Theatre

As one of the most interdisciplinary art forms, theatre students will cover a wide range of topics during class. Students explore the various roles of theatre artists including actors, directors, designers, playwrights, technicians, and critics. They develop communication, concentration, expressiveness, sensory awareness, coordination, creative thinking, and audience skills. Students use improvisation and work cooperatively in small groups. Study includes the evaluation of creative work and the examination of the relationship between audience and artist. All courses above the Explore level are sequential and require the recommendation/permission of the instructor.

• Theatre Explore: (1 Semester)
  

  Theatre Explore is recommended for students who are new, 6 th graders, or are looking for a general overview of theatre. By the end of Explore, students will be able to demonstrate an appreciation and understanding of theatre as an art form. They will have examined theatre’s historical development, describing major theatrical developments. Students will examine the various roles of theatre artists and learned basic theatre vocabulary. Students will be able to understand and demonstrate appropriate audience skills, proper theatre etiquette, a focused and attentive classroom behavior, and collaborative skills.

  NOTE – Students are welcome to go directly into Foundations of Theatre if they wish to focus more on performance skills.

• Foundations Of Theatre: (Full Year)

Foundations is designed as a two year experience focusing on: development of fundamental skills in voice and articulation, physical movement and expression, utilizing basic staging practices; understanding dramatic structure; overview of Theater History; understanding and applying elements of design; basic vocabulary of acting technique; fundamental skills in improvisation; foundational script analysis skills; ensemble principles; and audition basics.

NOTE – Foundations of Theatre must be completed before placement in either of the Elements of Theatre classes.

• Elements Of Theatre: (Full Year)
  

  Physical Technique

  This Elements class is designed as a one to two year experience focusing on: character development; physical theatre styles/genres; building dramatic action through non-verbal and verbal inter-actions; spatial awareness; staging and blocking; and the use of physical space for theatrical effect.

  Language and Text

  This Elements class is designed as a one to two year experience focusing on: character development through vocal range and variety; interpretation of text and script analysis; building skills to enhance expressiveness through use of language; and connections of text to culture, historical period, and dramatically constructed worlds/styles.

  NOTE – Along with a recommendation from your theatre teacher, students must complete both Elements of Theatre: Language and Text and Elements of Theatre: Physical Technique before placement in the Theatre Performance Ensemble, but these classes do not have to be completed sequentially.

Theatre Performance Ensemble: (Full Year):

• Designed as an advanced level class where students refine and master performance skills and techniques using a variety of theatre genres and historical styles, students will learn and apply advanced pedagogy approaches to character development; develop and master audition skills; create original work; learn and apply directing techniques; synthesize textual analysis; research and dramaturgy into informed interpretations of dramatic works in both performance and design; and demonstrate a deep understanding of theatrical elements through critical analysis of performance and production.

 

• Technical Theatre Level One:
  Overview Statement: Prerequisite for this class is the successful completion of Theatre Level 1. Students in Technical Theatre will study a wide range of stage production skills, including design of scenery, lighting, costumes, sound and makeup. Students will also learn how to implement their design ideas using scenery construction techniques, scene painting, basic principles of electricity and wiring, pattern making for period costumes, and application of stage makeup. Students will learn skills through an academic course of study in technical theatre, in theatre labs that focus on the development of students’ ideas, and while working on VSAA productions.