Drama

Upper School drama classes provide opportunities to develop self-esteem and self-confidence through skill-building exercises involving the body, voice, and imagination. In addition to being an outlet for self-expression, drama class provides a safe environment to explore emotions as well as the opportunity to increase self-awareness, self-discipline and skills of observation and listening, in both partner and group contexts. Classes begin with warm-up exercises to bring awareness to the body and voice and to increase focus and concentration. Students then move on to various improvisations and scene work.

Fifth graders take drama once a week, every other week, in half- sections. Sixth graders continue to take drama in half-sections, once a week. For part of the year, the Drama classes work in collaboration with music classes to prepare the annual Sixth Grade Cabaret performance.

All seventh graders are required to take one trimester of drama, choosing from among a selection of offerings such as Theater Exercises & Improvisation, Yoga, and Play-reading. They have the option to take a second trimester as well. In the Theater Exercises and Improvisation class, improvisations and scene work are oriented toward introducing and developing acting skills with emphasis on vocal and physical work and use of the imagination to create character and scenario. Spontaneity, focus and concentration, and group and individual trust are developed in class.

The Play-reading class gives the students opportunity to read three 20th-century classic and contemporary plays. Research projects accompany active reading and culminate in student presentations of behind-the-scenes design work associated with each play. Students also have the opportunity to write/perform scenes from the plays and write additional scenes for them.

Yoga class is an introduction to various styles of yoga, helping students to develop awareness of proper body alignment, learn to focus their attention more acutely, and calm the mind while learning classic yoga poses and breathing.

Drama is an elective in the fall; in the winter trimester, rehearsals begin for the traditional spring eighth grade musical. All students participate either on-stage or behind.