GRADE 9

Voice and Movement for the Beginning Actor (964)

This course will acquaint the beginning actor with the vocal and physical conditioning necessary to theatre artists. Students will learn Kristin Linklater’s technique of freeing the natural voice, to promote proper breath support and improve range of expression and commitment to enunciation. Movement exercises will promote freedom of physical expression, flexibility, and a physical connection to text. Through a wide variety of voice and movement exercises, students will gain a deeper understanding for the discipline required of theatre actors.

Fundamentals of Acting (965)

This course will introduce the beginning actor to the techniques and methodology behind the study of acting. Through improvisation, self-discovery exercises and “being” work, students will gain a deeper understanding for the authenticity that is required to create compelling characters. They will learn to personalize their material and make choices that are active and playable.

*Students will develop a performance portfolio in this class, which they will keep with them throughout the course of their time in this program, continually adding works as they are rehearsed.

Intro to Theatre (967)

Intro to Theatre is intended to deepen students' understanding, appreciation, and critical perceptions of the theatre and its evolution. Readings and lectures will focus on the elements of theatrical practice, artists and innovators of theatre throughout history. Students will also be introduced to a wide variety of production elements including set construction, lights, sound, props, costumes and stage management. Once the students are given instruction in these areas, they will be afforded the opportunity to put their knowledge to use by participating on the crews for LVPA theatre productions.

GRADE 10

Production (968)

Like Intro to Theatre (offered in the freshmen year), this course will continue to explore elements of Play Production. Again, students will be exposed to a wide variety of production elements, however, at this stage of study, students will be encouraged to conceptualize their own ideas and develop production designs through an in depth analysis of the play. Some of the works studied in this class will include the four plays performed in the LVPA Theatre season.

Acting I (969)

This course will provide the beginning actor with an understanding of the business of Acting. Students will prepare pieces for auditions and engage in cold readings to improve their ability to interpret text and make active, specific choices. There will be an overview of acting for the camera, which will include an introduction to Film, Commercial Acting, Television Acting and Voice-overs. Additionally, students will engage in Modern and Contemporary scene studies, with a focus on approaching the material introduced in Modern American Dramatic Literature from an actor’s perspective.

Modern American Dramatic Literature (970)

This course will examine major dramatic texts in America from the beginning of the 20th century to the present. Primarily a literature course, students will engage in class discussions and encounter contemporary American social issues addressed by the theatre.

GRADE 11

Fundamentals of Directing (971)

This course examines the basics of directing for the stage with emphasis on process and theory. Students will practice a variety of exercises and encounter modern texts and techniques, working towards a final presentation of a 10-Minute play showcase open to the public.

Acting II (972)

In this section of Acting, students will study Shakespeare in depth. They will develop a deeper understanding of the language and how to make playable and compelling choices for contemporary audiences. Additionally, students will study Commedia dell’arte and selections from works from the Jacobean, Elizabethan, 17^th century French and Italian Renaissance periods. Later in the year, students will be exposed to works from 19^th century European playwrights such as Chekhov, Ibsen and Strindberg.

Advanced Voice & Movement (973)

Students will be introduced to the vocal technique of Arthur Lessac to further develop their vocal performance skills. They will also study Musical Theatre, in regard to character development, vocal performance and choreography. This class, like the beginning Voice and Movement course, will continue to focus on the conditioning and discipline of the actor’s body through vocal work, explorative movement, dance, and character mask.

New Plays Festival - Grade 11 (974)

Students will be required to participate in a festival intended to share plays written in the Playwriting course with the Lehigh Valley community. Junior students will have a variety of responsibilities including, but not limited to, acting, design, and directing.

GRADE 12

Advanced Acting (975)

Class work will be focused on character development through a variety of techniques. Students will engage in character driven exercises based on the work of Michael Chekhov and Jerzy Grotowski. They will also focus on finding and preparing contrasting audition material for upcoming college and/or professional theatre auditions. They will study Greek messenger speeches with an emphasis on finding physical ways to approach text and making ancient characters dynamic and engaging for a contemporary audience. The second semester will provide a departure from Realism and realistic technique, addressing Epic Theatre, as well as Theatre of the Absurd.

Senior Seminar (976)

Students will be required to collaboratively create a script and/or adapt an existing story, and ultimately organize, conceptualize and perform an original children’s production to be performed for elementary school audiences. Later in the year, students will prepare and market a showcase to be presented to theatre professionals.

Fundamentals of Play Structure and Playwriting (977)

This course will examine the essential elements of play construction, with early emphasis on structure through literary analysis of dramatic texts. Students will study the basics of playwriting through exercises and practice, culminating in the completion of a script for the stage at the year's end to be presented as part of the LVPA New Plays Festival.

New Plays Festival – Grade 12 (978)

Students will be required to participate in a festival intended to share plays written in the Playwriting course with the Lehigh Valley community. Senior students will have a variety of responsibilities including, but not limited to, acting, dramaturgy and stage management.