8th GRADE DRAMA

Semester Project Overview

In 8th grade, students work together to produce a play. As an ensemble, they select, adapt, design for, and produce a chosen play or piece of literature with a specific audience in mind. Along the way, they explore adaptation, stagecraft (theatrical design), and acting technique. The project culminates in a performance for their chosen audience and the MP&MS community. This year, both cohorts chose to perform Shrek -- each ensemble performed one half of the play.  

Play Selection

In 7th grade, looking ahead to their 8th grade year, in small groups, students prepared and presented pitches on what play they wanted to produce as a cohort. They were asked to either pitch a picture book to perform for the primary grade levels or a Shakespeare play to perform for the middle school grade levels. Pitches were widely ranged -- Where the Wild Things Are all the way to A Midsummer Night's Dream. In the end, they voted to produce Shrek. 

Ensemble Building

Throughout the trimester 8th grade actors took part in a variety of drama games to build ensemble and practice performance fundamentals such as cue recall, projection, maintaining character, and proprioception. 

Costume Design

Students designed costumes for their characters. They were challenged to create designs that were balanced in functionality and aesthetic. 

Set Design

Each 8th grader drew an elevation sketch of an original set design for their production. They were asked to create something that fit the needs of both plays (tonally and practically) and the limitations of the performance space. The final set was inspired by their designs.

Character Analysis & Rehearsal

In rehearsals, student actors were engaged in conversation with the director to collaboratively make blocking and acting decisions. They explored character objectives, physical expression, and "the moment before" for their entrances. They also took a deep analysis dive into their characters by creating character webs. This exercise challenged each actor to think beyond the context of the play and imagine their characters existing before and after it as well. This knowledge helped guide acting choices. 

Student Build Day

Leading up to their performance, students were invited to participate in a build day to put the set together -- painting, sawing, and more!

Final Performance

Student Reflection Snapshots

Something that stood out to my is how rehearsal brings everyone together. I really love building community and getting closer with my class because it feels so special to be around all these people I've known forever and do something fun. I didn't realize how it was even possible for everyone in my class to get closer but because of this play we did and that really stood out to me.

Something that stood out to me is the teamwork that our class showed throughout the rehearsal process.  

I am most proud of the intention I put into each line on stage and how I tried my best to become my character.

Something that has stood out to me in production/rehearsal process is how much we had a say in our costumes, we really got to choose and design what we actually wore in the play.

I think I am most proud of my character web, especially because my character had almost no known background but I was still able to create a complicated and in depth backstory for my character.

Something that stood out to me was the line memorization skills Katie taught us. I am proud of how I memorized my lines. I thought that I wouldn't have them memorized by the due date but I did. I did really well on stage with my lines.

Something that stood out to me throughout production is how the class came together. I feel like my bond with the class strengthened during rehearsal. Something that I have overcome is a little is stage fright. I am still working on it but I have much less nerves when on stage. I have overcome it by practicing being on stage.