Stage Production

Pick your field of interest (Theater/Sound/Lighting/Video/Backstage), train, produce events, and become a leader. Chart a course based upon what is offered each year. All are 20 weeks except fundementals which is 40 weeks and counts as a 12th grade ELA credit. 

For more information please visit the Stage Production Pathways Document or the Stage Production Yearly Offerings Sheet

Courses:

INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL THEATRE

20 Weeks |   1/2 Credit |     Grades 8, 9      |  Course Number: 0670

Prerequisite: This course is designed to work alongside the course Scenic Design and Show Control. 

This course is Part I of a 2 course offering.  Part II is Scenic Design and Show Control.

“We are live in 30 seconds people….ready on lights?” “Lights are good.”  “Sound team?”  “Mics and monitors are on. Preshow music is fading out.”  “Video are you rolling?” “Roger that- we are live. Projecting pre-show credits on your cue”  Backstage: Are we a go?”  “Places people!  Yes - All cast is set and we are ready. “Standby on curtain opening and… GO!”

It takes a village to make everything go right for live performances.  Welcome to the village!

 The class objectives are as follows:

●   Learn how the magic happens on Lighting, Sound, Backstage, and Video through in-depth behind the scenes tours and experiences.

●   Learn about microphones, recording, videography, lighting, set design and construction and begin designing your own ideas

●   The JHS Musical and Talent Show are our backdrop for learning.  You will contribute to these productions!

●   Students will have opportunities to work onstage and design the technical aspects behind each performance

●   Fun choice activities to learn/build: Painting, Design and build sets, Lighting and Sound Design

●   Field trip to Syracuse Stage for a private backstage tour in and optionally join us for a group viewing of their December show

●  Work alongside and support 4D Productions and possibly join the team when openings arise

SCENIC DESIGN AND SHOW CONTROL

20 Weeks |   1/2 Credit |     Grades 8, 9      |  Course Number: 8671

Prerequisite: This course is Part II of a 2 part offering.  It is highly recommended to take Introduction to Technical Theatre prior to this course so you can work a premiere position for our show.

Whether you are on stage performing, or working behind the scenes on a stage crew, lighting, sound or video team, we all have one goal: to produce an incredible show.  Are you ready to peel back the amazing layers of a live performance?  

 The class objectives are as follows:

●  Incorporate the current spring events, such as the JHS Talent Show as our backdrop for learning

●  You will have opportunities to use the stage and design the technical aspects behind the show

●  Learn about set design: Style, Composition, Perception vs Reality, Psychology, Color Theory

●  Learn Cinematography: Rule of Thirds, Camera Angles and Types of shots

●  Sit behind a real lighting console, sound board, and video mixer to get the real experience

●  Take a field trip to The Landmark Theatre in February and optionally join us for a group viewing of a spring broadway show by Famous Artists.

●  Design and build actual sets, lighting and sound design, videography and editing 

Run our Last Day of School Show with a live audience and we work all the tech! 

FUNDAMENTALS OF DESIGN FOR THEATRE

40 Weeks |   1 Credit |     Grades 10, 11, 12     |  Course Number: 0650

Prerequisites: Students interested in a career in acting, directing, technical theatre, and stage activities.

Have you ever wondered how all the magic happens on stage?  We reveal all the backstage secrets in this course.  Covered topics include: a brief history of theatre architecture and stage technology, the stage and its equipment, scenic design, lighting and sound design, construction techniques, and costuming.  Specific emphasis will be on the use of color and artistic choices to communicate effectively on stage.  

Students will:

●  Watch the real elements of design and composition in theatre come to life in our auditorium!

●  Build props, design/build sets, and paint them for the CNS fall play, spring musical and Talent Show

●  Learn color theory, script analysis and develop a personal artistic style

●  Understand the responsibilities of Artistic Directors, The Design Team, Crew and the Stage Manager in unifying the “production concept”

●  Do perspective drawing and drafting in scenic design, including manual drafting and CAD

●  Travel to Syracuse Stage for a private backstage tour and a group viewing of a December show.

WORK EXPERIENCE FOR LIVE EVENT PRODUCTIONS

20-40 Weeks |   1/2 - 1 Credit |     Grades 10, 11, 12     |  Course Number: 0664

Students (age 16 and older) enrolled in any WBL Stage Production course are eligible to participate in earning work experience credit through the General Education Work Experience Program (GEWEP). This program gives students opportunities to apply academic and technical skills learned in the classroom to actual workplace experiences beyond the walls of CNS. 

