This is a beginner level course in the fundamentals of acting. You will establish an understanding of all aspects of the theatre making process including: content vocabulary, acquiring basic skills in an actor’s process, and all of the production jobs in theatre. Through exercises, analysis and improvisations, the student actor will explore their mind, body, and voice as the actor’s primary creative resources when creating a character. In theatre, as in life, we learn by doing. Be prepared that this is a practical class and you should expect active participation as an essential component of your success in this course.

 

2023-2024 Intro to Theatre Arts Syllabus for 8th Graders

 

2023-2024 Intro to Theatre Syllabus 

 

Prerequisite: Theatre 1

This is an intermediate level Theatre Class. In this class you will discover the lineage of drama from the work of the Ancient Greeks and Medieval Drama, to Shakespeare, to Japanese Theatre, and finally Contemporary trends. Within each unit of study there will be elements of theatre making partnered with textual analysis. While you study each era you will also be collaborating in a group on an original piece of theatre that reflects the themes and characteristics of the time period. Please be prepared that this is a practical class and you should expect to be actively participating as an essential component of this class. Please find the course syllabus below the class calendar. 

 

Intermediate Drama Syllabus

In this advanced course, students will learn the Rules of Theatre and demonstrate an understanding of theatre arts by participating in various aspects of theatre production.  This course delves deeper into the dramatic forms and techniques in modern acting methods to prepare students for future auditions and possible careers in theatre. This is a performance-based course and all students will be expected to be involved in all class performances. Students will be responsible for constructing, discussing, performing, and analyzing drama to develop a deeper understanding of the dramatic arts and how it influences the world around them.2

Prerequisite: 2 

This is an upper level Theatre Class. In this class you will begin to deepen your connection to characters by exploring the work of influential directors such as Konstantin Stanislavsky, Sanford Meisner, Lee Strasberg (Method Acting), and Anne Bogart to name a few. We will also work on defining what it means to be “in the moment” and what makes a believable and truthful performance through your rehearsal of Monologues, two person scenes, and group scenes. In Theatre, you are the art that is being viewed. Please be prepared that this is a practical class and you should expect to be actively participating as an essential component of this class.

2023-2024 Advance Drama Syllabus

 

 

Play Critiques:

Each student must see one play per semester: one performance of a play outside of Vanden High School plus seeing one Vanden production is required. A list of performances from local theatre companies and nearby schools will be provided. A specific written critique form will be handed out and discussed in detail before students have to write. The written review is due the Monday after the last performance of the play. Please do not leave this assignment to the last minute! If this should cause financial hardship, have your child see me as soon as possible.

You will submit two critiques per semester, and four per year, so be sure to plan accordingly!

Requirements:

Due date: each critique is due the first Monday after the last performance, at the beginning of the period. If the last performance is on Sunday, the critique is due first thing Tuesday.
Evidence: you must have a program. The ticket stub is stapled to the front of the final draft. The stapled critique must be inserted into the program. If a ticket and/or program are not issued, explain why in the first paragraph of your critique.
Drafts and Final: you must also have a rough draft stapled to the back of the typed final draft showing evidence of changes from the rough draft. I am not interested in a rough draft that’s a carbon copy of the final draft. Final drafts will be in MLA format (proper heading, size 12 Times New Roman font, double spaced, printed on one side of the page, 1” margin). Final drafts will be submitted to Turnitin.com as WELL AS in hard copy format.
Things to consider: remember this is a five-paragraph critique. Check spelling. Run-on sentences, punctuation, capitalization, and be sure to always italicize the title of the production. Do not label each paragraph. As this is a personal opinion paper, there is no need to use “I” or “I feel” or “I think”. Do not use “I” okay? Also, do not use words such as “a lot”, “good”, or “great” to describe the performance. They are too general and basically mean nothing.
Lastly: I want specifics and as many details as possible. You must consider the reader has not seen the production: consequently, you need to write this paper so that the reader can visualize what you saw! It may be a very good idea to bring a pad of paper and take some notes during or right after the show!

Type of critiques: While the basic play critique format will cover most of the play you may see, I have included several other options to cover a variety of other play experiences. If you performed in the production or worked crew, there are unique critique formats to fill out. Additional formats include children’s theatre and dance productions.

