Suggested Age

12-18

Prerequisite

Participation is by audition and/or successful completion of a Theatre class.

Process

Theatre II will focus on staging a play for the public. The student will experience all facets of theatrical production and will grow in his ability to express himself confidently and joyfully, nurturing his self-esteem while at the same time inspiring a love of classical literature. By learning to portray noble characters with genuine emotion and by exploring and communicating noble ideas and themes, the student may lift himself, his audience, and his fellow actors to a higher moral plane where beauty and truth shine more brightly, and God is seen more clearly.

Purpose

Theatre II will continue to develop skills learned in Theatre I through engaging exercises, games, and instruction. Topics previously introduced will be studied in more depth and principles will be applied in the staging of a full-length play to be performed at the end of the year.

Topics to be covered are

1. Golden Rules of Theatre
2. Improvisation
3. The Theatrical Cue
4. Elements of Good Drama
5. Staying in Character
6. Voice for the Stage
7. Sense Awareness and Memorization
8. The Art of Characterization
9. Mime and Pantomime
10. Staging the Play

Course Requirements

Homework assignments to be prepared for class will include an action mime, a recitation, and a character study, and students will be required to memorize their lines according to a schedule.
Once we begin staging the play, attendance at all classes and rehearsals will be extremely important. Additional rehearsals may be necessary in preparation for the end-of-year performance, and students may want to participate in outside-of-class opportunities for set construction and design.
Students will not receive a grade for Theatre, but they will get credit for the course based on the following criteria:
1. Class attendance
2. Class participation and attentiveness
3. Completion of all homework assignments and preparedness for class.

Materials

Students will need to bring a binder to hold scripts and handouts, pencils, and a highlighter. Each student will be responsible for his own costume. However, plenty of help and counsel will be available. Any props or set pieces needed will be made, borrowed, and/or purchased out of tuition proceeds.