THEATRE AT HALL

Theatre Arts studies offer students the opportunity to work in a collaborative environment where they can enhance artistic and creative talents, develop problem-solving strategies, foster communication skills, and overcome personal limitations. The exploration of theatre enables students to understand and express life experiences while developing an awareness and appreciation of cultural and historical diversity. The creation of theatre helps them learn to make informed personal and aesthetic choices throughout their lives. Theatre Arts studies provide a variety of experiences for students of all abilities and backgrounds, and are equally suited for students who choose to pursue the theatre as a career or an avocation. Stagecraft and Introduction to Acting are open to all students, but other courses have prerequisites for enrollment. Most students enrolled in Theatre Arts classes will participate to some degree outside of regularly scheduled class time on productions.

Acting I: Introduction to Acting

1 Credit
Grades 9-12

Graduation Category: Arts

This full-year course introduces students to the basic principles and techniques of acting while working on scenes, monologues and acting exercises. In the first semester, the student will learn effective use of imagination, concentration, relaxation and physical and vocal techniques that will build a foundation for the craft of acting and an appreciation for Theatre Arts. The second semester begins to introduce playwriting, emotional work, and more intense scene study. Peer evaluation, collaborative learning, and an end of the year scene evening performance are all a part of this course.

Acting II: Intermediate Acting

1 Credit
Grades 9-12
Prerequisite: Acting I or permission of department supervisor

Graduation Category: Arts

This full-year course expands upon the knowledge previously learned in Acting I by having the student explore additional and more advanced acting techniques as well as further disciplines of theatre such as playwriting, script analysis, and the basics of directing. The year culminates with an end-of-the-year scene night for family and friends.

Specialized Performance Study

1 Credit
Grades 10-12
Prerequisite: Acting I, Acting II, or permission of department supervisor

Graduation Category: Arts

This full-year laboratory emphasizes theatre as a collaborative art. Each student will have the opportunity to explore various disciplines of theatre and will receive advanced training in acting, directing, playwriting and design. Screenwriting will also be explored in this class. Strong emphasis will be placed on technique and the acquisition of new skills that will enable the student to better work collaboratively in the creation of a successful production. An end-of-the-year One-Act Festival written, designed, directed, acted and produced by the students in this class will culminate the study.

Stagecraft

1 Credit
Grades 9-12
Prerequisite: none

Graduation Category: Arts

This hands-on course develops technical skills essential to competent theatre production. Students are introduced to theatrical design, construction and production. Production planning and management, set design and construction, painting, publicity, lighting, sound, and costuming and makeup may be covered. Students apply their practical skills to plays, concerts, musicals and other performances at Hall by helping to build the designs created in Stagecraft design courses. Independent effort in various stagecraft areas is also to be encouraged. Note: Students should have some time available during the year to work after school on theatre projects intended for public performance (can be repeated for credit).

Advanced Stagecraft: Theatrical Design

1 Credit
Grades 10 - 12
Prerequisites: Stagecraft or Instructor's Permission

Graduation Category: Arts

This course is offered for students who have already taken Stagecraft and are looking to broaden their knowledge of technical theatre and how aesthetic choices are made and developed within design. Unlike Stagecraft, which emphasizes the practical skills needed to safely and skillfully prepare, run, and remove theatrical productions, Theatrical Design instead looks to build upon students’ artistic, aesthetic, and analytic abilities and answer questions at the abstract core of the curriculum that are only touched upon in Stagecraft. Students will be exposed to a variety of multimedia texts which will give them a broad view of the different disciplines of design: scenic, lighting, sound, and costume. Students will explore the impact of mood and atmosphere on an audience, the dynamic between artistic vision and practical application, tools and techniques of professional designers, analysis of dramatic texts for atmospheric elements and other dramaturgical work as well as working in conjunction with other disciplines to create an interdisciplinary aesthetic experience. Advanced students in the class will have opportunities to design for black box shows.