Acting

CREDITS: 0.5 credit per semester

PREREQUISITE: No experience required

Actors focus on character understanding through literary and historical contexts; understanding the vocabulary of the stage; learning to perform and make choices on stage; and understanding how acting can enhance the understanding of literature and U.S History.

Actors will work on essays, improvisation, monologues, dialogues, poetry performances, and the creation of commercials/PSAs. Students will have opportunities to perform at assemblies and community functions. Actors will gain a better understanding of how acting enhances literary and historical understanding, and be comfortable with the vocabulary and physical aspects of the stage.

CREDITS: 0.5 credit per semester

PREREQUISITE: At least one semester of Intro to Acting or Audition

Intermediate actors focus on character understanding through literary, governmental, and economic contexts; understanding the vocabulary of the stage; learning to perform and make choices on stage; and understanding how acting can enhance the understanding of literature, civics, and economics.

Actors work on formal critiques, improvisation, stage management, performing “beats” from plays at assemblies, stage combat, makeup, and stage blocking. Beats will be performed at almost every assembly. Students will have the opportunity to perform for middle schools and at Evening of the Arts. Actors will gain a better understanding of how acting enhances literary, governmental, and economic understanding, and be comfortable with the vocabulary, physical aspects, and management of the stage.

CREDITS: 0.5 credit per semester

PREREQUISITE: At least one semester of Intermediate Acting or Audition

Advanced actors focus on character understanding through literary, and international historic contexts; understanding the vocabulary of the stage; learning to perform and make choices on stage; learning to put on a full production; and understanding how acting can enhance the understanding of literature and world history.

Actors work on formal critiques, improvisation, stage management, and performing full productions of plays. One play will be performed each semester. Students will choose from plays that are thematically similar to the main texts read in 11th and 12 grade English, as well as plays that are contextually important to World History. Actors will gain a more thorough understanding of how acting enhances literature and world history, and be comfortable with everything involved in putting on a full production.