8th Grade Drama

Trimester Project Overview

In eighth 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. 

Throughout the trimester eighth 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. 

Play Selection

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 -- The Berenstain Bears all the way to Macbeth. In the end, they voted to produce Alice in Wonderland and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Costume Design

For Alice in Wonderland, students designed costumes for their characters. They were challenged to create designs that were balanced in functional needs and aesthetic. 

Time Period & Fashion Selection

For A Midsummer Night's Dream, students conceptualized and pitched ideas for what time period they wanted to set the play in. Concepts ranged from 70s disco to Y2K. In the end, they selected the Victorian era. This selection inspired their costumes and the impressionist set paint treatment.

Set Design

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

Rehearsal & Character Analysis

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 answering Uta Hagen's Nine Questions for the Actor: Who am I?, What are my relationships?, What do I want?, What is getting in my way?, etc. 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. Below, enjoy a one minute time-lapse peek into their rehearsals.

Final Performance

Ensemble Building