WHS Theatre - Courses

ACTING 1

Grades 9-12

No Prerequisites

1 Term

Acting 1 emphasizes the basic skills and techniques of the actor including concentration, imagination, observation, and ensemble. The course provides students the opportunity to investigate the craft of acting, while encouraging guided practice of improvisation, scenes from comedic and dramatic plays, and acting training techniques, which develop performance skills. This one-term course cultivates a sense of community among the participants and heightens each student’s self-confidence.

THEATRE PRODUCTION

Grades 9-12

No Prerequisites

1 Term

Theater Production will focus on the creation of new student theater performances. Over the course of the term students will work towards creating their own show from the ground up. Students will select a focus of study and build their theatrical skill set by completing an array of hands-on projects. Learn to design a light plot, build a set, write a play, create a costume design, act the role, and weave it all together into a final performance!

ACTING 2

Grades 10-12

Prerequisite: Acting 1

1 Term

Acting 2 is designed to meet the needs of the student who is interested in furthering acting skills and training the actor’s instrument. The student studies concentration, observation, sensory skills, movement, voice and articulation, and characterization. Students will engage in both improvised and scripted/memorized scene work. Emphasis is placed on in-depth character analysis, movement, and relationship communication. Acting 1 is a prerequisite for Acting 2.

DIRECTING

Grades 11-12

Prerequisite: Acting 1 and Acting 2

1 Term

This course is designed to give students the fundamental knowledge of the creative and artistic process of directing for the theatre. Students will explore the work of accomplished directors and get hands-on experience directing their peers in monologues, scenes, devised pieces, and short plays. The course will culminate in a workshop production of student-directed work at the end of the term. Acting 1 and Acting 2 are prerequisites for Directing.

IMPROVISATION AND COMEDY STUDIES

Grades 9-12

No Prerequisites

1 Term

Students will gain experience in improvisation as a building block for both non-script based performance as well as sketch comedy. The course will focus on improvisation as a tool for use in traditional theatre as well as a performance genre in its own right. Students will learn to create authentic improvisation based characters and solid scene structures through individual work while appreciating the mechanics and ethics of an improvisational ensemble.

ADVANCED THEATRE PERFORMANCE

Grade 12 only

Prerequisites: Directing and instructor approval

1 Term

This independent study option runs concurrent to the Directing class and provides students with the opportunity to further their theatre education through an independent study project in the area of their choosing. Potential topics could include playwriting, stage management, advanced scene performance, monologue portfolio creation, commedia dell'arte, devised theatre, theatrical design, classical drama, and more. Interested students should contact Mr. Spooner for approval.