*Not offered 2023-24 school year
Advanced Drama
The Advanced Drama course is for students who are interested in the advanced study of theater arts. This course requires an audition for admittance, and prerequisite experience as either cast or crew in a theater production (from Drama 1 or 2 or from outside Napa High). May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor. Students will revisit areas of theater history and theater genres in depth, as well as be expected to have an extensive knowledge of theater basics (terms, stage areas, conventions, etc.).
Advanced Drama is primarily the study of theater in production, either through dedicated Advanced Drama productions or in support of Drama 1, Drama 2, or open audition productions.
In past years Advanced Drama has performed Eurydice (2022), Shuddersome: Tales of Poe (2019) and Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (2019).
In Advanced Drama, students will build upon the areas of interest they've begun developing in Drama 2. Through development of these areas, students' pathways culminate in the opportunity to lead their area on a production. Area pathways are:
Director
Student directors begin studying direction in Drama 2 and must:
assistant direct 2 plays or musicals under the supervision of an experienced director*
crew in 3 of the 4 following roles
assistant stage manage
stagehand
lightboard/soundboard operator
wardrobe
Stage Manager
Student stage managers begin studying stage management in Drama 2 and must:
assistant stage manage 4 plays or musicals under the supervision of an experienced stage manager*
crew in 2 of the 3 following roles
stagehand
lightboard/soundboard operator
wardrobe
Dramaturg
Student dramaturgs begin studying dramaturgy in Drama 2 and must:
execute the role of dramaturg for 2 plays or musicals under the supervision of an experienced director*
perform as an actor in 3 plays or musicals
crew in 1 of the 2 following roles:
lightboard/soundboard operator
wardrobe
Set Designer
Student set designers begin studying set design in Drama 2 and must:
work as build crew or in set construction for 5 plays or musicals under the supervision of an experienced set designer*
Lighting Designer
Student lighting designers begin studying light design in Drama 2 and must:
work as a lightboard operator for 5 plays or musicals under the supervision of an experienced lighting designer*
Costume designer
Student costume designers begin studying costume design in Drama 2 and must:
work as wardrobe crew for 5 plays or musicals under the supervision of an experienced costume designer*
*Productions outside of Napa High Theatre Arts may qualify if production is approved beforehand.