Introduction to Drama

• Collaboration
• Creativity and imagination
• Critical thinking
• Effective oral / written communication
• Problem solving
• Spontaneity

Most importantly, it cultivates empathy.

These skills will carry over into other subjects taught in school and will prepare students for a globalized workforce.

My primary goal is to prepare students for success in the 21st century by teaching them about theatre's role in building community and its importance as an art form.

Lights up!

Course Objectives

• Apply basic research to construct ideas about the visual composition of a drama / theatre work. (National Core Arts Standards, TH:Cr1.1.I.a).
• Use script analysis to generate ideas about a character that is believable and authentic in a drama / theatre work. (National Core Arts Standards, TH:Cr1.1.I.c).
• Investigate the collaborative nature of the actor, director, playwright, and designers and explore their interdependent roles in a drama / theatre work. (National Core Arts Standards, TH:Cr2.I.b).
• Explore physical, vocal and physiological choices to develop a performance that is believable, authentic, and relevant to a drama / theatre work. (National Core Arts Standards, TH:Cr3.1.I.b).
• Examine how character relationships assist in telling the story of a drama / theatre work. (National Core Arts Standards, TH:Pr4.1.I.a).
• Shape character choices using given circumstances in a drama / theatre work. (National Core Arts Standards, TH:Pr4.1.I.b).
• Practice various acting techniques to expand skills in a rehearsal or drama / theatre performance. (National Core Arts Standards, TH:Pr5.1.I.a).
• Respond to what is seen, felt, and heard in a drama / theatre work to develop criteria for artistic choices. (National Core Arts Standards, TH:Re7.1.I.a).
• Consider the aesthetics of the production elements in a drama / theatre work. (National Core Arts Standards, TH:Re9.1.I.b).
• Formulate a deeper understanding and appreciation of a drama / theatre work by considering its specific purpose or intended audience. (National Core Arts Standards, TH:Re9.1.I.c).

Attendance/Participation

Because of the performance nature of this class, attendance is mandatory. Excessive unexcused absences will detrimentally affect a student’s grade. Please remember: an absence impacts the individual student, and each student with whom they are working.

If a student is absent, that student has the number of days they were absent to make up any missed work. For example, if Jane is absent for three days, she has three days to make up the work she has missed.

Please check the Introduction to Drama calendar subpage on this portal for information about the lesson(s) on the day(s) missed.

In class, students always need to be:

• Attentive
• Positive
• Supportive

Effort is incredibly important; a student should always try their best in every classroom activity and take risks in their work.

*Please Note: Students are required to participate in all classroom activities including (but not limited to) company-building exercises / games, discussions, improvisation exercises / games, performance feedback, and physical / vocal warm-ups. When students would like to participate in class, they must raise their hand.

Critiques

Students are expected to see the NAHS Theatre Department’s productions of:

• Footloose the Musical – November 15th, November 16th, and November 17th
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime – April 18th, April 19th, April 20th, April 25th, April 26th, April 27th, and April 28th

Footloose the Musical will be performed in the Schottenstein Auditorium and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime will be performed in Mershad Hall, both of which are located in the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Performing Arts.

After seeing the shows, students will write a critique about the production by answering specific questions on a form provided by the instructor (attached).

In addition, students are expected to see one non-New Albany production (e.g. a touring show, a show at one of the theaters in town, a show at another high school, etc.) during the course of the school year. With your critique, you must submit either a program or a ticket stub for the show you saw. Printed tickets (e.g. TicketMaster) are also acceptable. These critiques will be due on Monday, May 13th, 2019. A student may turn this critique in at any time during the school year.