Theatre - UNIS

The UNIS Theatre Department offers a progressive curriculum that promotes artistic exploration, specialized training, and interdisciplinary exchange to a diverse group of students in grades 2-12. Through hands-on experience and theoretical study, the department provides innovative learning opportunities that integrate theatre with societal change and progress. With an emphasis on both individual, differentiated learning and collaborative experiences, students grow as artists, individuals, and community members.

This program celebrates the unique international community of our school through cross-cultural and multilingual workshops, fully produced plays and musicals, multi-media performances, and new work by, about, and for people from across the globe.

Instructors

Theatre Department

Theatre Department

Junior School

JS Curriculum

JS Curriculum

J2, J3 Music/Theatre are co-taught at the J2 and J3 level. Students continue with the fundamentals of music taught in J1, while simultaneously being introduced to theatre vocabulary and concepts. Students explore and develop their unique artistic voices through the investigation of various roles in theatre creations, i.e. director, performer, designer, and playwright. Students work individually and collaboratively to create original theatre works that connect with their humanities studies, such as developing original creation myths inspired by Dreamtime stories of the Aboriginal Australians or writing a play based on environmental conservation inspired by the indigenous peoples of the Amazon.

J4 Music/Theatre is a continuation of J3 Music/Theatre. Students explore theatrical traditions from around the world, particularly those that are endangered and enshrined in UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Students culminate their Junior School experience by developing non fiction theatre pieces based on historical and contemporary writers and composers.

MS Curriculum

M1 Theatre (one semester) 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 (one semester) 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 (a full-year course) focuses on developing skills for creating theatre from both scripted and improvised sources. Students build confidence in performance through acting, voice, and physical exercises that strengthen their overall theatrical techniques. This course also introduces Musical Theatre as an additional form of expression and performance.

M4 Musical Theatre (a full-year course) is an exploration of American Musical Theatre. Students study the work of the actor, singer, dancer, and develop their performance skills. This course is for the student that is interested in both performing and working behind scenes. They will rehearse, perform, direct, and stage scenes from Broadway shows. Students will also learn about the historical and artistic aspects of musical theatre in relation to American history. The year ends with a showcase performance.

M4 Theatre (a full year course) encourage students to use theatre as a form of activism and self-expression. It begins with and introduction to documentary and investigative theatre, then students create solo performances based on identity and collaborate on a group project of their choice. The course culminates in a class-devised presentation with a professional theatre artist.

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

Sample MS Theatre/Visual Art Sequencing

Tutorial House

TH Currriculum

Theatre (T1): In T1 Theatre you will discover three different styles of Theatre: realism, political theatre and physical theatre. You will explore a text, developing skills of textual analysis, and physical/vocal characterisation. You will create your own original pieces of theatre which communicate a political or social message. Finally you will practically explore a theatre company who use their bodies to tell a story.

Technical Theatre: Production and Design (T1): Students will have the opportunity to "go backstage" and explore the various elements that make a theatrical production happen beyond acting. Through inquiry-based projects based in the theatrical design cycle, students will learn about the role of scenic, lighting, sound, costume, and mixed media designers in the theatre. Students will practice artistic, technological, and analytical skills in their journey of conceptualizing a piece of theater and bringing it to life. Additionally, students will be encouraged to participate in theatrical productions in their own community or here at UNIS in order to get first-hand, practical experience.

Theatre (T2): T2 Theatre continues to develop skills of performing and creating whilst also beginning to explore how to direct a piece of theatre. You will examine the creation of original work for different audiences: children's theatre and verbatim theatre based on real life stories. You will also explore two contrasting texts that will further develop your skills of performing and directing both naturalistic and non-naturalistic roles.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Theatre

Sample TH Theatre Sequencing

Co-Curricular Activities

Arts Events and Performances

UNIS Annual Theatre Productions: Over 150 students participate each academic year in 3 fully produced plays/musicals
Edinburgh Fringe Theatre Festival: Students participated (Summer 2019) and are invited to return Summer 2022
Beckett Festival: With McGill University and Trinity University (2019)
Social Justice Theatre Project: Students performed at NYU’s Ethnodrama and UNIS Human Rights Symposiums( 2016-2020)
UNIS Annual Arts Festival: Featuring performances and exhibits created by UNIS students preK-T4

Guest Artist Classes

Joe Salvatore, NYU Theatre Ed Professor (Verbatim Theatre Project): Middle School Theatre Workshop
Trusty Sidekick's CAMPFIRE: PreK students participated in pre and post show workshops with the actors
Classic Stage Company's STOWAWAY: J3 and J4 students attended pre-show workshops and master classes with members of the company, including actors and the director. STOWAWAY is a production designed to introduce junior school students to Shakespeare
Acting Workshops with Jack Noseworthy: Theatre and Film Actor
West Side Story Choreography with Julius Rubio: Featured actor/dancer in upcoming West Side Story film revival directed by Steven Speilberg
Robert Thaxton-Stevenson's Puppetry: Puppeteer Robert Thaxton-Stevenson taught puppet making and puppeteering to J3 students in support of their own creation of a play based on the book The Great Kapok Tree.
Rakugo: With UNIS Japanese Department and NYU.
Kathakali: With NYU Asia Society.
Dreamtime Stories: with Aboriginal Australians
Dance Africa: Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)
Shakespeare 2 Go's TWELFTH NIGHT: Shakespeare 2 Go performed a 75 minute version of TWELFTH NIGHT. Junior School students attended a pre- show workshop and post-show Q&A.

In This Section