Course Offerings
Introduction to Theatre Arts (Theatre Arts)
Introduction to Theatre Art (Theatre Arts) In this class students explore and learn the basic ideas of theatre: improvisation, pantomime, technical (make-up, costume and set design) and, of course, acting. This class is for everyone – from the merely curious to the aspiring thespian.
Students learn and practice the two main supports of performance, body movement and improvisation, throughout the year. Students learn dramatic technique including voice and gesture, creating character, tenets of theatre design and production as well as review the important milestones in the history of theatre.
In the first semester the focus is on basic improvisation, theatre terms, and basic pantomime and mime, as well as body movement, voice work, beginning acting and auditioning techniques. Students study beginning characterization and production via the history of theatre and scene study.
In the second semester students learn the basics of back stage: make-up, costume, light, and set design. Students also learn about the different career choices there are in theatre - not everyone has to be an actor to be in theatre.
There are no pre-requisites for this class.
This class may be repeated for full credit. This class is a two-semester Core 40 and Academic Honors Diploma credit (one credit each semester)
“Acting is a process involving certain transformations: A person is transformed into an actor; an actor is transformed into a character. This process is not sudden or magical; rather, it is graduate and deliberate.”
Acting One by Robert Cohen
Advanced Theatre Arts
Advanced Theatre Arts is for those students who are interested in learning more about the processes of acting and directing. This class requires certain discipline and student focus on the craft of acting and directing. Learning about theatre is all in the doing. To that end, this class is very project oriented with many opportunities for students to apply different theories and techniques of acting/directing to their work as the year progresses. Students will also be responsible for certain reading assignments. The following is the general format of the school year.
Living Statues: “Living Statues” have long been a part of the European street theatre scene and are a vibrant part of the attractions in the major cities of Europe. In this project students will create a character, costume, setting and scene to present at the Bloomington Farmers Market. We will use this preparation time to review movement and improvisation exercises.
In the first six weeks students will be required to read Respect for Acting by Uta Hagen.
Students are required to write a bibliography of the book as well apply many of the ideas Ms. Hagen outlines in her book to scene work.
Scene Study: Students will be assigned scenes to present an original concept of to the class. Students are required to read and respond to Michael Shurtleff’s book, Audition.
The Monologue: Students are required to present an audition ready monologue. This monologue will be presented to a panel of area theatre professionals. This audition also counts as the student’s audition for Production class. Students are required to hand in a detailed character analysis/journal with their monologue. The monologue panel will convene on December 11 and 13 in 2007.
Children’s Play: Students participate in the presentation of a play for children that will go on tour to area elementary schools for one week in February of 2008. This project takes students through the full production process.
One-Act Play Festival: Students will be cast in a series of short plays for their final presentation/exam. Students present a performance-ready production at the end of the school year.
Pre-requisites:
A letter grade no lower than a B in Introduction to Theatre (Theatre Arts) and teacher permission.
This class may be repeated for full credit. This class is a two-semester Core 40 and Academic Honors Diploma credit (one credit each semester)
“To play needs much work. But when we experience the work as play, then it is not work anymore.
A PLAY IS PLAY. ”
Empty Space by Peter Brooks
Advanced Theatre Production
Advanced Theatre Production is a performance-based class where the study of acting, theatre design, production and history is applied to public performance. The intent of this class is to give students the opportunity to experience and practice all aspects of theatre production, from exploration to conception to production.
This year (2007-08) students will do two productions. Students will be tentatively cast within the first two weeks of school. If you are cast in one show, then you will work production crew for the other show, and vice-versa.
In the first semester of this school year students will be doing the Living Statue project. Statues are to be presented at the Farmer’s Market on Saturdays, September 22 and September 29, 2007.
The rest of the first semester will be in production preparing for performances of Reckless by Craig Lucas. This play will be presented December 6, 7 and 8, 2007, in the Black Box.
In the second semester we will be in rehearsal for The Laramie Project by Moise Kaufman. This production will be presented on May 8, 9 and 10, 2008, in the Black Box.
Pre-requisites: This class requires one year of Introduction to Theatre (Theatre Arts), one year of Advanced Acting, and an audition.
This class may be repeated for full credit. This class is a two-semester Core 40 and Academic Honors Diploma credit (one credit each semester)
“We must accept that the theatre is a communal adventure….the better the play, the more we need an ensemble venture. We must recognize that we need each other’s strengths, and the more we need each other’s professional comradeship, the better the chance we have of making theatre.”
Respect for Acting by Uta Hagen