While Merideth Maddox's love for performing began when she performed in her first play in kindergarten, her love of teaching theater also began very early.
Theatre Arts offers Middle School students an opportunity to explore concepts of performance based upon character.
Over the course of their experience in the Middle School, students are exposed to the craft of scene writing, character development, stage presence, blocking, and the behind-the-scenes technicalities that bring theatre to life.
Seventh and eighth grade students who elect to major in theatre arts should select Acting Intensive. Seventh and eighth grade students who minor in theatre arts should select All Things Theatrical.
Students will explore their own artistic potential using theater games and improvisational exercises that focus on ensemble building, storytelling, creative movement and voice, and the art of pantomime. Students will gain greater self-confidence along with a strong knowledge of and respect for the creative process. Additionally, students will learn how to discuss or critique their own work and that of their classmates in a respectful manner that seeks to improve everybody’s experience.
Using various structures and styles of improvisation, students will be introduced to the basic tenets of acting. Additionally, students will regularly engage in skit/scene creation and development. with text by working on monologues and scenes. The course focuses on each actor’s individual progress and his or her ability to engage in the rehearsal and development process both individually and with others. Theater games and other ensemble-building exercises will continue. A review of pantomime techniques will also occur to provide an additional technique for scene building
Acting Intensive is a class for students who enjoy the art of acting and want frequent opportunities to perform. To begin the course, students will learn the basics of truthful, realistic acting and character development by trying their hand at scenes, monologues, and different projects. They will explore acting through improvisation and movement exercises, working individually and in collaborative and cooperative groups. Students will test the skills they learned in a public showcase of scenes and monologues in-class performances for peers during trimesters one and two.
This class will teach students everything they need to know about the theatre in order to appreciate a play or even write, star in, produce or direct one themselves one day! The fast-moving course will consist of approximately eight different units including improvisation, creative writing, monologues, scene study, design, and theatre production/technical theatre.