In Drama 1A, we will explore various approaches to acting. We will begin by playing a series of theatre games, move to improvisations, then perform professionally scripted and student-written monologues.  Students will develop an approach to enact short monologues from professional play scripts for final presentation.  Students will receive an overview of the major historical periods of theatre history throughout the world from Ancient Greece to the 19^th Century using student projects and teacher presentations.  By the end of the course, students will have developed an appreciation for the art of the theatre, a respect for working within an ensemble of artists, and an appreciation for the variety of approaches to actor training.

Students will continue the study and development of acting through scene work. While building on the principles and techniques learned in Drama 1A, students will participate in group warm-ups (vocal and physical), theatre games, improvisations, and advanced theatre exercises. Students will work on scenes from professionally produced plays. Students will study 20^th Century theatre through the study of playwrights such as Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, and August Wilson.

Drama 1C:  Advanced Musical Theatre Workshop is an after-school workshop exploring drama, dance and music theories and their application in performance.  To that end, students will explore acting, singing, dancing, rehearsal, performance, and technical/design skills culminating in the production of a full-length Broadway musical in the Spring semester.  Students will also learn about the historical and cultural significance of the selected piece of musical theatre. Students are admitted on the basis of a competitive audition and interviews held at the beginning of the semester.

This course is offered outside of the 2:45 am – 3:00 pm school day. Meets 3-5 times per week, afternoons or evenings, 3 hours per meeting. 

*This class is not counted in the student’s SI GPA

This course is an after-school workshop in acting, rehearsal, performance, and technical/design skills culminating in the production of a full-length play in the fall semester.  Students are admitted on the basis of a competitive audition held at the beginning of the semester.  Four additional students may be selected to the positions of stage manager, stage crew chief, lighting designer on the basis of in-depth interviews. These students will work alongside professionals over the course of the production developing knowledge and skills in each specialized area and their application in performance.

This course is offered outside of the 9:00 am – 2:45 pm school day. Meets 3-5 times per week, afternoons or evenings, 3 hours per meeting.

*This class is not counted in the student’s SI GPA