M1 Theatre enables students to explore theatre through a variety of artistic lenses including the role of the actor, director, playwright, and dramaturg. Students analyze theatrical elements such as theme, plot, story arcs, and character objectives. Exercises in stage movement, voice and diction, and improvisational theatre games, culminate in performances of scripted drama, monologues, and dramatic readings.
M2 Theatre builds on the fundamentals of theatre: exploring character, ensemble, space, movement, tension and storytelling established in M1. Students explore theatre from different perspectives including; devised performance, design, directing, writing, and technical theatre. Students develop their skills through theatre games, partner and group activities and improvisations, script study, scene performance and audience feedback.
M3 Theatre is a one semester course that focuses on building skills related to making theater from both scripted and improvised sources. Students build confidence in their performance skills through exercises in acting, voice, and physical techniques.
M4 Musical Theatre is an exploration of American Musical Theatre. Students study the work of the actor/singer/dancer and use their gained knowledge to develop as performers. This course is for the student that is interested in Musical Theatre – both on stage and “behind the scenes”. Students will have the opportunity to rehearse, perform, direct, and stage various scenes from the Broadway genre. Students will achieve understanding of the historical, creative, artistic, and aesthetic aspects of musical theatre in relationship to American History. Finally, the class will participate in a culminating showcase performance at the end of the year.
M4 Theatre: is a one-year, dynamic theatre course that promotes activism and celebrates live performance through the creation of original plays. The course first introduces students to documentary/investigative theatre. Following this exploration, each member of the course performs a solo piece based on identity and a group collaborative project on a topic of their choice they want to advocate for. The year culminates in a whole class devised piece in collaboration with a professional theatre company.
Course Texts and Sources:
- The Source of Self-Regard, by Toni Morrison
- The Frantic Assembly Book of Devising Theatre
- Theatre for Community, Conflict and Dialogue, by Michael Rohd
- The Living Stage Handbook, by Living Stage Theatre Company
- TedTalks by Sarah Jones (UNIS 1991) and Anna Deveare Smith
