Theatre Classes at Somerville High School
Introductory Courses:
Theatre 1: Foundations: The prerequisite course for all theatre classes at SHS. In Foundations of Theatre, students will learn about the history of one of humanity's most enduring artforms while exploring three tools of the actor: Body, Voice, and Mind. At the end of this course, students will have the opportunity to perform a published work of theatre for a live audience.
EL Theatre Seminar: Designed specifically for multilingual students, this course follows the same curriculum as Theatre 1: Foundations with additional supports built in for multi-lingual learners. At the end of this course, students will have the opportunity to write and perform in an original piece of devised theatre for a live audience.
Intermediate Courses:
Musical Theatre Workshop: Explore the history of the American Musical through performance. Building off the skills from Theatre 1: Foundations, or EL Theatre Seminar, students will have the opportunity to find their natural voice, learn how songs work, and practice "acting the song" while learning about the history and development of the integrated musical. At the end of this course, students will perform in a cabaret-style performance for a live audience.
Theatre Production and Design: In Theatre Production and Design, students will learn about the various technical roles involved in producing a play or musical. We will explore the various career paths in arts administration and entertainment design and production. Students in this course will have the opportunity to apply to practice these skills by supporting many types of events in the SHS Auditorium, including full scale music, theatre, and dance productions.
Advanced Courses:
Playwriting and Composition: This advanced course introduces students to the discipline of playwriting. Students will learn the fundamentals of play structure and composition, as well as the tools necessary to produce a playscript. Elements for playwriting will include narrative structure, crafting dialogue, formatting your script, copyright, and “pitching” your script. Students will leave the course having written an original short play which may be featured during an evening of new work produced by the Highlander Theatre Company.
Theatre and Society: This advanced course explores the social and political roles that theatre has played in history. Students will learn about various social movements by exploring the theatre created in response to those movements. Students will explore how political theatre continues to evolve and activate audiences today. The course will culminate in an original piece of theatre, created by the students, that addresses a contemporary issue or issues important to the Somerville High School Community.