Theatre classes had been going strong since 1964, then Baldwin High School was designated the PALC in 1986.  Only a handful of high schools throughout the state of Hawaii are awarded a learning center title in various areas of student learning.  These learning centers were designed to provide Hawaii Department of Education (DOE) students and their parents with greater academic choice by creating distinctive, specialized, and excellent programs within public education. Each center is a specialized program organized around a single them or subject areas such as: agriculture, technology, performing arts, etc.   Many students who are not part of the Baldwin High School district apply for a Geographic Exception (GE) to attend Baldwin HS under the PALC. GE Students work on all PALC productions either onstage or backstage.

The theatre department at Baldwin consists of 5 theatre class electives in the regular school curriculum, and Play Production elective for working on 2 stage productions (in Fall and Spring), every year.

Fine Arts-Theatre Class offerings

Creative Dance    

(FDC1000)                     (Open to grades 9-12)                          1 Credit/Year

This beginning level course will provide students opportunities to understand and experience a variety of styles, techniques, and types of dance through movement. Starting with basic steps and techniques students will discover space, time, and energy based on the principles of dance. Lessons will focus on the beginnings and history of dance, choreography, and movement in music. Students will learn self-discipline, creativity, and how to express their emotions through movement.

Explorations in Drama  

(FTE1000)      (Open to grades 9-12)                 1 Credit/Year

This course offers a potpourri of theatre and performing arts techniques/subjects for anyone with even a slight interest or curiosity about theatre. Students directly experience and explore drama and theatre with class activities, videos, online tutorials, etc. Learning is achieved through active participation and cooperation with other members of the class.  Students will gain insight into a broad spectrum of theatre genres through various kinds of presentation techniques. Students will engage in experiences that help them to understand and appreciate drama as a means of communication, work collaboratively, and learn to express self through drama.  Students participate both as performers and audience.   Subject matter includes:

• Pantomime

• Improvisation

• Creative drama

• Puppetry

• Storytelling/Story Dramatization

• Basic Acting/ Performance Skills

Beginning Acting 

(FTA1300) (Open to Grades 9-12)               1 Credit/Year

This course introducs the styles, techniques, and skills, in the art of acting.  You will work to freeing the body, vocal projection, and more involved work on special acting techniques. Students will learn to look at different characters and figure out how they tick. What happen to make them the way they are? Who are they inside? You'll be learning how to put yourself in another characters shoes (situation). Students will learn  how to use different mannerisms, accents, and voices to portray a character.  Acting for film and video will be explored with  monologues and scenes  performed with a partner.  

Intermediate Acting  

(FTA2000) (Open to Grades 9-12)         1 Credit/Year

Prerequisite: Successful completion and passing grade in Beginning Acting.

Continuation of above description with higher level of acting work including  monologues, duet scenes, and small group performances are  added.

Advanced Acting   

(FTA3000) (Open to Grades 11-12)               1 Credit/Year

Prerequisite: Successful completion and passing grade in Intermediate Acting.

Continuation of Intermediate Acting with higher level of acting work including  writing scripts, touring to other schools, and one-act plays.

Play Production              

Student will have the opportunity to be involved in the live stage productions. From acting, technical theatre, production work ,to students rehearsing/working on, and mounting a production(s) for a public audience. 

Students with interest in different aspects of theatre will get hands on experience through active participation in the production of a play. Students will be working in an area of interest , including... 

TECHNICAL-lighting, sound, set (design and building), costumes (design, creation, coordination,) making props.

PRODUCTION -public relations, front of house, ticket sales, etc.

ACTING- rehearsing and performing in the production. 

Student do not need to sign-up for this class. This credit will be given to students who participate in the after school Performing Arts Learning Center (PALC) program. Students must participate in the 2 main productions to earn 1 credit.  Credit is issued after participation of the 2nd main production. This class is repeatable for 1 credit per year up to 4 credits by senior year.

Play Production   I          (FTP1000)      Play Production   I                                      1 Credit/Year

Play Production   II         (FTP2000)       (Open to Grades 10-12)                           1 Credit/Year

Play Production  III         (FTP3000)       (Open to Grades 11-12)                           1 Credit/Year

Play Production  IV         (FTP4000)       (Open to Grades  12)                           1 Credit/Year