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971 Drama I
minor elective
Grades: 9, 10
The course work begins with learning “to speak the
speech ...trippingly on the tongue.” We continue with
a close study of how the actor prepares a role using
improvisation, scene study and ensemble style exercises.
The class reads many plays together. This class
also includes the study of the roles of actor, director,
producer, designer and stage manager and how they
combine in today’s theater, television and film. The
final quarter study is dedicated to production work
for the Poley Festival in which every drama student
participates.
972 Drama II
minor elective
prerequisite: Drama I
Grades: 10, 11, 12
This course begins with a focus on the acting and
auditioning methods of Stanislavski, Meisner/Esper
and Shurtleff. During the second semester, the
course analyzes dramatic structure looking both at the
style and structure of a playwright’s work. The class
continues to explore how different interpretations
effect both direction and performance. Throughout
the year both comedy improv and comic writing are
explored through various exercises. Most of the spring
term study is dedicated to production work for the
Poley Festival.
973 Drama III/IV
minor elective
prerequisite: Drama I & II
Grades: 11, 12
A year long study of theatrical direction and of advanced
acting methods of the artists: Boleslavsky,
Sanford Meisner, Uta Hagen and Declan Donnellan
make up the contents for this course. The directing
class will focus on achieving a basic knowledge of the
theory of directing and its application. Each student
will choose a directing project for the Poley Festival in
the spring. The acting classes explore the theatrical
ideas of Bertolt Brecht, Samuel Beckett, and Harold
Pinter. During the second semester discussions concerning
the differences between theater and film in
terms of the craft of acting, directing and adaptation
occur. Throughout the year some of the playwrights
explored are: Shakespeare, Williams, Stoppard, Wilson,
Mamet, Shaffer, Miller, Frayn, Lori-Parks and
Hare. Every student will experience performance
work in the Poley Festival.
980 Reader’s Theater
minor elective
prerequisite: Drama I & II
Grades: 11, 12
This survey course is designed for juniors and seniors
who are interested in reading plays within a theatrical
historical context. There will be introductory lectures
on the evolving styles and the influence that these
playwrights had on each other. The course curriculum
includes the following playwrights: Heany’s adaptation
of Euripides, Commedia Lazzis, Kabuki, Kyogen and
Noh plays, Marlowe, Shakespeare, Moliere, Congreve,
Dickens adapted by Edgar, Ibsen, Chekhov translated
by Frayn, Shaw, Strindberg, Wedekind, Brecht, Pirandello,
O’Neill, Wilde, Ionesco, Beckett, Pinter, Williams,
Miller, Hellman, Shaffer, Fugard, Albee, Stoppard,
Wilson, Shepard, Kushner, Susan Lori-Parks,
Mamet, Friel, and Hwang.
Note: Students may form a Drama Major by combining
Drama III/IV and Readers Theater.
970 Technical Theater
minor elective
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Technical Theater is both a class and an activity that
may be taken in the fall, winter, spring, or all three
theater seasons. Students need to indicate during
which seasons they will be participating. Each season
will focus on the technical aspects of the specific production
for that season. Participants will have an opportunity
to work on all aspects of bringing a show to
opening night and running a show once it gets there.
There are great opportunities to work on stage painting,
lighting, set building, design, and all the bells and
whistles that go with theater.