Theatre
THEATRE PROGRAM OVERVIEW
ARMES Theatre students explore acting, movement, voice, collaborative practice, design thinking, and the habits of the artist through experiential drama process methods that focus on the needs of the individual artistically gifted student. Students develop stronger communication skills through independent and ensemble-building practices, playmaking/ devising/ writing projects, critical discussion, and reflection. In the context of an annual production, students embrace the process of bringing dramatic literature to the stage, through learning which connects students with their interests and gives them a chance to explore the roles of the many collaborators involved in creating theater.
Instructional Objectives:
Improve communication skills and build creativity
Develop an artistic point of view and connection to the art form
Build foundational skills and vocabulary as an actor
Empower collaboration, self-discipline, poise, and self-confidence
Develop social and self-awareness
Cultivate creative problem-solving techniques and critical response
Encourage awareness of senses, body, and emotions
Introduce students to classic dramatic literature and to techniques for engaging with literature
Develop appreciation of the conventions of the theatre
ARMES THEATRE INSTRUCTORS
Central Site - League Academy
LAUREN FRENCH
Lauren French is a professional actor, director, and theatre educator. As a teaching artist with The Warehouse Theatre (WHT) and The South Carolina Children’s Theatre for the past 5 years, Lauren has led creative engagements and educational programs for all ages. With WHT, Lauren has taught Shakespeare workshops, applied theatre in partnership with the Applied Theatre Center, storytelling classes funded by the Cares Act, and participated in three Shakespeare Educational Tours, performing and teaching workshops with students all over South Carolina and parts of North Carolina. This Fall she will be playing the Nurse and Tybalt in WHT's Educational Tour of Romeo and Juliet.
During her time living in New York City Lauren developed her solo show titled, “Intimate Dinner; or ‘Tap Water Is Fine’,” which she has performed at Piccolo Spoleto in Charleston, Capital Fringe in D.C., Asheville Fringe Arts Festival in NC, Spartanburg, and Greenville. She received an Individual Artist Grant from the Metropolitan Arts Council which helped produce the show in Greenville. She has directed shows on Governor’s Island in NYC, Clemson, and produced and directed free Shakespeare Game Nights in public spaces around Greenville County.
Lauren holds a BA in Performing Arts, Theater from Clemson University. During her time at Clemson, she also studied Physical Theatre at the Accademia dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy, and at The Stella Adler Studio of Acting in NYC. She also studied clowning with the Humanist Project. Lauren is a product of the Greenville County School System having attended League Academy, Wade Hampton High School, and the Fine Arts Center and is thrilled to be back this time teaching.
Northern Site - Greer Middle
PRENTISS STANDRIDGE
Prentiss Standridge is an actress, educator, and theatre artist. With over a decade as a teaching artist, she has notably collaborated with The Warehouse Theatre, The Metropolitan Arts Council’s SmART Arts Program, and Lincoln Center Education in NYC.
A Greenville native, Prentiss has performed locally with the South Carolina Children’s Theatre, The Warehouse Theatre, and Center Stage. Regionally, she has performed at The Guthrie Theater, Park Square Theater, and the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. She holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program and is an alumna of the SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, ARMES Program, and Fine Arts Center.
Prentiss loves spending time outdoors exploring natural wonders with her best buddy and son, Ivan, and has spent the last decade working for a white-water rafting company in Alaska alongside her husband. She is passionate about empowering students as young artists toward independent thinking and problem solving and maintains an unshakable belief that art holds power in our society.
Southern Site - Hillcrest Middle
REBECCA PAYNE
Rebecca Payne is a professional actor, vocalist, and theatre educator. As a teaching artist with The Warehouse Theatre (WHT) for the past 8 years and Pecknel Music Company (PMC) for the past 3 years, Rebecca has led creative engagements and educational programs for all ages. With WHT, Rebecca has taught Shakespeare workshops, applied theatre workshops, and participated in Shakespeare Educational Tours, performing and teaching workshops with students all over South Carolina.
In her time post college, Rebecca has been performing with local theatres across the upstate including Centre Stage, GLOW Lyric Theatre, Younts Centre for the Performing Arts, Mauldin Cultural Center, The Warehouse Theatre, South Carolina Children's Theatre, and The Market Theatre to name a few. This fall will mark her 50th production as a theatre artist in the upstate. Outside of performance, she teaches Voice with PMC for students of all ages with a technique first approach.
Rebecca holds a Bachelors of Music in Voice Performance in Foreign Language from the University of Memphis. During her time at Memphis, she also studied European Art and French Cinema at the L'Université Catholique de Lille, in Lille, France. Rebecca is a product of the Greenville County School System having attended Greenville Technical Charter High School and the Fine Arts Center. She is delighted for the opportunity to share the love and joy of theatre with her students.