Drama II, III, IV

Course Description

This advanced drama and play production co-curricular class incorporates both performance and the technical aspects of theatre. It requires a mature and professional attitude as well as strong commitment. Students will apply and advance skills in student‐directed projects and performances and through participation in the Regional and State thespian festivals (as part of Thespian Society Troupe #990), the 1 Act Play Festival, and the spring production. All students must participate in production crews (lighting, sound, costume, make‐up, set, props, and business) and will be responsible for designing and implementing every facet of the shows. As a co-curricular class, it is very important that you understand that this class requires work hours, rehearsal, and performance both inside and OUTSIDE of class time in order to earn a grade!

-Major performance units: Contrasting Monologues and/or Solo Musical; Duet Acting and/or Duet Musical, Group Acting or Group Musical,

- Major design and technical theater units: Theater Marketing, Stage Management, Lighting Design, Sound Design, Costume Design, Set Design

- Other units: script analysis, short film, playwriting (Play Works and Musical Works opportunities), theatre history, acting methodology

Committed Dates

All students are required to participate or attend the following events, so please record in your calendar:

o Nov 2-3, 9-10: 1 Act Play Festival, Douglas High School

o *January 26 : Northern NV Thespian Festival and Conference, Damonte Ranch HS

o *March 7-10: NV State Thespian Festival, Del Sol Academy, Las Vegas (you must be passing all classes to attend and have a 2.0 GPA)

o *March 22-23, 29-30: Spring Show: (Tech Week 18-21 after school until 7ish)

o May 1: Awards Ceremony

o Sept. 14-15, Dec. 7-8. Feb 15-16, May 10-11 Comedy Improv – (if not participating)

o May 18 Short Film Festival

o June 24-29: Optional - International Thespian Festival and Conference

*Please reserve these dates now (attendance is required for a grade). There is no alternative assignment equal to missing the final rehearsals and the performances outside of class time. Students who are too ill to perform may be provided with a substitute assignment; however, that assignment will not be worth the same grade and is not equal to the work required to perform with a group.

National Core Arts Standards

This class is aligned to both the Nevada Language Arts Common Core Standards and the National Core Arts Standards.

- Creating: Conceiving and developing new artistic ideas and work.

- Performing/Presenting/ Producing: Performing: Realizing artistic ideas and work through interpretation and presentation. Presenting: Interpreting and sharing artistic work. Producing: Realizing and presenting artistic ideas and work.

- Responding : Understanding and evaluating how the arts convey meaning.

- Connecting: Relating artistic ideas and work with personal meaning and external context.

Required Materials

- NOTEBOOKS: You will be required to maintain a section for this course in a 3-ring binder OR a spiral notebook for journal, reflections, notes, assignments and handouts. Share this with other A day classes.

- Pen or pencil, highlighters, post-it notes, and basic school supplies.

- Comfortable and appropriate clothing and shoes that will allow for stage movement, and closed toed shoes for tech work.

Program Fees

There are costs associated with productions and registration fees and hotel expenses for the festivals and conferences of around $300.00. All of fees and costs can be covered through student ticket sales, program ad sales, and other fundraising opportunities.

All students and at least one parent/guardian need to participate in fundraising activities. There will be 2 fundraising opportunities each semester organized by the Drama Parent Boosters. Fees will only be assessed when a student has not raised enough funds to cover fees and costs.

Students may be required to provide some basic and common costume pieces and props for shows in which they are cast.

Out of Class Expectations

- Participation in each DHS Play and production. A production grade will be given, with no opportunity to make it up.

- Fundraising

- Attending and critiquing live theatrical productions is an important part of learning about theater. Drama 2 students = 2 critiques; Drama 3 students = 3 critiques.

Due Dates & Make Up Work

It is very important for you to be here for class! You will often have classmates that are counting on you to rehearse scenes or work on other group projects. You MUST be in class on the day of your dress rehearsal and performance, as those cannot be made up. If you have an emergency and need to be excused, you or your parent must call or email me. Any missed rehearsal will penalize the final grade.

- Missing a rehearsal during tech week, a performance, the Northern NV Thespian Festival or NV State Festival will have an extremely negative effect on the overall course grade and could result in a failing grade.

- WORK IS DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CLASS!!

- Late assignments will be will be penalized 50% until the end of that unit or up to the 6 week grading period, whichever comes first. After the passing of the 6 week grading period, any work not turned in from the previous 6 weeks will NOT BE ACCEPTED.

- Major projects: Only partial credit will be given for late projects, but late credit is always better than no credit. No credit will be given after the unit ends or the 6-week grading period, whichever comes first. Late work on group projects will never be awarded full credit.

- Each semester, you receive1 free homework pass worth 20 points to be used for any assignments other than a group project. One late homework pass per 6-week grading period can be applied to an assignment for full credit. The assignment must be turned in by the end of the grading period. Use these wisely!! These are not replaced if lost.

- Makeup is your responsibility. The school policy for make-up work applies. Each student must assume full responsibility for all notes, assignments or announcements made during class. When you are absent contact your classmates and check Google Classroom and Infinite Campus.

- Reflection Papers: All reflection papers following performances must be turned in within 1 class day after presenting and will NOT be accepted late. See handout for guidelines.

- Extra Credit can be earned for any play that you see and critique outside of the mandatory plays. I will give up to 25 pts. of extra credit added to your grade. You may do this twice per semester.

Grading

Expect grades in the following areas: participation and in-class work; preparation, rehearsal and performances; notebooks and/or journals, homework, quizzes and tests, projects, production crew tasks, audience etiquette, and overall attitude in the classroom toward your instructor and fellow classmates.

All students can earn up to 100 participation points per 6-week grading period. Everybody starts off at 75 points and that grade will increase and decrease throughout that time. Refer to Drama Class Behavior matrix.

You will not be graded on talent but your individual growth and how well you prepared and applied what you learn. Ability to take criticism is a necessary trait for this class. Use it to improve. You will lose points if you cannot receive feedback gracefully.

Google Classroom will be used to submit written assignments. The code to join is __________

Please keep all paper work in your binder to verify a grade if an issue arises.

Students can attend other theater productions or read plays and write a review for extra credit.

Staying Connected

Infinite Campus: You and your parents must sign up for IC notifications by going to the school website; the link is at the top. I will send notifications of major assignments or notices through IC, not a REMIND, as IC notifications can go directly to text. You will get live updates of grades.

Google Classroom: Most assignments will be submitted to GC unless I ask for a hard copy

We have other social media accounts that students should join.