Photo:  Smith Middle School Theatre Production of Willy Wonka

• You like to be on stage!

• You like to interact with your peers!

• You like to play games!

• You enjoy stories!

• You like to think on your feet!

• You want to try something new!

• You like to use your imagination!

• You like to design things!

• You want to learn how to communicate better!

• You like to be active and use your whole body!

Theatre 6

Grade:  6  
Course length:  Semester or Year

No Prior Experience Required

Students are introduced to basic acting skills through creative dramatics, theatre games and improvisation. They create original characters and scenes from fantasy and real life situations. Using these scenes, students begin to explore and understand themselves through guided reflection and observation.  This curriculum also introduces basic voice and body work that every actor relies upon.  Artistic decision making, group problem solving skills, confidence development and overcoming stage fright all occur in a creative and accepting environment.

Theatre 7

Grade:  7  
Course length:  Semester or Year

No Prior Experience Required

Through a combination of challenging improvisation games, character development exercises, ensemble acting situations and continued voice and body work, students begin to refine their acting skills.  They also approach script writing by learning how to reveal a clear storyline as well as how to successfully move a character from the page to the stage. Students also explore social situations and build on language arts skills through role play and scene writing. They are introduced to basic technical areas of play production.  Students practice audition techniques, develop personal discipline and begin to understand the commitment necessary to make a performance happen.

Theatre 8

Grade:  8  
Course length:  Semester or Year

No Prior Experience Required

The emphasis of this course is play production and drama as performance.  This course challenges the acting student to study how the sets, props, lights, costumes, sound and make up can surround the actor and help the character come to life.  With script analysis work, structured improvisation games and specific character development exercises, students begin to select character traits they think will work successfully on stage.  This selection process helps each individual gain creative confidence and helps them explore artistic possibilities by calling upon their critical thinking skills. Students will also survey the varied careers in the performing arts field.