Upper School Theater

Recommended for novice performers and seasoned actors alike, this course explores the fundamentals of acting for the stage. The focus first semester is on improvisation through games and exercises designed to build skills in active listening, dynamic presence, playfulness, and spontaneity. Students practice the art of “Yes, and...” through creative collaboration, preparing them for higher levels of acting technique while also improving their communication skills. Second semester, students gain exposure to several notable acting techniques and viable pathways to character development through an exploration of characters and scenes from contemporary plays. The acting process is demystified by giving each actor a set of analytical and physical tools with which to work, starting with the ability to use one’s experiences and imagination to transform “self” into character. Each semester culminates in a performance project that may include original student-created work, group improvisation, contemporary scenes, and monologues.

This course provides a platform to acquire skills in unique styles of performance such as on‑camera and Shakespearean acting, mask work, and epic, verbatim, and devised theatre. Students apply prior training to adopt the appropriate physical tools, vocal dynamics, and imaginative play required for each genre. Students broaden their expressive capabilities and agility with different acting styles while continuing to develop their philosophy and approach to performance. Specific units of study rotate biennially, allowing students to repeat the course and gain exposure to new material while diving deeper into different facets of making theatrical work.

This course samples a wide range of performance styles and acts as an incubator for artists to home in an area of interest. While students enrolled in Honors Performance Studies repeat in?class practical work from Acting II, a research and analysis component is added. This includes surveys of the evolution of theatrical conventions, innovations, and techniques to investigate how various elements of theatrical work shape culture over time.

At the end of Tony Kushner’s epic play, Angels in America, the character Prior Walter addresses the audience directly and urges them to action with “The Great Work begins.” While Prior’s message reflects on the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, his pronouncement has since become a rallying cry for American playwrights. Students in this course dig into important theatrical pieces from the last few decades that are doing the work in Prior’s appeal. As they study and honor the diverse voices making an impact on the current climate, students are encouraged to find their own voices as playwrights through a series of writing workshops and projects. This course explores a wide range of contemporary American theater-makers (e.g., Ayad Akhtar, Annie Baker, David Henry Hwang, Dominique Morisseau, Suzan-Lori Parks), is appropriate for both experienced and novice theater artists, and is recommended for students participating in the school’s annual playwrights festival.

Actors in this course develop and strengthen audition technique and are oriented to professional production processes. In‑person auditions, video auditions, callbacks, cold readings, and industry protocols for theater, television, and film are covered. Students receive a professional headshot and create a dynamic and adaptable resume based on their interests and skills. The curriculum may include visits from guest artists, field trips to local theaters, and mock auditions with guest directors. Students leave this course with a portfolio of audition material, including coached monologues and songs, and an arsenal of strategies to help them pursue future roles.

This course continues the lessons taught in Middle School Stagecraft I and II and adds a history of practices and practitioners from Greek theatre to the modern stage. It focuses on the disciplines of scenery, lighting, sound, and stage management. Aesthetics, the design process, and implementation of designs are emphasized. Students master high-end lighting and sound equipment and gain a basic understanding of hand tools and scenic construction practices. The final assessment is based on a project each student chooses from the disciplines offered. Students enrolled in this class serve in an array of roles during rehearsals, technical rehearsals, and live productions. Those not working directly on a project are expected to view the production and contribute to classroom discussions. All students participate in a group strike of scenery, lights, and costumes the day after a production closes.

This advanced course is for students who wish to design their own learning paths in one or two of the following stagecraft disciplines: stage management, stage design, carpentry, lighting, sound, or theatrical history. Students work on mainstage performances and unrealized projects while acting as Stagecraft I mentors.

This hands-on, combined-level class is for students who want to learn how to sew. Students with no prior experience start with the fundamentals and then develop the skills needed for garment assembly. Repeat students undertake intermediate projects that build confidence to work independently. Everyone completes between two and four wearable items each semester. The importance of sustainability in fashion is also discussed.