes cross various cultural and historical lines. Given the need to embrace diversity, students share concepts and issues common to all people through performance and discussion.
• Students will identify cultural and historical sources of American and musical theater.
• Students will prepare performances incorporating several arts media to demonstrate their understanding of integration of the disciplines.
• Students will perform for a variety of audiences including the public community, cross-disciplinary peers, outside students, and students within the Theatre program.
