Niles West Theatre
  • Home
  • What is nwtheatre?
    • 2017 - 2018 Season
    • Curricular Classes
  • Previous Productions
    • 2016-2017 Season
    • 2015-2016 Season
    • 2014-2015 Season
    • 2013-2014 Season >
      • The Dream of the Burning Boy
      • [title of show]
      • The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon
      • Romeo and Juliet
      • Avenue Q: School Edition
    • 2012 - 2013 Season >
      • The Laramie Project
      • The Musical Adventures of Freddie the Frog
      • The Director's Studio (2013)
      • The Importance of Being Earnest
      • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
    • 2011-2012 Season >
      • The House of Blue Leaves
      • Xanadu
      • The Phantom Tollbooth
      • The Taming of the Shrew
      • Chicago
    • 2010-2011 Season >
      • Rabbit Hole
      • Steel Magnolias
      • The Jungle Book
      • The Director's Studio (2010)
      • Air Guitar High
      • The King and I
    • 2009-2010 Season >
      • Urinetown
      • James and the Giant Peach
      • The Sparrow
      • Lysistrata
      • Fame
      • Medea
    • 2008-2009 Season >
      • The Complete History of America: Abridged
      • The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood
      • The Director's Studio (2008)
      • Thoroughly Modern Millie
      • Our Town
  • Students
    • Thespian Troupe 1714
    • Auditions/Crew Info
    • Callboard
  • nwtheatre Patrons
    • Become a Benefactor
    • Coffeehouse Cabaret
    • Tile Project
  • Ticket Information
  • Alumni

Theatre Courses
Niles West High School


The following is a list of courses offered in the Theatre Department at Niles West High School. 
For more information on each course, please contact Mr. Sinclair or your counselor.

Theatre Workshop

Picture
The Laramie Project (2012)
Length: 1 semester                                Open to grades:9 -12
Credit: 1 credit                                        Grade weight: III
Prerequisite: none

Theatre Workshop is a one-semester course which explores the elements of drama through improvisation, theatre games, and scenes from contemporary plays. Students will develop skills in acting, play making, and scene analysis, as well as understanding the full process of creating theatre.  Theatre Workshop is the first of a two-semester introduction to theatre; students should plan to take Acting after completing Theatre Workshop. These two courses fulfill the Fine Arts requirement for graduation. Theatre Workshop fulfills the Public Speaking graduation requirement.




Acting

Picture
The House of Blue Leaves (2011)
Length: 1 semester                                      Credit: 1 credit
Open to Grades: 9-12                                  Grade Weight: III
Prerequisite: Theatre Workshop

Acting is a one-semester class which builds on the foundation established in Theatre Workshop. Acting focuses on creating honest, believable characters and situations. Actors will develop original characters, create scenes, and work with full-length scripts to expand their abilities to understand works by significant playwrights.





Advanced Theatre Studio

Picture
The Importance of Being Earnest (2013)
Length: 1 semester (repeatable for credit)                Credit: 1 credit
Open to grades: 10-12                                              Grade weight: IV                
Prerequisite: Theatre Workshop and Acting


Advanced Theatre Studio is an in-depth, multi-leveled study of skills and techniques introduced in previous classes. Studies will be customized and topics will vary to accommodate students. Each semester will include topics in both performance and stagecraft. Topics may include advanced acting, stage combat, contemporary Broadway, dialects, advanced improv, musical theatre, theatre history, acting for the camera, Shakespeare, ensemble acting, design, make-up, scenery construction and painting, costuming, lighting, sound, and stage management. Out-of-class activities
may be used in actual production of the school’s theatre season. As
topics vary, this course may be repeated for credit.




Directing

Picture
Dead Man's Cell Phone (2014)
Length: 1 semester                                  Credit: 1 credit
Open to Grades: 11-12                            Grade Weight: IV
Prerequisite: Theatre Workshop, Acting, Advanced Theatre Studio  (2 semesters) and consent of instructor

This course explores theatre from the director’s point of view. Students will take on the responsibility of directing a play; this includes: selecting/analyzing the script, casting, blocking, actor coaching, rehearsing, and design integration. Classroom process provides opportunities for students to act, design, and direct. The students have actual practice in leading their peers in preparing a one-act play for performance outside of the school day.    





Play Production

Picture
Annie (2016)
Length: 1 semester                    Credit: 1 credit
Open to Grades: 11-12              Grade Weight: IV
Prerequisite: Theatre Workshop, Acting, Advanced Theatre Studio (2 semesters) and consent of instructor
 
In this course, students take on leadership roles in the production of a main stage play. Students build on experiences from Stagecraft and previous productions to develop skills necessary for mounting a large-scale production. As apprentices in the fields of design (scenic, lighting, costuming, make-up, sound), dramaturgy, stage management, and technical direction, the students will have the practical experience of bringing a concept to reality. Collaboration with others to coordinate, schedule, and meet goals is a key part of the experience.


  • Home
  • What is nwtheatre?
    • 2017 - 2018 Season
    • Curricular Classes
  • Previous Productions
    • 2016-2017 Season
    • 2015-2016 Season
    • 2014-2015 Season
    • 2013-2014 Season >
      • The Dream of the Burning Boy
      • [title of show]
      • The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon
      • Romeo and Juliet
      • Avenue Q: School Edition
    • 2012 - 2013 Season >
      • The Laramie Project
      • The Musical Adventures of Freddie the Frog
      • The Director's Studio (2013)
      • The Importance of Being Earnest
      • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
    • 2011-2012 Season >
      • The House of Blue Leaves
      • Xanadu
      • The Phantom Tollbooth
      • The Taming of the Shrew
      • Chicago
    • 2010-2011 Season >
      • Rabbit Hole
      • Steel Magnolias
      • The Jungle Book
      • The Director's Studio (2010)
      • Air Guitar High
      • The King and I
    • 2009-2010 Season >
      • Urinetown
      • James and the Giant Peach
      • The Sparrow
      • Lysistrata
      • Fame
      • Medea
    • 2008-2009 Season >
      • The Complete History of America: Abridged
      • The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood
      • The Director's Studio (2008)
      • Thoroughly Modern Millie
      • Our Town
  • Students
    • Thespian Troupe 1714
    • Auditions/Crew Info
    • Callboard
  • nwtheatre Patrons
    • Become a Benefactor
    • Coffeehouse Cabaret
    • Tile Project
  • Ticket Information
  • Alumni
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