Program Description

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Drama 6-8

The middle school drama program provides students the opportunity to develop communication skills and create theatre. Students learn to use sensory recall, concentration, their bodies and voices to develop characterizations, environments and demonstrate thoughts, feelings, and emotions through actions in scripted and unscripted scenes. Acting skills are developed and students learn to work collaboratively and to interact with an ensemble. Artistic choices are analyzed and interpretations evaluated. Connections are made to real life and meanings are constructed. Students learn to take risks and begin to develop improvisational skills. Theatre games, theatre and movement exercises, and improvisational activities give opportunities for self expression. Students also begin to understand the technical elements of theatre. In 6th grade, drama classes are within the Future Pathways course and within the Fine Arts Block in 7th grade.. Drama can be taken in 8th grade in Drama Lab, a year long course. Dramatic presentations or musicals are presented at the schools throughout the year.

Drama/Theatre 9-12

Parkway high school students may study drama/theatre through a variety of courses. Introductory level courses develop the students’ abilities in concentration, observation, movement, and vocal skills through improvisation, problem solving, and characterizations. Beginning courses include Theatre Arts and Children’s Theatre. Intermediate courses include Actor's Studio 1, Acting for the Camera, Shakespeare Alive, Technical Theatre and Improvisational Theatre.  Advanced courses include Actor’s Studio 2, Directing, Musical Theatre and Advanced Improvisational Theatre. These courses emphasize the elements of movement, voice, directing , characterization, and analyzing plot structure. Students interested in the technical aspects of the theatre can further their skills in specific areas of backstage production and design or may gain experience in theatre production or directing.  All high schools provide a strong co-and extra-curricular theatre program. Students learn to be performers and educated consumers of theatre and are trained to form aesthetic responses and judgments. Many performing opportunities and/or competitions are available throughout the year in One Acts, musicals, or plays.