An Insight: The theatre curriculum at Classen School of Advanced Studies focuses on the development of the total student, which includes developing a personal inventory, self-awareness and confidence, the ability to work well with peers and others, and a life-long appreciation of theater as patron and practitioner; learning to develop self-concepts, build an ensemble, observe people and places, move expressively, and become more aware of the senses; learning acting skills such as improvisation, characterization, role preparation, and stage movement; exploring a range of career or avocational opportunities in theater; including set-costume-lighting design as well as theatre management and marketing; studying special topics such as mime, storytelling, clowning, oral interpretation, readers theater, puppetry (Eastern and Western) and theatre history.
Costume Design & Construction In this course students learn advanced costume design and basic sewing skills. The students designed costumes for several plays throughout the year and assisted in costume construction for our season productions. These costumes were constructed from a commercial patterned that resembled their design for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams.
Verbalizing Stage Direction: Directing I Student directors were required to use a line rendering to convey actor direction. Directors used established stage directions to block actor action. Actors were not allowed to ask questions but had to depend on clear direction from the director. Additional directors in the class had their backs to the action while listening to director-direction. They hand rendered the direction from the director. At the end, actors and directors compared notes and critiqued one anothers ability to use clear theatrical language.
Costume Designs Students hand render costume designs as a part of script and play analysis.
Practical Play Proposals Students were required to write a 250 word pitch for a play proposal, create visual documentation to support their play idea and defend the play based on a theatrical period, movement or practice in contemporary or historical theatre
Playbill Designs Students design playbills as a part of the marketing curriculum.
Directing: Moving from Literal to Abstract Senior Directing students were supplied with everyday objects and were required to create an abstract structure representing their past, present and future selves. Directors then created a verbal defense supporting their choices.
Masks for Greek Playwriting Project Design work used for original greek play scripts.
Performance Art
Junior theatre students wrote, blocked, designed and performed original Performance Art pieces. The example below is entitled "The Harbor of Rhodes"
Character Development Work sample from student actors working with the internal/external role scoring process of Stanislavsky and Strasberg.
Greek Periaktoi Designs Theatre History students designed and defended Greek periaktois. Students were presented with a Greek God and were required to present the Gods ruling elements on the three sides of the Periaktoi. EXAMPLE: Aphrodite-God of love, beauty and desire.
Postcard Designs The postcard design project allows students to gain skills in marketing theatre through diverse media structures.
Poster Renderings Students hand render poster designs as a part of script and play analysis.
Directing Boards Pitch boards used by student directors to help convey the concept for a production.
Medieval Mansions Medieval mansions (wagons) depicting 3 scenes from morality plays (based on a particular moral) written by the students.
Asian Shadow Puppet Plays Shadow plays written, designed and performed by students based on fairy tales. Inspired from the shadow plays of Java.
Mask Work Students working with Commedia stock character masks.
Bunraku Puppets I.B. Theatre students working with handmade Bunraku puppets. Students performed as puppeter and chanter.
Reader's Theatre Students performing original Reader's Theatre Scripts.