Drama Course Offerings
IMPROVISATION
Students will learn acting technique, self-confidence, and self presentation skills through the use of improvisational and theater game activities. These exercises will allow you to develop your imagination, concentration, and understanding of how to relate spontaneously on the stage and become more comfortable in front of a group in other aspects of your life. This is a fun and “up out of your seat” kind of class. *Students may take this course a second time only with teacher’s approval.
1/2 unit of credit - one semester; No Prerequisite
ACTING WORKSHOP 1
Acting Workshop 1 is for the serious acting student and will explore the fundamentals of what it takes to "live believably in fictional circumstances". We will work on physicality, proper breathing and vocal technique for the stage, text analysis, status play, memorization, and playing objectives/actions/obstacles through individual and group exercises, improvised scenes, written text, and Shakespeare speeches. Acting 1 is not a continuation of the improv class, but welcomes anyone with a serious interest in acting. No prerequisite.
1/2 unit of credit-one semester; No Prerequisite
ACTING WORKSHOP 2: SCENE STUDY
Scene Study will build upon the acting skills learned in Acting Workshop 1, including physicality; proper breathing and vocal technique for the stage; text analysis; status play; memorization, and playing objectives/actions/obstacles. AW2 will put these skills to use in scene work covering various genres in the theatre canon. In addition to learning about the theatre history chronology (playwrights and theatre conventions), students will delve deeper into text analysis and character development. This is an advanced course for the serious acting student (defined as a student who is interested in exploring the craft of acting on stage after school or who is interested in pursuing acting beyond high school). AW1 is a prerequisite.
DIRECTING WORKSHOP
Students in this class will learn how to create living theatre out of the written script by assuming the directors' duties and responsibilities, which include (but are not limited to): analyzing a text, developing a production concept, communicating with a production team, staging and blocking. Students will read a variety of texts and engage in dramatic activities to better understand the fundamental role of a stage director. Directing workshop is recommended for juniors and seniors students who have taken one or more other drama classes.
l/2 unit of credit - one semester; Approval of teacher required
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Time to overcome your fear! This course is designed to assist you in developing and understanding the skills and principles associated with speaking effectively in public. Not just a course on giving a speech, this class will explore the many genres in which we speak for power: storytelling, academic settings, poetry/drama, interviews, toasts, debate, and formal speeches. Emphasis is placed on encouraging an awareness of the power of rhetoric, the creativity involved in preparing for and using speech, and the manner in which voice, body, and awareness of audience contribute to the success of speaking.
½ unit of credit – one semester. No prerequisite.
THEATRE PRODUCTION
In this course, students will put on a full theatrical production from beginning to end, which will be presented to district elementary schools. Students will have an opportunity to act in, direct, design, and produce a play during the school day. This class is perfect for students with an interest in any aspect of theatre, and welcomes both beginners and advanced students of all grades.
½ unit of credit – one semester; No prerequisite.
Don’t forget to register for your drama classes!
See Mr. Marr if you have any questions about the classes or your eligibility to take them.
Students will learn acting technique, self-confidence, and self presentation skills through the use of improvisational and theater game activities. These exercises will allow you to develop your imagination, concentration, and understanding of how to relate spontaneously on the stage and become more comfortable in front of a group in other aspects of your life. This is a fun and “up out of your seat” kind of class. *Students may take this course a second time only with teacher’s approval.
1/2 unit of credit - one semester; No Prerequisite
ACTING WORKSHOP 1
Acting Workshop 1 is for the serious acting student and will explore the fundamentals of what it takes to "live believably in fictional circumstances". We will work on physicality, proper breathing and vocal technique for the stage, text analysis, status play, memorization, and playing objectives/actions/obstacles through individual and group exercises, improvised scenes, written text, and Shakespeare speeches. Acting 1 is not a continuation of the improv class, but welcomes anyone with a serious interest in acting. No prerequisite.
1/2 unit of credit-one semester; No Prerequisite
ACTING WORKSHOP 2: SCENE STUDY
Scene Study will build upon the acting skills learned in Acting Workshop 1, including physicality; proper breathing and vocal technique for the stage; text analysis; status play; memorization, and playing objectives/actions/obstacles. AW2 will put these skills to use in scene work covering various genres in the theatre canon. In addition to learning about the theatre history chronology (playwrights and theatre conventions), students will delve deeper into text analysis and character development. This is an advanced course for the serious acting student (defined as a student who is interested in exploring the craft of acting on stage after school or who is interested in pursuing acting beyond high school). AW1 is a prerequisite.
DIRECTING WORKSHOP
Students in this class will learn how to create living theatre out of the written script by assuming the directors' duties and responsibilities, which include (but are not limited to): analyzing a text, developing a production concept, communicating with a production team, staging and blocking. Students will read a variety of texts and engage in dramatic activities to better understand the fundamental role of a stage director. Directing workshop is recommended for juniors and seniors students who have taken one or more other drama classes.
l/2 unit of credit - one semester; Approval of teacher required
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Time to overcome your fear! This course is designed to assist you in developing and understanding the skills and principles associated with speaking effectively in public. Not just a course on giving a speech, this class will explore the many genres in which we speak for power: storytelling, academic settings, poetry/drama, interviews, toasts, debate, and formal speeches. Emphasis is placed on encouraging an awareness of the power of rhetoric, the creativity involved in preparing for and using speech, and the manner in which voice, body, and awareness of audience contribute to the success of speaking.
½ unit of credit – one semester. No prerequisite.
THEATRE PRODUCTION
In this course, students will put on a full theatrical production from beginning to end, which will be presented to district elementary schools. Students will have an opportunity to act in, direct, design, and produce a play during the school day. This class is perfect for students with an interest in any aspect of theatre, and welcomes both beginners and advanced students of all grades.
½ unit of credit – one semester; No prerequisite.
Don’t forget to register for your drama classes!
See Mr. Marr if you have any questions about the classes or your eligibility to take them.