General
The Theaters Program is designed to educate the student in basic theater skills, such as pantomime, improvisation, role playing, puppetry, set and costume design, production skills, acting, speech and performance. An important goal is the development of the child's concentration skills, self-confidence and body control.
Elementary Drama (2-5)
Drama instruction begins in the second grade, when the primary focus is on listening skills, creative movement and dramatic presentations of choral reading and songs. In the third grade level, the program deals mainly with improving concentration in the student through games, exercises, music and simple choreography. In the fourth grade, pantomime, role playing and improvisation are introduced. In the fifth grade, acting skills, creating a character, rehearsal and production routines and understanding a play are emphasized. In this year, the student should be able to understand (from the actor's viewpoint) the workings of a production from the audition to the performance.
Middle School Drama (6-8)
Sixth grade is a continuation and broadening of the performance knowledge gained in previous years. With this emphasis on performance, a new emphasis on technical skills is introduced. Also, theater history and its relationship to acting styles and technical theater styles and skills are explained. The Academy has a special performance group that is auditioned at the sixth grade level. They are called the Academy Clowns, a pantomime, song and dance performing troupe.
By seventh and eighth grade, students are able to choose their focus in theater. Available to them are classes in costume design and construction, and set design and construction (which include lighting and scenic painting). Students can also audition for after-school dramatic performances and a performance group, the Academy Stars.
Productions
In addition to classes, the theatre program sponsors full dramatic productions each year. Most are open to the entire school and the public, and each is modeled after professional theater, from the auditions, through rehearsals and technical time, to the final performance.
