Musical Theater - General Course Information
In this class, we focus on a vareity of separate but related things.
First, we study important works of musical theater. We learn the historical and cultural backgrounds of works like Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, Les Misérables, Hairspray, or Wicked. We watch and discuss various elements of the works, focusing on the score, the staging and acting techniques, and the story or character development.
We also do some in-class acting. We develop our presentational and problem-solving skills through improvisation exercises. We will also learn more about things like voice quality, gestures and movement, and body language.
We learn how to offer and accept constructive criticism as we improve our abilities throughout the year.
In our class, we get to know each other very well, better than we usually do in other kinds of classes. And we usually laugh most of the day!
I will absolutely NOT tolerate any bullying, making fun, criticizing, shaming, or behaving badly toward each other in my class. So, by the time we have to get in front of the class, we are more comfortable with one another and we have built a supportive environment in which you can feel safe taking risks.
If you are interested in pursuing more formal theater or acting experiences, Mrs. Adams (the choir teacher) does two productions per year. Often, she holds open auditions, so you may be able to get some out-of-class theatrical experience, as well!
I love live theater! And I LOVE teaching this class! One of the things I enjoy the most is introducing you to works and ideas that you may not find on your own for years to come!
