In a graduated educational theater curriculum that meets the National Standards for Theater Education, middle school students develop a broad range of skills during four years of nine-week-long exploratories in drama.

Through a wide variety of creative dramatics exercises, special group performance and solo performance opportunities, periodic written class work, quizzes and projects, the students gain a strong overview of the basic skills necessary to acting, playmaking, stagecraft and directing. Additionally, the students strengthen skills in self reflection and observation, cooperation and collaboration, creative and critical thinking, coordination, overcoming inhibitions, and public speaking.

Middle school students are also encouraged to participate in all aspects of the fall and spring middle school musicals such as “Annie, Jr.”, “101 Dalmatians, Kids” and “Fiddler on the Roof, Jr.” Opportunities are also made available to attend Regional Theater Festivals.

Through Drama I: An Introduction to Creative Dramatics; fifth grade students receive a general introduction to the skills and abilities used in creative dramatics and performance as well foundational information about the theater and the process of playmaking. The nine weeks are divided into units which include: pantomime, characterization, voice for the stage, stagecraft and improvisation.

Sixth grade students continue to build upon their skills in Drama II: Shakespeare - Let’s Throw A Wedding for Romeo and Juliet. The nine weeks are divided into units which include: Review of Drama I concepts and skills, Introduction to Shakespeare, Reading and Discussion of a grade-level version of Romeo and Juliet and viewing of film version, Language and Performance of Shakespeare, Characterization, and a final multi-group project/web-quest/performance of Let’s Throw A Wedding for Romeo and Juliet.

Seventh grade students explore the elements of stagecraft for the educational theatre in Drama III: Elements of Stagecraft. Over the course of the nine-weeks exploratory, students will be introduced to and gain hands on experience in the art of stagecraft. The nine weeks are divided into units which include: a review of Drama I-II concepts, an Introduction to the Elements of Stagecraft, Costume Design, Set Design and Construction, Make-Up for the Theatre, Hand and Set Props, Sound and Lighting, Stage Management and Theatre Appreciation.

Eighth grade students learn advanced acting and characterization skills with an additional emphasis on improvisation and an introduction to the basis elements of directing and theatre history during Drama IV.

The nine-week course will review Drama I-II-III concepts and focus upon themes and units which include: Characterization and Character Analysis, Improvisation, Voice for the Stage, Physical Expression, Introduction to Directing, Theatre history and potentially a final Directing and Performance project.