Theatre Arts
The Out-of-Door Theatre Arts Department operates
simultaneously on two levels: theoretical
(classroom instruction), including in Middle School, Introduction to Theatre
Arts 7 & 8; High School – Acting and Character Building, Intermediate
Acting, Technical Theatre, Independent Study Assistant Director, and
Independent Study Technical Director) and practical
(2 Middle School plays, 2 High School plays, 1 Upper School Musical).
Out-of-Door Student Productions
The Out-of-Door Theatre Arts Department mounts, on average,
5 productions per school year - 2 Middle School plays, 2 High School plays, and
1 Upper School Musical. All
Students have the opportunity to perform a short audition (30-60sec monologue,
short song) in order to participate in any of the plays. The audition process is the same for
each student, ensuring equal treatment for all. Shows are not chosen until after auditions, to ensure that
kids are put in a situation to both learn AND succeed. Once the shows are chosen and cast,
students perform in after-school rehearsals, and learn to put together scenes
through experience. After a few
week rehearsal period, students begin to perform entire shows in rehearsal,
culminating in multiple performances. Students also get hands-on experience in light design, sound, makeup,
costuming, prop management, and set design within the rehearsal period. Our goals are to have the kids develop
a process for learning roles and performing them, develop an appreciation and
love for the theatre, and, most of all, to have fun!
This year’s shows will include the musical production of The Wizard of Oz on March 25-27. Please keep checking back for updates
to our 2009-2010 season!
Middle School Classes
In Middle School Introduction
to Theatre Arts 7, the 7th grade begins with the origin of
theatre and goes up through Shakespeare. At the same time, students rehearse and perform a full-length play, and
are involved in all aspects of the production.
In Introduction to
Theatre Arts 8, the 8th graders pick the class up beginning with
Shakespeare, and take a survey of theatre all the way through the present, and
again present a play at the end of their semester. We aim is to expose the younger kids to theatre (history,
appreciation and performance), give them opportunities, encourage them to
develop their performance and public speaking skills, and help them to
experiment with harnessing their individual creativity.
High School Classes
At the High School level, Students can elect to take Acting
and Character Building, Intermediate Acting, Independent Study Assistant
Director, and Independent Study Technical Director.
Acting and Character
Development is a “hands-on” class, in which students use scenes and
monologues from various plays to identify and work on the PROCESS of building a
character. Issues such as body
movement, period-appropriate gestures, and psychological examination are
explored through improv, constant performance and evaluation in an intimate classroom
setting.
Intermediate Acting
requires Acting and Character Development as a pre-requisite, and is more
demanding in terms of difficulty of material, characters, and scenes. Students in the intermediate class will
have the opportunity to perform even more than in the Acting Class;
expectations of preparation and overall performance level are high. Monologues, improvisation, scenes, and
audition preparation form the bulk of the performance material for students in
this class.
Technical Theatre
is a class which gives students exposure to working in a theatre and in a scene
shop. Students will get a chance
to use tools and build sets in the scene shop, learn how to set up sets in the
theatre, how to work with different types of stage lighting, how to design sound,
and how to work light and sound boards. Many classes will be held either on the “grid” above the theatre or in
the scene shop. Students in this
class will be expected to work on at least one show occurring in that semester.
The Independent Study
Assistant Director forms an important link in the overall structure of the
Out-of-Door Academy Actors’ Studio. This student (or students) helps to make production decisions ranging
from blocking to show advertising while still a member of the student
body. A comprehensive training
period makes up the first leg of the student’s apprenticeship, with daily
one-on-one meetings and mandatory attendance at all ODA Theatre Arts production
rehearsals. The Assistant Director
takes the lead in day-to-day production issues, including casting discussions,
acquiring performance rights, working with the Director on budget issues,
advertising, set planning/design, costume planning/ordering, blocking
creation/maintenance, creating light/sound cues (as part of the “script
ripping” process), and box office administration. This constant and consistent exposure to the different
challenges of running rehearsals and production planning helps to supplement an
all-encompassing education in the art of presenting the Arts.
The Independent Study
Technical Director is a class which defines “hands-on” experience. Through daily classes with the Director
of Theatre Arts, students in this class will learn the theories behind light
and sound design, as well as learn concepts behind stage carpentry and
costruction. As a result, students
in this class will have the opportunity to design sets, lighting, and sound for
current ODA Theatre Arts productions. This student will assume the role of Stage Manager for those
productions, ensuring the show runs as smoothly as possible.
As a unit, these classes will help transform the Theatre
Arts department into two parts, one being academic in a classroom/lab format
(theoretical), the second being a student-run theatre company responsible for
all Out-of-Door productions (practical). And, again, most importantly, learn how to have fun on stage!