Students who demonstrate mastery of skill in staging, sound, lighting or video are considered eligible for this program which includes:

● Planned and coordinated Stage Production WBL related instruction

● Paid and unpaid school-supervised work experience 

● Supported by at least one period of related classroom instruction, such as the numerous Stage Production WBL courses

● Successful completion of related coursework, fulfillment of required work hours and recommendations from employer and instructor are required of each student employee

● Student/parent provided transportation required to potential job sites / events

(150 hours = ½ credit, 300 hours = 1 credit) 

Max WBL credits for students: 2

EVENT DESIGN AND PRODUCTION (2028-2029)

20 Weeks |   1/2 Credit |     Grades 10, 11, 12     |  Course Number: 0663

Prerequisites: Enrolled in the 4D Productions program OR completion of the following 3 courses: Introduction to Technical Theatre, Scenic Design and Show Control.

Students will explore the mastery of live events including our Talent Shows, Concerts and Drama offerings.  Using their knowledge of the crew procedures and relevant equipment, students will dive deep into how to incorporate the latest technological advances to improve all district events.  

Students in this course will:

● Receive hands-on group instruction to directly connect present learning to future goals

● Work on the design concept and special effects of real productions for large audiences in terms of sound, lighting, video and staging

● Gain confidence to take leadership roles such as a crew manager or assistant manager

● Learn how to work under stressful situations and quick timelines

● Work on short and long-term plans for the spaces, including maintaining the facility

● Work to become master editors of audio and film and photography projects

● Tour the Redhouse at City Center facilities in December

● Have opportunities to land (paid/unpaid) work with local businesses and production companies

An additional ½ credit can be awarded to students completing 150 hours of WBL.

THEATRE ARTS AND FACILITY MANAGEMENT (2029-2030)

20 Weeks |   1/2 Credit |     Grades 10, 11, 12     |  Course Number: 0664

Prerequisites: Enrolled in the 4D Productions program OR completion of the following 3 courses: Introduction to Technical Theatre, Scenic Design and Show Control.

Students will ensure the mastery of live events that take place in our middle and secondary school auditoriums, including our Talent Shows, Concerts and Drama offerings. Having mastered the equipment and design functions, students will become the production managers to fully run these events.

Students in this course will:

● Have tailored experiences to directly connect learning to specific career pathways

● Develop the budgeting, management, and personnel of actual large productions

● Be an innovative leader, director, or production manager

● Work on short and long-term plans for the spaces, including upgrading the facility

● Draw accurate renderings of spaces and shows, stage, light and sound plots

● Tour the St. Joseph’s Lakeview Amphitheater/Exposition Center in May

● The CNS Auditorium is our state of the art classroom. Complete facility projects and research to improve shows

● Have opportunities to land (paid/ unpaid) work with local businesses and production companies

An additional ½ credit can be awarded to students completing 150 hours of WBL.

ADVANCED STAGE AND SCREEN TECHNOLOGY (2026-2027)

20 Weeks |   1/2 Credit |     Grades 10, 11, 12     |  Course Number: 0658

Prerequisites: Enrolled in the 4D Productions program OR completion of the following 3 courses: Introduction to Technical Theatre, Scenic Design and Show Control.

Students will explore the basics of live events including our Talent Shows, Concerts and Drama offerings.  Learning the fundamentals of communication, solid work ethic, and teamwork, students will attain relevant technological skills in staging, lighting, sound and video.   

Students in this course will:

● Receive hands-on group foundational instruction for real-life applications

● Be responsible for project-based learning and picking independent avenues of study

● Use state of the art equipment to run the CNS and NSJHS Auditorium

● Work on short and long-term plans for the spaces, including new equipment proposals

● Visually present scenic design concepts after studying the production concept

● Experiment with color on stage and in post-production video applications

● Tour the Redhouse at City Center facilities in December

● Have opportunities to land (paid/unpaid) work with local businesses and production companies

An additional ½ credit can be awarded to students completing 150 hours of WBL.

SOUND DESIGN: SHOW MIXING AND RECORDING (2026-2027)

20 Weeks |   1/2 Credit |     Grades 10, 11, 12     |  Course Number: 0654

Prerequisites: Students who want to explore a career involving sound, including sound design and audio for films should sign up for the course.

If you don’t have good sound, you don’t have a show. Sound is the foundation on which a show can build upon. In this class, students will learn the basics of sound design in the state of the art CNS Auditorium.  It’s not all fancy equipment that makes a great show.  It’s a plan made by a team of sound workers who can exquisitely control every aspect of what is heard.

