Middle School Theatre Arts Rotation
The Middle School theatre arts program is part of a rotation. Each middle schooler will take theatre arts for one third of the year. This course is designed to introduce middle school students to the wonderful world of theatre while stressing scholarship and high artistic standards. Students will explore all aspects of theatre and will focus on acting as an art form. Basic acting technique is explored through improvisational games, exercises and scene work. A safe environment is provided to encourage creativity and fun. During the Middle School years, students are exposed to significant playwrights and theatre history. Another focus of this class is to develop personal self -confidence, communication skills and teamwork. This course will evaluate students based on participation and good will. While these Middle School years are spent on the fundamentals of acting through process, occasionally a performance project will grow out of the class dynamic. An example of a class project was an environmental production which was performed at a Eugene festival. It launched an international Green Show Project that will be performed in conjunction with the King’s School, Thailand, in the fall of 2011. The middle schoolers are also encouraged to audition for the Main stage Production every Spring. At Oak Hill School every interested student gets a part in the show. The productions are specially chosen to meet the needs of the majority of student actors and technicians and they are always collaborative.
High School Fundamentals of Theatre Arts Elective
This process-centered course is designed to provide a safe place for the beginning or advanced actor to discover and develop imaginative and technical acting skills through play! Exposure to all aspects of the theatre (directing, design, music, and theatre history) are introduced and utilized to support various acting units. Another focus of this class is to develop personal self-confidence, and communication skills.
Within each semester, units on vocal and physical characterization, scripted and non- scripted scene structure, objectives and obstacles, comedy techniques, observation, character masks, directing, and character relationships, will be explored. Based on improvisation, exercises and games, this course will focus on participation, teamwork, creativity, experimentation and fun. This class is ongoing and offers diversified curriculum each semester. This class is open to everyone and no audition is required.
High School Intensive Theatre Arts Elective
In the first semester, members of this class will join together to form a company that will go on to mount a full scale Studio Production. This show is comprised of a play or scenes from respected playwrights and is designed to accommodate the desires and needs of each individual. Great time is taken to choose material that will challenge student actors, free them from self-consciousness, enhance powers of concentration and foster a full awareness and control of their inner resources. This tradition is a yearly highlight for actors and audiences alike. This work will be deeply explored and appropriate improvisational exercises, games and technical skills will support this inspirational piece. Guest artists may be invited to participate in the project to provide enrichment and to further challenge actors as needed. Actors must have taken as least one semester of fundamentals to join the class or by teacher approval.
In the second semester, actors join the class to collaboratively mount the Main Stage Production.