OUR THEATER CURRICULUM

ACTING (Fall Trimester)

During this course, students will become versed in the basic tools and vocabulary necessary to the actor. Through improvisation, physical technique, and text analysis, each student will analyze and workshop a variety of scenes with the final goal of performing for the class and, at times, for the public. In order to get the most out of this course, students will be required to complete moderate amounts of reading, writing and memorization.

ADVANCED THEATER SEMINAR (Full-Year Course)

Students in the advanced theater course will explore a variety of traditional and non-traditional theater techniques, tackling a wide array of acting, directing and playwriting projects throughout the year. In the fall trimester we will focus mainly on performance techniques, ranging from cerebral “method” techniques to physical and image-based performance techniques. With this training as a foundation, we will move onto larger text-based projects in the winter term, in the form of one-act plays or short multi-act plays. During this section, students will have the opportunity to take on roles both on and offstage. In the spring, the class will hone their dramaturgical skills as well as explore the art of adaptation.  This class is open to students who have completed at least one theater class, or by special permission from the instructor.

PLAYWRITING (Winter Trimester)

Students in this course will find and refine their writing voices through a series of exercises, short scenes and, eventually, a short play. We will explore the similarities and differences between written works of literature and writing for the stage. Students will deconstruct classic works in order to analyze and re-create successful examples of action, conflict, character, and dialogue. Student plays will be workshopped as they are written and revised and the final product will be performed for an audience. The students in this course will be expected to participate fully in class critiques as well as reading and writing assignments.

DIRECTING (Spring Trimester)

Students in this course will develop their directorial eye and strengthen their communication skills. As directors, students will hone their ability to translate written work from the page to images on the stage. As a group, the class will analyze texts; discuss the concepts of mood, atmosphere, and tone; and explore the concepts of focal points and counterpoints – in other words, where the audience’s eye is drawn on stage. Each student will be required to direct a series of scenes ranging from structured improvisations and image-based works to text-based scenes. All directors will also serve as actors for their classmates and will be required to complete written assignments.