In this course, students will:

● Mix live sound on professional equipment (Digico SD10) and then learn how to edit on professional software: Vectorworks, Dante, Serato DJ, and Studio One Plus

● Comprehend universal audio properties while realizing the artistic nature of design

● Setup and run large and small sound systems for real events in and outside of school

● Record solo projects and class projects in our new sound recording studio

● Understand Distortion, Impedance, Preamps, Amplifiers, Delay, Reverb and Signal Processing 

● Use microphones, line array systems and proper cabling techniques 

● Learn how to be a successful DJ, using a full DJ rig at school!

● Tour SubCat Studios and meet local industry experts

An additional ½ credit can be awarded to students completing 150 hours of WBL

FILM AND SCREEN DESIGN (2028-2029)

20 Weeks |   1/2 Credit |     Grades 10, 11, 12     |  Course Number: 0655

Looking through the camera eye is quite different from our natural perspective.  The complex world of video design, production, and editing is constantly changing.  New challenges abound with changing technology, higher resolutions, larger files and sophisticated networking and storage.

In this course students will:

●  Build upon a foundational knowledge of video equipment and media

●  Focus on skit writing for comedic and dramatic purposes for our live events

●  Create individualized projects such as stop-motion, short films, all supporting NSCSD

●  Be involved with district projects, including all pre show content and videos 

●  Edit efficiently for a fast turn around using Premiere Pro, Final Cut, After Effects, and Photoshop

●  Develop your directing skills for your projects; “hire” the cast, call the shots 

●  Take a tour of Spectrum’s headquarters and News Channel 9 

●  Film using both SLR high end cameras and 4K video cameras

●  Get involved with several outside opportunities such as the NYS Winter Fair at the Expo Center

●  Have opportunities to land (paid/unpaid) freelance work with local businesses and production companies

An additional ½ credit can be awarded to students completing 150 hours of WBL

LIGHTING DESIGN AND STAGE LIGHTING (2027-2028)

20 Weeks |   1/2 Credit |     Grades 10, 11, 12     |  Course Number: 0653

Prerequisites: Students who want to explore a career involving lighting, including performance lighting and film lighting should sign up for the course.

Lights, Camera, Action!  There’s a reason why lights are called first. Without professional lighting, plays would be in the dark, cameras won’t work, concerts would be boring and this course wouldn’t exist. A good lighting designer uses all available tools to take the production to the next level.

In this course, students will:

● Create artistic lighting designs on professional theatrical equipment

● Experiment with the principles of Composition: Harmony, Contrast, Variation, Emphasis and Gradation with both classic instruments, LED lighting, and Lasers

● Understand the language of color: Hue, Value, Chroma, Additive/Subtractive Mixing

● Help produce CNS events such as fall play, spring musical and the Talent Show

● Have opportunities to land (paid/unpaid) work outside of school, with local lighting companies

● Learn computer-aided drafting using industry software: Vectorworks, Lightwrite

● Learn how to light actors, the acting area and background using different angles/directional light

● Use state of the art instruments such moving head lights and other automated LED lighting

● Design light plots, hang lights, run power and DMX, focus lights and run shows

● Take a tour of Syracuse Scenery and Stage Lighting (SSSL)

An additional ½ credit can be awarded to students completing 150 hours of WBL

TECHNICAL DIRECTION & PRODUCTION (2027-2028)

20 Weeks |   1/2 Credit |     Grades 10, 11, 12     |  Course Number: 0659

Prerequisites: Enrolled in the 4D Productions program OR completion of the following 3 courses: Introduction to Technical Theatre, Scenic Design and Show Control.

Students will design and enhance the live events including our Talent Shows, Concerts and Drama offerings.  Learning the fundamentals of organization, purpose and professionalism, students will build upon relevant technological skills in staging, lighting, sound and video.

Students in this course will:

● Have hands-on instruction for authentic experiences in their field

● Work on making designs into a reality for large audiences to enjoy

● Take control of their learning and develop individualized projects for approval

● Run the CNS and JHS Auditorium, learning new skills to foster growth

● Work on the specific industry skills for possible employment in the field

● Use software such as Studio One, Premiere Pro, Photoshop and CAD

● Tour the LeMoyne College Visual and Performing Arts Center in April

● Have opportunities to land (paid/unpaid) work with local businesses and production companies

An additional ½ credit can be awarded to students completing 150 hours of WBL.