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.
For more information on each course, please contact Mr. Sinclair or your counselor.
Theatre Workshop
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
