Arts

Theatre

Upper School Theatre Courses

Upper school theatre courses are open to grades 9–12 and are full credit courses. Acting courses are offered as Acting IA and Acting IB (Grades 9 & 10) and Acting IIA and Acting IIB (Grades 11-12). Acting IA and IIA curriculum will be offered during the school year 2012-13. Acting IB and IIB curriculum will be offered during the school year 2013-14. Both Acting I and II can be taken twice.

Acting IA

( offered in 2012–13)
This course will feature the basic acting techniques of Michael Chekhov and Jerzy Grotowski, monologue, short scene and play work from the contemporary theatre, improvisation, sign language as an art form, and creation of an original piece for ENVIRO, our biannual site specific performance inspired by design, architecture, setting, nature, and function. ENVIRO is based on the work of award winning director/choreographer Stephen Koplowitz.

Acting IB

(offered in 2013–14)

This course will feature the basic acting technique of Michael Chekhov and Jerzy Grotowski and vocal technique of Arthur Lessac, stage makeup, tabletop puppetry, improvisation, mask work with the addition of the Zanni stock character from the Commedia dell’Arte, and the direction of and performance in ten-minute or short plays.

Acting IIA

(offered in 2012–13)
The course will feature the Sanford Meisner technique applied to short contemporary scene work and the plays of Anton Chekhov and Sam Shepard, rapier and dagger technique, phone book characters (names randomly selected from the phone book to be developed into fully realized characters used in an improvisation), and creation of an original piece for ENVIRO, our biannual site specific performance inspired by design, architecture, setting, nature, and function. ENVIRO is based on the work of award winning director/choreographer Stephen Koplowitz.

Acting IIB

(offered in 2013–14)
This course will feature the Sanford Meisner technique applied to the Greek Theatre and Shakespeare, rapier and dagger technique, Commedia dell’Arte, improvisation, contemporary scene, monologue work, and the creation short plays inspired by fairy tales and Greek/Roman mythology.

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The Beginning Acting class can look forward to movement work, makeup, improvisation, mask work, scene study, and tabletop puppetry.

The Technique class is back with Lessac vocal work, directing haikus and “The Jabberwocky” from Alice Through the Looking Glass, and acting in and directing ten-minute plays. The Advanced Acting class will be off and running with Greek chorus work, Shakespeare, rapier and dagger, Commedia dell’Arte, Moliere, Congreve, Sartre, Genet, Ionesco, contemporary theatre, and tabletop puppetry. Mrs. Martineau would like to stage some of this exciting work at Bluff Point in Groton and in the arboretum.

The Production Class will be “hanging out” in the lighting grid and learning to use the sound and dimmer boards.

The Thespians will prepare for the fall tour performance. We have the Winterfest performance, working tech for Compchorea, planning NYC theatre trips and Random Acts of Theatre for March-Theatre in the Schools month, and the spring Thespian Tour. Seventh and Eighth Graders are welcome to join in the fun! Lots to do, Thespians. Get ready and get involved!

All of the acting classes as well as the Thespians will perform at extended acting assembly in the fall. A teaser assembly for the fall play will also be presented.

 

Audition materials for both Second Class (fall play) and Into the Woods (spring musical) are available.