Drama

Course Description: This year-long, foundational class, designed for students with little or no theatre experience, promotes enjoyment and appreciation for all aspects of theatre. Classwork focuses on the exploration of theatre literature, performance, historical and cultural connections, and technical requirements. Improvisation, creative dramatics, and beginning scene work are used to introduce students to acting and character development. Incorporation of other art forms in theatre also helps students gain appreciation for other art forms, such as music, dance, and visual art. Theatre I provides opportunities for students to develop skills in critical listening and thinking, as well as stage presence, ensemble work, and aesthetic awareness culminating in periodic classroom and/or public performances. Students additionally learn about the organizational structure of theatre and theatre literature. Of importance in Theatre I is students’ opportunity to develop fundamental group- and self- assessment skills, problem-solving skills; the ability to connect the literature being studied to a variety of cultures, history, and other content areas; and development of 21st-century skills that will help students be successful after high school graduation.

Course Description: This year-long, intermediate-level class, designed for students with a year of experience or more, promotes enjoyment and appreciation for all aspects of theatre through opportunities to build significantly on existing skills. Classwork focuses on characterization, playwriting, and playwrights’ contributions to theatre; while improvisation, creative dramatics, and scene work are used to help students challenge and strengthen their acting skills and explore the technical aspect of scene work. As students gain skills and experience, they explore the relationships among technology, theatre, and theatre’s sister arts. Theatre II provides opportunities for students to strengthen skills in critical listening and thinking, as well as stage presence, ensemble work, and aesthetic response through understanding of the organizational structures and historical and cultural influences on theatre and its literature. Students develop group- and self-assessment skills, problem-solving skills; the ability to connect the literature being studied to a variety of cultures, history, and other content areas; and 21st-century skills in such areas as time management, critical analysis, leadership, and collaboration to help them be successful after high school graduation.

Course Description: This year-long honors course, designed for students with significant experience in theatre, promotes depth of engagement and lifelong appreciation for theatre through a broad spectrum of teacher-assigned and self-directed study and performance. Students regularly reflect on aesthetics and issues related to and addressed through theatre, and create within various aspects of theatre in ways that are progressively more innovative. In keeping with the rigor expected in an accelerated setting, students assemble a portfolio that showcases a significant body of work representing personal vision and artistic growth over time; mastery of theatre skills and techniques in one or more areas; and evidence of significant oral and written analytical and problem-solving skills based on their structural, historical, and cultural knowledge. Theatre III-Honors students analyze increasingly more sophisticated theatre literature/texts to lead the work of developing one-acts or complex scenes, and conduct and present the results of significant research, including, but not limited to a focus on playwriting, aesthetics, technological advances, and acting methods. These students are self-directed and display readiness for high levels of critical thinking, research, conceptual thinking, and creative risk-taking. As they work, students apply 21st-century skills that will help them be successful after high school graduation, including time management, self-assessment, problem solving, collaboration, and critical analysis.

Course Description: This year-long honors course, designed for students with extensive experience in theatre, promotes significant depth of engagement and lifelong appreciation for theatre through a broad spectrum of primarily self-directed study and performance. Students regularly reflect on aesthetics and issues related to and addressed through theatre, and create within various aspects of theatre in ways that are progressively more innovative. In keeping with the rigor expected in an accelerated setting, students assemble a portfolio that showcases a significant body of work representing personal vision and artistic growth over time; mastery of theatre skills and techniques in one or more areas; and evidence of sophisticated oral and written analytical and problem-solving skills based on their structural, historical, and cultural knowledge. Theatre IV-Honors students analyze increasingly more sophisticated theatre literature/texts to lead the work of developing one-acts or a larger production, and conduct and present the results of significant research, including, but not limited to: script selection, alignment with or departure from an artist’s intent, and interpretation of dramatic texts, organization and conducting of rehearsals, and justifying directorial choices. These students are self-directed and display readiness for high levels of critical thinking, research, conceptual thinking, and creative risk-taking. As they work, students apply 21st-century skills that will help them be successful after high school graduation, including time management, self-assessment, problem solving, collaboration, and critical analysis.