Theatre - Drama Curriculum Guide

Description

Middle School Drama is a trimester elective course that introduces students to the fundamentals of acting, improvisation, and theatrical collaboration. The curriculum is organized around two units that follow the artistic processes of creating, performing, responding, and connecting to works of art. In Unit 1, students develop characters, write scenes, and produce a short theatrical production, learning the roles of actors, writers, designers, and directors. In Unit 2, students examine world theatre traditions and Commedia dell'Arte, experimenting with stock characters and performing improvised scenes. Throughout the year, students build confidence, improve communication skills, and develop creativity in a supportive environment designed for all personality types.

Big Ideas

• Theatre is a collaborative art form requiring skilled artists to work together to create unity and meaning on stage.
• Character creation combines a writer's dialogue and action with an actor's physical, vocal, and emotional choices.
• Rehearsal and reflection are essential processes through which performers and artists improve their craft.
• Theatrical spaces and traditions reflect the values of their cultures and audiences across time and geography.

Essential Questions

• How does a play become a play, and who contributes to that process?
• What are the fundamental tools that actors and writers have to create characters?
• How do theatres themselves reflect a culture, and how has theatre changed over time?
• Why do stock characters and improvisational comedy remain effective across different audiences and time periods?