Conservatory

Our mission is to prepare our students for the world of singing, dancing, and acting while focusing on the whole child. Here at the MCS Performing Arts Department we are focused on preparing you to become the best performer you can be. We want you to be confident in your skills, well rounded in your talents, educated in the rich histories of music, dance, and theatre and prepared for auditions.

As a conservatory student, you will take enrichment classes in back to back enrichment time slots. This allows us, as the conservatory, to create a specific schedule allowing you to take classes in all three performance areas rather than two. Students within the conservatory will take classes in music, dance, and theatre history, study theatre production and scene study, attend sight singing classes, be enrolled in either advanced or general dance/choral classes depending on ability level, experience a musical theatre dance course, and have opportunities for private study within your performance focus.

In addition, you will have several performance and competitive opportunities. Each semester, students will be selected to perform a piece from their repertoire for their peers in a private concert style event. Students will participate in District Music Performance Assessments, All State Music sight reading, vocal quality, and music knowledge assessments, district and state level thespian competitions, and dance showcases. Students will have the options to join both the International Junior Thespian Society and the National Dance Society for Dance Arts.

Through all these learning and performance experiences, our goal is to build our students into prepared and well-rounded performers.

Theatre Conservatory Classes Offered

Scene Studies – In this acting class students learn how to use acting techniques, and harness them for performance. Students will explore how to apply a backstory to the characters that they are creating, while working on contemporary and classical scenes and monologues. This bi-weekly course allows actors to test their performance abilities in a safe and playful environment, while discovering their strengths and weaknesses with the help of a trained director’s eye.

Production Studies – In this production course, students will learn aspects of costume, set, and makeup design. Additionally, students will explore scene writing and understand the role of a director. Students will have opportunities to direct and manage small productions to expand skills and leadership both on and off the stage. The student will also climb ladders, lift items to move sets, build (using tools such as hammers, electric drill, electric screwdriver, hand saw, hobby knife, hot foam cutter, and hot glue gun), paint, work online, research, work with and wear makeup, and handle very expensive lighting and sound equipment in this class.

Theatre Culture

Once a week, for two semesters, students will be Students will understand how theatre began and evolved throughout Europe and then identify the influences on American Theatre today. Students will continue to expand on their knowledge of theatre with regard to history, studying playwrights, theatrical works so they are a well rounded and knowledgeable actor. Understanding the rich history of the world will impact both their understanding of great theatrical works and offer insight into character development and analysis for designing sets, costumes, and makeup.

Theatre Private Study

Each conservatory student will be scheduled for independent study sessions once a week for about 7 weeks. First year conservatory students will receive instruction from each enrichment area. Students will only be scheduled for three 7-week sessions so they may enjoy a focus in dance, singing, and acting. (If the student or teacher is absent on their appointed day, the class will not be made up.) Second and third year students will be required to choose a focus. Their study sessions will be scheduled by the student and teacher at the start of the school year. At the end of the 7 week session, students will perform for their peers at a Jury Performance scheduled during the school day. Sessions will be scheduled from 8-8:30. Students are expected to be on time and prepared to rehearse. Students who ride a bus should report to their session as soon as they arrive.

Lab Fee: Approximately, $250 for 1st year Conservatory (includes theatre, chorus, and dance lab fees), 2nd year is reduced due to uniforms already purchased from the previous year. Fees may be paid through sponsorship using the Ad Book Sale Form.

Additional Optional Fees: $12 for Thespian Dues, $40 for District Thespian Competition Fee (due in August), $85 State Thespian Competition Fee (due in November)

Additional Optional Commitment: rehearsal or gigs after school and weekends dependent on participation in clubs or the competition thespian troupe. Conservatory students are not obligated to participate in after school clubs. However, students are expected to perform in all concerts or performances related to either the dance, chorus, or theatre genre. Concerts and performances are held after school several times a year.