Play Critique Formats

 

This course explores the technical aspects of theater. Throughout the course, students will learn about designing and constructing sets, while meeting with a director and design team. Students will also look at costuming and how clothing, makeup, and hair help reveal the character and support theatrical storytelling. Students will also be working with lighting and sound and explore how both light and sound design augment a theatrical production. Students will learn how to perform many of the crucial stage and house crew jobs that are necessary for any production to run smoothly.

 

2023-2024 Stagecraft Syllabus

The International Thespian Society (ITS) is an honor society for dedicated high school students in theatre. Vanden High School Theatre Department is home to over 100 students. Thespian Troupe #5591 has been active at Vanden for 10 years. ITS is a division of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), the largest educational theatre association in the world. https://www.schooltheatre.org/

Troupe 5591 is one of two honor societies at Vanden High School. This group of dedicated thespians meets once a month at lunch in the theatre. As a thespian, students are opened to endless opportunities, like going to festivals. performing with professionals, and even going on trips. Our thespian troupe is all inclusive, and anyone who would like to be a part of it can be, whether they are in a performance/tech class or not! For more information, please come to our next Thespian meeting. 

A Thespian is a member of the International Thespian Society (ITS), an honor society for high school and middle school theatre students. ITS is a division of the Educational Theatre Association.

The International Thespian Society has inducted more than 2.4 million theatre students since its founding in 1929.

Both actors and technicians can become Thespians. ITS runs state and national events and offers opportunities for students to showcase and receive assessments on tech and performance skills.

Thespians at Vanden  wear a Thespian Honor Cord at graduation and students who achieve membership in this honor society are eligible for special awards at our May banquet. One of the perks of being a Thespian at Vanden is using the Drama Den,  microwave, and having a portion of your fees paid at the California State Thespian Festival.

There are many benefits of being an inducted thespian:

Eligibility to perform at state and national festivals. Although you do not need to be an inducted Thespian to attend State or Nationals, you do need to be one to perform or compete there.

Official membership pin, card, and certificate.

Student leadership opportunities for elected troupe officers.

Discounted registration fees to events like Thespys (Individual Events - IE) and College Auditions.

Subscription to Dramatics magazine, a publication exclusively for theatre students and teachers.

Colleges love it!

Any Vanden High School student is eligible for Thespian membership after acting or being a technician in two (2) Vanden extracurricular Drama productions, such as the musical, play, or Drama Fest.

Once you qualify, you can apply anytime. Some students apply mid-year so that they are eligible to perform at State.

Applying to be a Thespian is easy! You just fill out paperwork and pay a fee. The Director handles and submits all Thespian applications for our troupe.

Fill out the Thespian Induction Application

Give your completed form, and a check for $35 (made out to Vanden High School Drama Department), to the Director.

If you are facing financial difficulties and are unable to pay the full cost of induction, please see the Director.

You are officially a Thespian, and a member of Troupe 5591, as soon as your paperwork goes through. At the Drama Banquet in May,  we celebrate all new Vanden Thespians with an induction ceremony.

2024 California State Thespian Festival

The elected RHS Thespian Board meets regularly and organizes events and activities for Vanden Drama.

2023-2024 OFFICERS

President: Amani Hodgman- 2027

Vice President: Polly Peters- 2026

Secretary: Hailey "Evan" Gleason - 2026

Treasurer: Hailey "Evan" Gleason - 2026

Public Relations: Kahlani Moore -2027

Equity and Inclusion: Thomas Guillard 2026

To reach the Thespian Board, contact Thespian Advisor Mr. Bolden

Vanden's Thespian Troupe #5591 (one of two national honor societies on campus) has had the dream for years to be able to attend the California State Thespian Festival in Upland, CA.  Unfortunately, underfunded high school arts programs are disastrously common, especially in Northern Ca.  

The Thespian Festival is a remarkable experience for all those fortunate enough to have the opportunity, and the website describes the festival as "a one-of-a-kind, 3 day long immersion experience in singing, dancing, acting, designing, directing, creating, writing, and memory-making.  

Thespians will get hands on experience working with theatre creatives from Hollywood to Broadway. The invaluable experience, not to mention joy that this conference would bring to Vanden's Thespian Troupe is priceless.  

The cost of attending festival, getting a hotel, and travel is around  $500 per student.  Vanden has an extremely passionate and talented group of Thespians and our hope is to raise enough money to pay half the cost of attendance for as many students as possible.

 Please help support Vanden's Thespian Troupe in their goals of attending state festival.  

Donate Here 

Thespian Point Breakdown

Thespian Point REcord Form