Theater Arts Course Offerings

Dramatics Workshop    

0.5 Credit     
Course No. 502
Trimesters: 1

Students will learn and demonstrate their understanding of the primary principles/techniques of theater. The class will require the students to perform, to critique both live and filmed performances, to write and understand reviews. In addition, students will become familiar with the fundamentals of directing, staging, blocking, set design, and lighting. The students will understand how to approach a character, a scene, and how to work within an ensemble effectively.  There may be trips to Long Wharf, Hartford Stage, or New York.
 

Acting/Directing I  

0.5 Credit  
Course No. 503
Trimesters: 1
Prerequisite:   Dramatics Workshop or Eighth Grade Performance

Building on what was learned from Dramatics Workshop, the students will study in greater depth the techniques of acting and directing culminating in a final production. They will become familiar with the techniques of directing, blocking, staging, and prop use. In addition, they will experiment with lighting and makeup techniques and how those techniques enhance or detract from the production.  They will study the filmed productions of plays to see these techniques. Students will be expected to write reviews, character studies, and rewrite scenes from the viewed productions. They will stage their rewrites, critique orally and in writing live performances and filmed versions. There may be trips to Long Wharf, Hartford Stage, or New York.

Advanced Acting/Directing II    

0.5 Credit
Course No. 504
Trimesters: 1

Prerequisite:   Acting/ Directing I

Each student will select a pre-approved play to analyze in terms of acting and directing techniques. During the trimester, they will present their findings, in writing and in performance to the class. They will illustrate to the class via acting exercises how the aim of the actor and the director was achieved, or why it was not achieved and how it could have been achieved. Deadlines will be set.  The students will demonstrate the validity of their findings by performing a segment of their selected play. This will include their understanding and use of directing, staging, props, make-up, and lighting. The class will be required to critique professionally a variety of performances. There may be trips to Long Wharf, Hartford Stage, or New York.
 

Theater and History  

1 Credit    
Course No. 505
Trimesters: 2 

Prerequisite:   Advanced Acting/Directing II

Students will read and discuss some or all of the plays listed below: 

• Antigone – Sophocles 
•  An Enemy of the People – Henrik Ibsen                   
• A Swedish Tiger – Goran Gillinger            
• Streamers – David Rabe
• Frost/Nixon – Peter Morgan (British)         
• The Dear Boy – Dan O’Brien
• Spring Awakening – Frank Wedekind (Original), Steven Sater (Book/Lyrics), Duncan Sheik (Music)
• In Darfur – Winter Miller

They will research the impact that history and society had on the playwright and the play. They will also discuss how art forms and the media were similarly impacted. Students may view a film of the play where applicable. 

During the second trimester, students will be working on their script, reading, discussing, and viewing the listed plays. They will develop an original scene, with specific deadlines, referencing an historical event. As part of their final project the students will present a staged reading of their script. There may be trips to Long Wharf, Hartford Stage, or New York.